What's wrong with this listing?
Balanced Exposure
1101 Perimeter Drive
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Uber
MORE PHOTOS
more
Special Online Discounts
Training
About Us
Special Online Discounts
Special Discounts
2 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
$110.00
Photo Essentials and DSLR Advanced - Regular price for both classes - $420 Get both classes for only $110!
3 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
$167.00
Three Introductory Photography Classes Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced and Exposure - Regular price for all three classes - $545 Get all three classes for only $150!
4 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
$200.00
Four Introductory Photography Classes Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced, Exposure, Composition Plus Regular price for all four classes - $670 Get all four classes for only $200!
5 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
$250.00
Five Introductory and Intermediate Photography Classes Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced, Exposure, Composition Plus, Balancing The Light Regular price for all five classes - $820 Get all five classes for only $250!
Intro To Photography
Photo Essentials, Composition and Exposure Training. Whether you are new to photography or a seasoned professional, Balanced Exposure is the Chicago area photography school for you. Our Introduction to Photography Classes are our most popular classes for those who want to learn more about photography in general as well as learn to use their new cameras. All of our classes are designed specifically for the DSLR user. Click on "Read more" for class information and to see a calendar of all classes available and to schedule your class.
Schedule Your Class
Digital photography training. Note: Not showing up, cancellation or rescheduling your class with less than 48 hours notice may result in your voucher being redeemed and class fee forfeited.
Welcome to the Balanced Exposure online scheduler!
To schedule your class, enter your voucher number and click on the 'Login' button.
Note that some coupons have more than one set of numbers on their printed page. If one set does not work, try the other set.
If your voucher number has letters in it, please keep in mind that the online scheduler is case-sensitive.
If your voucher number has dashes, try it with the dash first and then if you are unable to access the scheduler, try it without the dash.
If the class you are trying to schedule is full with the maximum students, you can put yourself on the wait list for that class if you like.
Please note that if you do this, you cannot schedule for another date unless you first remove yourself from the wait list of the other class.
Please bring to class the actual coupon from your coupon company... not the confirmation page from Balanced Exposure.
You will need the actual coupon voucher for admittance to class. This is very important.
Featured Services
Photo Essentials (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. The DSLR camera and also the advanced hybrid cameras are among the most desired cameras on the market today. If you own one of these cameras, this is the class for you. This single day 4 hour group class will teach you the fundamentals of your camera. Some of the topics include: What is White Balance and how do I set it? How do I set the Aperture? What does it do? How do I set the Shutter Speed and why do I want to do that? What is ISO? RAW vs JPG images What does Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop do for images? How do I shoot in Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority Modes? If you want to know how your camera fully functions and how best to deal with a variety of lighting situations, this is the class to take. Please bring your camera and its instruction manual to the class. Each camera is different from model to model and brand to brand, so having the instruction manual with you could prove to be helpful in finding how your camera handles a certain function. We will cover both theory and practical applications with your DSLR or advanced hybrid camera We will be covering a lot of material about your camera as well as practicing the new things you'll be learning. By the end of the four hours, you'll be shooting confidently with Aperture and Shutter Speed Priority and also Manual Settings.
- Four Hour Training $225.00
DSLR Advanced (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. Prerequisite: Photo 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials. This class is for those DSLR camera owners who have already taken either our Photography 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials class. The class concentrates on the "other features" found in the menus of your camera. Advanced / Hybrid Point and Shoot Cameras and also standard Point and Shoot Cameras will not be coverd in this class and will not be admitted into the class. We will cover in more detail topics like Custom White Balancing, Focusing Modes, Metering Modes, Bracketing and other features found within the camera's advanced menus. Be sure to bring your camera's instruction manual for this class.
- One Class - 3 hours $195.00
Digital Photography Questions and Answers (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. Prerequisite: Photo 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials. This class is for those DSLR camera owners who have already taken either our Photography 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials class. Even if you have already taken Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced or Exposure classes, you'll want to expand your photography knowledge with this class!
- One Class - 2.5 hours $175.00
Composition + (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. After learning how to get a proper exposure and how to use your camera, it's time to learn how to actually take a good photo! We'll spend two hours looking at examples of photos that look good, photos that don't and how to distinguish the difference. Elements of composition and design are emphasized.
