Student Reviews

Amy Roberts - 2019

Rich is a talented photographer and great teacher. He is generous and thorough with his knowledge. He goes beyond the surface to help you understand things in detail.

Mary Ann - 2019

Lighting expertise: Great. People skills: Caring.

Kelly Shene - 2019

FIVE STAR teacher

Sukinah Tarmookh - 2019

He is very knowledgeable about photography. I learned the basics and more specialized concepts. He is very nice and teach every student based on their level. I would highly recommend him. He does not hesitate to take more time if needed. He is professional and respectful.

Kelly Thomas - 2019

Very personalized lessons

Qassim Alosaif - 2019

For people who were asking me about my pictures. The secret of getting those awesome pictures is taking photography classes. My wife and I trained by the best photographer in metro-Detroit Area. The best of the best Rich Duzzi.
If you are looking for taking digital photography courses, please contact Rich Duzzi .
Look at his website and contact him ASAP. He accepts students from beginner to advanced level. YOU WILL NEVER REGRET taking classes and it is never wasting of time.
Highly recommended.
Referring you guys will not add a single penny to my bank account. He is very experienced and passionate about this business.

About your Instructor

Rich has owned and operated a successful studio for over 45 years and is considered by many to be a Master of Lighting. He has photographed 1000's and 1000's of portraits of all styles and also about 2500 weddings/social events. He has studied under literally 100's of the top photographers in the world.

His desire now is to pass on this knowledge to the next generation of photographers coming up in order to save them some time in finding the right educational sources to enable them to reach their dream potential.

Some of his accomplishments are listed below:

Professional Photographers of America

Certified Professional Photographer

Professional Photographers of Michigan

Award of Merit (Top 3 in Michigan) - 2008 • Portrait Kodak Gallery Award for 2008

Top Family Portrait for 2007• Michigan Top Senior Photographer for 2006

Commercial Winner of Best in Show & Kodak Gallery Award in 2003

One of Michigan’s Top 7 in 2000 • Board Member for 11 years

Detroit Professional Photographers Association

Top Portrait Photographer for 2009 • Top Senior Photographer for 2008

Top 3 Photographers in 2000 • Board Member for 12 years

Professional Photographers of Northern Ohio

Top 4 Photographers for 2011

Michigan Photographers Society (A by-invitation-only group and 1 of the Top 5 oldest photography associations in the country.)

Numerous print awards

Held several different Board positions

Professional Photography Consulting & Studio Design

Consultation & design is something that is UNIQUE to each and every different studio. It is based on a large number of factors from the desired client base, physical location, owner’s expertise, general market economy, client perceptions, and much more. Therefore a preliminary meeting is required to access the basic answers to these questions prior to being able to establish a cost. Please use the Contact Page on this site to set up our meeting.

Special Notes

Please email me through the 'Contact" page on this website stating which class you are interested in so that I can verify which classes have enough interest for this session. Classes will start around mid-June and run for the number of weeks noted in the class description.

There will be a "pre-class meeting" so we can pick the best dates for the classes to hopefully fit most students schedules. This meeting will take place at the Leo's Coney Island restaurant on Telegraph & Vreeland. Exact date and time TBD.

Class payments will be taken at this meeting - checks or credit cards (with 3 references we will accept cash. (LOL)). The Basic Class/Education Agreements will also be handed out and signed at this meeting for those classes which require one.

If you have any questions which you need to ask ahead of the meeting, please use the "Contact" page on this site.

While I feel that this selection of classes adequately covers all of the potential needs of students I am open to any other class suggestions which you may have in mind. There would still have to be between 2-3 students for the class to happen. Just let me know your thoughts by using the 'Contact' page on this website.

Photography 101 - Basics of taking better photos

This class is designed for those people who use either a cell phone or basic point-and-shoot camera but who simply desire to take better pictures. You will learn simple ways of greatly improving the pictures of your family and vacation/scenic shots.

Requirements: Camera phone or point-and-shoot camera AND a desire to take better shots of your family and vacations.

$120 ; Class size: 3-6; (3) weeks long; 1 hour each; Location: TBD

2020 SPECIAL — You can take this class AS AN INDIVIDUAL at 50% OFF!

Photography 102 - Getting to REALLY know your DSLR

You probably take some pretty good pictures with your DSLR but do you honestly know what your camera is truly capable of producing? In this class we will explore many of the functions your camera is capable of utilizing and when you can use them to your advantage in any type of photography.

Requirements: Your DSLR and you.

$160 pp; Class size: 3-6; (4) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

2020 SPECIAL — You can take this class AS AN INDIVIDUAL!

Photography 201 - Creating better portraits with MINIMAL equipment (money)

You know your DLSR basically well and you probably take some pretty good pictures, BUT have you ever really learned about how to properly light your subjects in natural light areas? How many 'reject' shots are you taking for each 'good' shot you get? This class will give you a valuable education in how to determine what qualifies as good lighting for creating GREAT photographs of your family, friends, and maybe even a customer or two.

Pre-requisites: Taking a 5-10 minute quiz about camera functions & basics. (Photography 102 is suggested to be taken first BUT it all depends on how much you have studied and practiced with your camera.)

Requirements: You, your DSLR, and a minimal investment in 'stuff' ('stuff' you may already own BTW - whether you know it or not). You will also be required to sign a Basic Class/Education Agreement.

