• Let’s Connect

    Connect with MALINDA via Chat or Text with our quick buttons. Call 513-245-4100 or email – we’ve got a BUNCH of great workshops coming up. We’d love to help you capture amazing photos THE EASY WAY! 
    SIGN UP for our VIP List for exclusive specials!

    FUN EASY CLASSES
    Sept 5-26 or Oct 7-21 Learn Your SLR Camera Beyond Auto – Quick & EASY!

    Oct 4-25 Learn Lightroom CC

    Nov 1-15 Photoshop CC

    Register Now

  • Private Lessons

    1 to 1, friends, or custom groups, lessons are designed for your personal experience and gear.
    Our favorite spots are Winton Woods or our nearby Studio, Glenwood Gardens, & the village square in Glendale. Or add travel for a small fee.

    Learn your camera iPhone to SLR, beginner to Pro levels, Studio, Lighting, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, Keynote, Mac Photos, social media speed tips…
    Schedule Appointment

  • Monthly Photo Walks

    Great Parks Photo Walks:
    Aug 20 3pm Parky’s Farm at Winton Woods

    Sept 10 Little Miami River

    Gift Certificates

Malinda Hartong, By Appt Mon-Sat. Chat/Text below 513-245-4100

Beyond AUTO

Learn your camera beyond AUTO
LEAVE AUTO IN THE DUST

You're Smarter than your Camera

Malinda has over 20 years practical everyday experience, including daily newspapers. We PROMISE you’ll be amazed at just how EASY it is to capture jaw-dropping images! Even with the most basic camera!

You DON’T need FULL Manual Mode to get amazing photos! You DON’T need to shoot Raw images to get the best quality!

Seriously – it’s WAY easier than you think!!! Stop watching confusing & complicated online video. Grab your camera & let’s make it FUN to learn!

Get Started Learning Pro Shortcuts! From a practical girl (instead of those that try to make it hard and daunting on purpose).

Amazing, wonderful, very organized, very informative. Loved the class and can’t wait to start practicing! Will never use AUTO again! Nedra


Handouts for your Camera

Step By Step Guide

Our Beyond AUTO workshop is unique – offering handouts designed to help you with YOUR CAMERA. Where to find the right buttons to adjust focus, exposure, etc. Plus how and why to adjust a few factory settings!

Leave the frustration of Auto Mode behind, and skip the classes & online videos that expect you know all the jargon & make it hard!

We use everyday language! Tons of examples! Simple!

Our intimidation-free workshops are designed to get the most out of Your Camera, painlessly!

WITHOUT Manual Mode! WITHOUT Raw! With the camera you have!

Just Make the Shot!

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

She is a great instructor and never makes you feel stupid. She speaks and teaches on a level that is understandable… Give it a try, you won’t regret it!!!!!

Barbara


  • Michelle
    “I have taken other photography classes and read books but nothing really clicked with me.  I desperately needed help in getting my camera out of scene mode and Malinda’s straight forward instruction helped me focus on the basics of what is important when taking a photo.  It already seems less intimidating and I have taken some awesome new photos.”
  • Amanda
    TAKE THIS CLASS!!!! You will learn so much about your camera and how to fix common mistakes. Great investment !!! Amanda
  • Kate
    Loved it! I learned so much. Not afraid of my camera anymore. I feel like I understand what the buttons do and how to use them.
  • Mirna
    Today was the first class...WOW. I learned more about my camera in 2 1/2 hours than I learned in a 6 week Intro to Dslr Class I took last year at an art school. Malinda is fantastic.
  • Rebecca
    Very Informative. I thought I would need to understand Manual Mode... Glad I can get what I want with Aperture Priority! Rebecca
  • Tessa
    I have a better understanding of taking pictures the best way I can. I can't believe how much is on my camera and I've had it for 6 years.
  • Andrea
    A TON of information that was simplified so everyone could understand. I really enjoyed people sending pictures and then critiquing.
  • Rorie
    VERY informative! My brain was going to explode with all the new information. (she's kidding). Actually learning the features on my camera. I appreciate learning about iPhone too. (bonus). It was very helpful to go through all the photos and talk ISO, exposure, AV, etc.
  • Emilie
    Just finished Beyond Auto class.  I now use buttons I never dared touch before.  I highly recommend the class for anyone using their DSLR camera as a point and shoot.  It can do so much more if you learn how.
  • Carol
    As a complete novice, I started with Beyond Auto.  Since then I've taken photo editing and six hours of private lessons.  I've learned so much and look forward to using what I've learned and participating on the photo walks.  Melinda also helped me understand the different types of lenses, filters, monopods, memory cards, etc...for the type of photography I intend to do.  Highly recommend for anyone wanting to learn or enhance your photography and/or editing skills.
  • Kate
    I can not recommend Malinda and her class enough.  I was fortunate enough to get a great deal on a DSLR camera but didn't have the knowledge to know how to use it correctly.  After night one in her course I was able to successfully capture a picture of my son breaking a board in martial arts practice.  I now not only feel comfortable with my camera but I can change my settings and recognize the adjustments I need to make, in fact it's becoming second nature.  I learned so much and love having the incredible hand outs to refer back to as needed.  Thank you Malinda for being such a wonderful teacher.