- Two Hours $125.00
Exposure (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. The best photographers think through their shots before taking them. Knowing the right settings is one thing, but figuring out the right settings is better. Learn how to figure out how best to set your camera's exposure controls to get the right image quality for a variety of situations! This class concentrates on such questions as, "How do you photograph fireworks?" "How do you photograph Holiday lights?" "What's the best setting to to photograph a back-lit subject?" Learn the settings... but better still, learn why the settings work and figure out other shooting scenarios. Classes begin in February 2013.
- Two Hours $125.00
Examples Of Digital Photography
We'll spend about 1-1/2 hours to go over the prepared questions and answers then spend the remaining hour answering your questions. If you run out of questions, we have plenty more Q&A's to finish off the time! We will spend 2-1/2 hours going through the most commonly asked questions when it comes to digital photography. Here are some examples:
What does a firmware update do to my camera?
Why do my photos of snow come out gray or sometimes blue?
What is the sunny 16 rule?
What is specular highlight?
What is bokeh? How do I get it?
How do I take close-up photos?
What are the various sync modes on my camera?
How do I take architectural photos?
How do I make panoramic photos?
How do I shoot past a fence if it is in my way?
How can I make some lighting accessories inexpensively?
Intermediate Photography
Classes to expand your photographic knowledge. For those who have already taken the Photo Essentials class in the past, the DSLR Advanced class continues your education from where that class finished. Flash training is for those who have an external flash and also want to learn studio lighting. Composition class teaches you how to make your photos more interesting to your viewer. Exposure class helps you set up your camera for any situation you are facing. Studio Photography Workshop is for those who want to learn the basics of studio photography for both tabletop objects and model photography. Adobe Lightroom 4 is the fastest and most efficent software of its type to help correct color and exposure problems in digital images. Read more for details.
DSLR Advanced (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. Prerequisite: Photo 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials. This class is for those DSLR camera owners who have already taken either our Photography 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials class. The class concentrates on the "other features" found in the menus of your camera. Advanced / Hybrid Point and Shoot Cameras and also standard Point and Shoot Cameras will not be coverd in this class and will not be admitted into the class. We will cover in more detail topics like Custom White Balancing, Focusing Modes, Metering Modes, Bracketing and other features found within the camera's advanced menus. Be sure to bring your camera's instruction manaul for this class.
- One Class - 3 hours $195.00
Balancing The Light (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. Prerequisite: Photo 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials. We all run into situations where the lighting conditions are not ideal. The sunlight is too harsh, the lighting is coming from the back or the sides, the leaves from the trees are casting shadows on people's faces... you name it, there's always something that's not giving us the ideal light. Learn to control that light! This 2 hour class is a limited to 12 students per session. A professional model will be modeling for us. Being a "hands-on" class where students will not only shoot images but also help each other in achieving the correct end result, be prepared to move around and participate in setting up the shot correctly.
- One Class - 2 hours $150.00
Adobe Lightroom 4 and 5 (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. Prerequisite: Photo 101, Boot Camp or Photo Essentials. This class is for those DSLR camera owners who are looking to correct their colors and exposures in post production using the Adobe Lightroom software. The class concentrates on teaching you how to use Adobe Lightroom to fix the colors and exposures on digital images. The main concentration of the class will be on the Library and Develop modules of Lightroom. Learn to correct colors and exposures, reduce digital noise, enhance colors, fix red eye, correct lens distortions and more!
- One Class - 2 hours $125.00
Intro To Adobe Photoshop Elements 9, 10, 11 and 12 (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. RAW vs JPG: Adobe Bridge, Curves, Cloning, Masking, Layers, And More! Bring your laptop with Adobe Photoshop Elements already loaded.
- Three Hours $195.00
Intro To Adobe Photoshop CS5, CS6 and Creative Cloud (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. RAW vs JPG: Adobe Bridge, Cloning, Curves, Masking, Layers, And More! Bring your laptop with Adobe Photoshop CS5, CS6 or Creative Cloud already loaded.