$320 pp; Class size: 3-4; (8) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

Photography 202 - OCF for increasing your abilities to take even better portraits

If you have had your DSLR for a while it is likely that you also have purchased a speedlight flash for it BUT have you really learned how to use it to its fullest? This class will teach you how to get the most out of your speedlight flash so that you can increase your lighting choices in a large variety of situations.

Pre-requisites: Taking a 10-15 minute quiz about camera & flash functions & basics. (Photography 201 is suggested to be taken first BUT it all depends on how much you have studied and practiced with your camera & flash.)

Requirements: You, your DSLR, and a speedlight flash. You will also be required to sign a Basic Class/Education Agreement.

$320 pp; Class size: 3-4; (8) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

Advanced Photography 301 - OCF for maximizing your creative abilities portraits

Most likely you're at that point in photography that you are taking some photography jobs for relatives and friends. You're probably doing a decent job at it BUT are you really giving your customers the best images possible? Probably not! This course will give you the opportunity to GREATLY INCREASE your abilities for creating fantastic portraits of many styles of subjects.

Pre-requisites: Taking a 15-20 minute quiz about camera & flash functions & basics. (Photography 202 is suggested to be taken first BUT it all depends on how much you have studied and practiced with your camera & flash.)

Requirements: You, your DSLR, 2-3 speedlight flashes, 2-3 light stands, any of a variety of methods for remotely triggering your OCF's, and some basic light modifiers. You will also be required to sign a Basic Class/Education Agreement.

$480 pp; Class size: 2-3; (8) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

Basic PhotoShop 101

You realize that that many photographers (in fact ALL TOP PHOTOGRAPHERS) utilize PhotoShop in the creation of their images BUT you have next to no idea of what to do OR how to use more than just a handful of this software's huge amount of tools. This course will teach many of the basics of PhotoShop to allow your pictures to be elevated to a noticeably higher level than you probably imagined.

Pre-requisites: Taking a 10-15 minute quiz about basic computer and PhotoShop functions.

Requirements: You, 12-18 of your best image files, laptop, (2) flash drives, and PhotoShop Elements 12 or above. You will also be required to sign a Basic Class/Education Agreement.

$160 pp; Class size: 2-3; (6) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

Advanced PhotoShop 201

This course will cover advanced techniques which will allow you to create 'WOW' image files that will amaze your relatives, friends, and customers.

Pre-requisites: Taking a 15-20 minute quiz about basic computer and PhotoShop functions. (Basic PhotoShop 101 is suggested to be taken first BUT it all depends on your computer and PhotoShop capabilities.)

Requirements: You, 12-18 of your best image files, laptop, (2) flash drives, and PhotoShop Elements 14 or above. You will also be required to sign a Basic Class/Education Agreement.

$200 pp; Class size: 2-3; (6) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

Directed Photography 301

This is specifically designed for the serious photography enthusiasts - the ones who are not satisfied with just taking a "good shot" - they want to create "exceptional images" on a consistent basis.

Pre-requisites: Taking a 15-20 minute quiz about camera & flash functions, submittal of 12 of your best image files, and 12 images from anywhere which you would like to create yourself. (Photography 202 AND PhotoShop 201 are suggested to be taken first BUT it all depends on how much you have studied and practiced with your camera & flash equipment and your PhotoShop skills.)

$400 pp; Class size: 2-3; (8) weeks long; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

INDIVIDUAL TUTORING

WARNING: THIS CLASS IS EXTREMELY INTENSE AND CHALLENGING AND, IF YOU ALLOW IT, WILL DRASTICALLY INCREASE YOUR INCOME! IT REQUIRES THE PHOTOGRAPHER TO BE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT INCREASING THEIR ABILITIES IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROFESSION.

This is it! The ULTIMATE class! JUST YOU AND ME - going over YOUR photographic desires, analyzing how to create them, shooting & tweaking the set-ups, reviewing constantly to make sure that you are truly understanding why you are getting the results (good or bad) that you are seeing in the image. These classes are done at locations of YOUR choice (within 20 miles of Woodhaven), with the subjects of YOUR choice, to create the styles of YOUR choice.

Requirements: You, your DSLR, 3 speedlight flashes or strobes, 3 light stands, any of a variety of methods for remotely triggering your OCF's, and some basic light modifiers & reflectors. You will also be required to sign a Basic Class/Education Agreement.

$1000; Additional classes (after 8 weeks) are $100/2 hrs.; Class size: ONLY YOU; However long you would like BUT a minimum of (8) weeks; 2 hours each; Locations: TBD

The photographer will also receive up to 12 hours of critiques following the end of their Tutoring (unless you are too busy running to the bank to deposit all the extra money).

General Questions

While I feel that the best time for these classes will be in the evenings or on Saturdays, if there is enough interest in having an afternoon or morning class I can do that. If you have a desire for either morning or afternoon, please email me through the 'Contact' page on this site. Again there would have to be a minimum of 3 students to be able to add this to my schedule.

Class Requirements/Comments

ALL classes include a mandatory, and free, ‘meet-n-greet’ session for all students and myself to get to know each other without taking time away from actual class time. This session will be held a week prior to the actual class start date.

Full Fees must be paid prior to the first class along with signing the 'Basic Class/Education Agreement'. This will be taken care of at the ‘meet-n-greet’.

Classes will start/end at their scheduled times so please arrive 5-10 minutes early.

If you miss a class, or are late, please contact one of the other class members for the information discussed and the assignments.

There are no refunds for missed classes.

No video recording of the classes is allowed. Taking notes and audio recording is fully permitted and actually encouraged. Still photos are also encouraged for those classes which get into specific lighting set-ups.

Photography Classes