Ready to Really Learn Your Camera?

Seriously, leave the overly complicated videos, RAW, and Manual Mode to the people that WANT to make HARD! It REALLY doesn’t need to be! Malinda’s been teaching for over 6 years full time! We’ve honed our tricks & handouts to what you REALLY need to know – and you’ll be blown away at how SIMPLE it is!

Learn Malinda’s EASY PRO TRICKS to capture your best photographs EVER! Sign up for the next class, or join us for Private Lessons (below).

1: Focus!

Factory settings make focusing where you want very difficult. We’ll fix that and more in the first hour of class!

  • FOCUS buttons on your camera & how to set them!
  • Easy Adjustments for lighting & action
  • FLASH – the PRO trick!
  • RESOLUTION & SAVING to get the best files
  • Program Mode – the “easy” way! Glenn’s favorite even after 27 years of daily photojournalism

2: Exposure + Flash
  • How your camera measures light and how to get it to behave for you!
  • Fixing Exposure – the EASY way
  • Rescue Highlights = amazing sunsets!
  • Quick Pro Fix that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
  • No more cave-dwelling in dark backgrounds!
  • How to see what’s in the background indoors
  • How to achieve natural-looking flash – easy!

3: Lenses & F-stops
  • Lenses: Which lens to use when, the “real” difference between telephoto & wide angle
  • Blurred Backgrounds! Skip the complicated stuff – use our fast & SUPER easy way!
  • Easy tricks for Aperture Priority mode – my favorite!
4: Composition
  • More dynamic photos
  • Amazing family portraits
  • Your Best Travel Memories EVER!

Sept 5-26, 7-9pm

Location: our Studio near Winton Woods
Fee: $150 per person
Class Size: 8
Our studio is between I275 Exit 39 or Ron Reagan Cross County Hwy – Winton/Galbraith
Just bring your Digital SLR, Mirrorless, or Adv Point & Shoot camera. You’ll be amazed what we cover in the 1st class alone! Ages 12-16 please bring an adult (who need not register).

REGISTER BELOW – just click 1st class date.
Next Session: Oct 7-21, 3 Saturday Mornings 10am-12:30pm

A TON of information that was simplified so everyone could understand. I really enjoyed people sending pictures and then critiquing.

We accept PayPal & major credit cards. Contact Malinda if you have any questions at all, or to split or create something custom. 513-245-4100 call or text. We typically schedule 6 sessions/year in various locations throughout Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky.


Granddaughter at the game - best photo ever!
It all came together! I caught them in the air!

Wanda's excellent photo catching a ball after 1-1 Lesson

In Case of Emergency / Cancellation Policy

We understand emergencies happen. If you’re unable to attend 1 of the classes, you can make it up at the next session, or upgrade to a private lesson to make up that class. If you need to cancel and do so 7 days before 1st class, you will be issued a full refund.

Our studio is near Powell Crosley YMCA & Winton Woods in Springfield Township, off Winton Road – 275 exit 39 or Winton /Galbraith exit off Cross County Highway.

Private Lessons

Learn More about 1 to 1 Help

Waiting List / Contact Form

Can’t make this session? Sign up for 1st dibs on the next one!

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