- Three Hours $195.00
Composition + (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. After learning how to get a proper exposure and how to use your camera, it's time to learn how to actually take a good photo! We'll spend two hours looking at examples of photos that look good, photos that don't and how to distinguish the difference. Elements of composition and design are emphasized.
- Two Hours $125.00
Exposure (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. The best photographers think through their shots before taking them. Knowing the right settings is one thing, but figuring out the right settings is better. Learn how to figure out how best to set your camera's exposure controls to get the right image quality for a variety of situations! This class concentrates on such questions as, "How do you photograph fireworks?" "How do you photograph Holiday lights?" "What's the best setting to to photograph a back-lit subject?" Learn the settings... but better still, learn why the settings work and figure out other shooting scenarios.
- Two Hours $125.00
We'll learn to
Deal with backlighting situations
Control harsh and unflattering light conditions
Balance light coming from different angles
Use diffusion material
Use reflectors to redirect lighting
Choose correct lighting ratios
Measure light with an Incident Light Meter
Use flash for supplemental lighting
Decide when and how to use a Variable Neutral Density Filter
Decide when and how to properly use a Polarizing Filter
Wedding Training
With over 20 years of experience photographing weddings, we can teach you everything you ever wanted to know about wedding photography. From how to best use your equipment, getting the best shot, working with other wedding vendors to the business of wedding photography, there's no topic we cannot cover to get you ready to photograph weddings as a career. Read more for classes.
The Secrets of Wedding Photography (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. If you are serious about entering the wedding photography business, this is the class for you. In this two day workshop (8 hours total time), we will cover the key elements on how to run a successful wedding photography business. With over 20 years of wedding photography experience, Russell Lowe, owner of Balanced Exposure will share his secrets on how he was able to continue photographing weddings for so long. This is the workshop to take if you really want to know how the wedding business works. This is an interactive workshop. Be prepared to ask questions, get them answered and to practice techniques during a solid two days of intense training and discussions.
- Two Three-Hour Days $750.00
The Business of Wedding Photography (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. The Sales Presentation, What to charge for a wedding, Showing your work, Pricing your packages, Closing the sale, Keeping contact with your clients, Post wedding consultations, Selling your images, Insurance, Albums, Online Sales, And more...
- Three Hours $375.00
Photographing Weddings (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. Defining Your Style, Flash Vs. Ambient Light, Important Images That Must Be Photographed, Where to be to get the best images during the ceremony, Working with the other wedding vendors, Working the reception, Techniques of shooting in near total darkness at receptions And More...
- Three Hours $375.00
Shooting A Wedding For A Friend (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. While we highly advise not photographing a wedding simply because someone asked you to do it, if you are going to do it anyway, let us teach you the basics of how to do it properly. How to take the key shots required for every wedding, Working with other vendors who have been hired by the bride and groom. Camera and lens requirements for wedding photography, Photographing the all-important "Formals", Dealing with low light photography, And More!
- Three Hours $375.00
Topics Include
The Business of Wedding Photography
The advantages and disadvantages of having a sales office or meeting at home or a coffee shop
The Sales and Marketing of Wedding Photography
The Wedding Photography Contract and why it is important
Wedding Albums and Wedding Album Design
Camera, Lenses and other equipment choices
Engagement Sessions
Photographing the wedding
Photographing A Reception
Studio Sessions... do you need them or not? Should you do them at the reception?
And A Lot More!
Be prepared to work and study hard for two solid days!
Forensic Photography
Learn the basics of forensic photography!
Forensic Photography for Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement agencies should contact Balanced Exposure to discuss their specific forensic photography training needs. Advanced Registration Required.
Instructor Background
Russell Lowe is a former evidence technician having worked with three law enforcement agencies in the past. He is also a court-qualified expert witness in Forensic Photography and also in Forensic Audio. He is currently the owner and photography instructor of Balanced Exposure, one of the Chicago area's most popular digital photography training schools. He has worked in the field of photography since 1990 and was court-qualified by the California Superior Court as an expert in both Forensic Photography and Forensic Audio since that time as well.
Photoshop & Other Software
Balanced Exposure started out as a company offering post production services to photographers. Photographers today utilize computers and software to enhance and correct images to make them their absolute best in image quality. Programs such as Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Photomatix, Portrait Professional, and more are taught. In addition, we continue to help the photographic community by offering these services to photographers who need the help. Color correction, exposure correction, image retouching, special effects... these are just some of the services available. Read more for classes.
Intro To Adobe Photoshop Elements 9,10, 11, 12 (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. RAW vs JPG: Adobe Bridge, Curves, Cloning, Masking, Layers, And More! Bring your laptop with Adobe Photoshop Elements already loaded.
- Three Hours $195.00
Intro To Adobe Photoshop CS5, CS6 and Creative Cloud (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. RAW vs JPG: Adobe Bridge, Cloning, Curves, Masking, Layers, And More! Bring your laptop with Adobe Photoshop CS5, CS6 or Creative Cloud already loaded.
- Three Hours $195.00
Intro To Adobe Lightroom 4 and 5 (Group Class)
Advanced Registration Required. How to import and export your images: Proper use of Lightroom for Color Correction, Proper use of Lightroom for Exposure Correction, How to batch correct your images, And more! Bring your laptop with Lightroom already loaded Advanced registration required.
- Two Hours $125.00
Why Balanced Exposure?
At Balanced Exposure, we take photography seriously but we don't teach it that way!
We want all photographers to create the absolute best images they can but we want them to learn how to do it while having fun.
Today, even inexpensive digital cameras are capable of taking some amazing photographs!
Learning to use the new cameras properly is the key to getting great shots. While we can speak "technical talk" with the best of them, we try to keep the language a little more simple. We'd rather teach in a language everyone can understand. That's what makes us unique and why our students continue to come back to us to learn more advanced techniques.
Specials
2 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
Two Introductory Photography Classes Photo Essentials and DSLR Advanced.
- Regular price for both classes $420.00
- Get both classes for $110.00
3 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
Three Introductory Photography Classes Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced and Exposure.
- Regular price for all three classes $545.00
- Get all three classes for $167.00
4 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
Four Introductory Photography Classes Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced, Exposure, Composition Plus.
- Regular price for all four classes $670.00
- Get all four classes for $200.00
5 Class DSLR Camera Discount Special
Five Introductory and Intermediate Photography Classes. Photo Essentials, DSLR Advanced, Exposure, Composition Plus, Balancing The Light
- Regular price for all five classes $820.00
- Get all five classes for $250.00
Our Objectives
Balanced Exposure is a photography training facility.
We teach all aspects of photography from how to use your camera, how to photograph weddings, how to make studio portraits to how to use Photoshop. Classes are held in our fully equipped studio as well as in the field when we conduct our "field trip" classes.
How It All Started
"We are a multi-service studio for consumers and professional photographers."
Photography training is our main business, but we provide our clients with more than just that.
Balanced Exposure owner Russell Lowe has had a photography career that spans from forensic photography
wedding photography and commercial photography, but has always loved teaching it as well. "I wanted a studio that could offer services for all aspects of photography. The problem was, I never had enough space... until now. Plus, I wanted a facility large enough to handle photography students. The current facility allows this."
"You can see in this image how tight it is to set up a basic studio lighting kit and small portable backdrop in a standard home living room.
Furniture is always in the way, wires are all over the floor... it's just not an ideal situation. After 20 years of photographing in situations like this, I decided I needed more space to offer all the services I was capable of providing to my clients. Trying to do studio work without an actual studio always meant it took more time to set up and put away the equipment and move around all the furniture than it did to actually take the photo. While rental studios were always available, most required a half day or full day commitment and the rental of the studio lights were pretty expensive too. So I decided I'd open a studio to allow me to shoot whenever I wanted."
"In addition, to the studio space, I wanted space to use as a teaching facility.
While my old wedding facility had space, I wanted more space so that I could teach not only the theory of photography, but also have the space to actually shoot in and show it happening too. The new studio/classroom allows me to do all that!"
Balanced Exposure started out as a post production company offering color and correction services for other wedding photographers.
Today, the majority of the work done at Balanced Exposure is teaching new photographers how to use their cameras properly and also how to use post production effectively to improve images taken.
Testimonials
Thomas N.
"I am an aspiring amateur photographer who desires to learn more photography concepts such as composition, lighting, and exposure. Before I met Russ, I took several photography lessons without much success. In general I understood how to use a camera but was uncomfortable changing from auto exposure to manual exposure as I didn't understand ISO, shutter speed and aperture in a tangible way. That's until I met Russ. Starting from the first lesson Russ was able to explain complex concepts and techniques in a very simplistic and thorough way. What I also love about Russ is that he challenges you to think. You're not passively listening to him teach but actively participating in the lesson, which I really appreciate. In addition, he keeps in touch with you between lessons by sharing and discussing pictures that were taken using techniques discussed in prior lessons. I am very pleased with the 1-on-1 lessons and will continue to take them!"
Lance C.
"I went from being an insecure amateur photographer who only stayed on auto to graduating to shooting in manual mode. Because of Russ, I have gained the confidence to discover new ways to shoot... adjusting my shutter and aperture and working with lighting. Russ has been amazing to work with, responsible, knowledgeable and professional. He has also helped by professionally Photoshopping my work which gave it that "professional look"! I have much gratitude for all that he has taught me."
Mike F.
"I started working with Russ in 2010 after I bought my first camera. After only two lessons I've learned much more than I could by any other means. Russ has been a professional photographer for a long time, but he is able to make his knowledge easy to understand for someone new to photography. The combination of his knowledge and friendliness is what will keep me going back to Russ for more lessons in the future."
Dan M. from Schaumburg, IL
"Russell's friendly demeanor and coaching go a long way. He is able to apply his in-depth knowledge as a professional photographer and teach students in his workshops the core foundations of photography all the way to the more advanced techniques that make him a well sought after professional event and wedding photographer."
Andy S. Photographer, Videographer from Schaumburg, IL
"I participated in Russ' photography workshop and it was easily the best investment I've made in photography since buying the Nikon 17-55mm f 2.8 DX lens (suggested by Russ). I was in the middle of editing a wedding when I attended the workshop, and afterwards, I re-edited my first 400 pictures. I spent the extra time on re-editing my pictures because of a few simple tips I picked up, and the adjustments made a huge improvement in my final product. Russ is very knowledgeable and even more importantly, he takes time to answer everyone's questions no matter how simple or technical the question is. I worked with Russ as a videographer at a wedding he was shooting and he is a pro through-and-through. I highly recommend any workshop offered by Russ Lowe."
From some of our numerous reviews from our coupon deals
Russ is a great professional.
I thought would 4 hours be enough to understand both the concepts, features and the time for playing with the camera. But he balanced well on covering all the topics and made sure everybody is following through. Absolutely i would recommend him to my friends and I intend to take more advanced classes with him.
Russ is a fantastic teacher and in less than four hours converted me from a point-and-shoot hack to someone whose photos now look professional
(at least to all my friends, none of whom are professional photographers). I will be returning soon for more classes. Thank you, Russ!
Great instruction - I learned more in the first 10 minutes than I have my entire camera-owning life
Russ really knew what he was talking about and I learned so much.
I actually had such a great time that I signed up for three more classes with him! Would highly recommend!
Awesome class; unlike any other classes I attended to.
Very interactive; it was easy to understand the topic at hand because the instructor lets you apply or practice on your own camera. And for the price of the class, you can't beat that!
I was more than pleased with this 4 hour DSLR camera seminar!
Russ sure knows his stuff and he presented it in a way that a complete novice like myself could understand...he covered every topic that should be covered in an intro class. I learned more than I could have hoped for. I also truly appreciated being able to sign up for future classes at a discounted rate to continue my training on my camera...I look forward to the new Composition class that is planned for 2013...I've already signed up! I can't wait to practice what I learned...I went from being intimidated by my Nikon and only using the automatic setting to being ready to play with my ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speeds to get the perfect shot!
Browse Nearby
General Info
About Us
Balanced Exposure is a photography training facility. We teach all aspects of photography from how to use your camera, how to photograph weddings, how to make studio portraits to how to use Photoshop. Classes are held in our fully equipped studio as well as in the field when we conduct our "field trip" classes.