Mike Mac Donald Photography

This is a long over due review. A few years back I took Mike's "Get to know your camera" class. Now I have to say it changed my life! From Mike's class, I developed a good understanding on how to take full control of my camera so that I can create photos to the next level that the basic auto mode cannot achieve. Mike taught the fundamentals in a way that most people can understand easily.

He took the time so no one is left behind. He is not only a nice and patient teacher, but also he is funny in the teaching as he used to be a talk show host. I started to develop the love with landscape photography due to the improvement from the class. It became so much fun. Through the years I took many classes from Mike including "Light & the Landscape", "Art of Landscape photography", "Complete exposure", and many field workshops.

Eventually I became deeply connected with the local Chicagoland nature as I take beautiful photos at the best nature preserves in the area. I am so thankful that Mike taught me how to create art from landscape photography. Mike is an artist with a unique style that can immerse the viewers in the world of nature, which then helps connect the viewers with the beautiful moments. I highly recommend Mike's class. For beginners, the "Get to know your camera" is a must-have. For adventurers, the "Art of Landscape photography" is an eye opener.

When you have a gift, and also a good heart, it is only natural to want to share what you know with others. And Mike? He wants to do just that. The first thing that struck me about him was how much he cares and how willing he is to go the extra mile for his students. It was a lot for me to commit to late evening classes between my own parenting responsibilities and a full time work schedule but he made it worth it.

If you really, truly want to learn the camera, which can be an awkward clunky process for some of us, Mike will go above and beyond to assist you. He will talk you through challenges before class, after class, and even over the phone. Mike sends the most detailed emails to his students (more evidence that he takes his educator role seriously) and I am so appreciative because I can still refer back to them for a refresher to this day.

There is no growth without discomfort and Mike is exactly the type of person you want by your side to help you make sense of it all. He delights in photography and it was an honor to be the student of someone who has worked so hard to be where he is at today.

Mike will help you improve your photography regardless of your ability or knowledge. His teaching style is engaging and he will challenge you to apply what he teaches. During the pandemic, I've taken many private, online lessons from him where he covers lighting, composition, theory, and practice. He will undoubtedly help you better use you camera and guides your approach to "see" and tell a story with your images.

I've been on a couple field sessions with Mike and he does a great job balancing time among students and helps each one of us. His passion for nature and photography motivates you to get out there and click! I've seen Mike lend his tripod to a student that didn't have one (although he clearly indicates it's a requirement). He's funny, helpful, and makes you a better photographer - I highly recommend his classes (and look forward to the next session with him).

Mike doesn't try to teach you everything, He teaches the most important things to help you become a better photographer. His approach is casual yet intense at the same time. I have learned more in 6 weeks taking Creative Eye than I tried to learn on my own in the 12 years I have owned a DSLR camera. If you are new to photography and serious about learning the fundamentals of digital photography this is the place for you. I would highly recommend Creative Eye to anyone, like me, who wants to learn and UNDERSTAND the the basics of photography and Make Great Pictures.

I am completely new to photography so this is a totally new experience for me. It's something that I've wanted to get into for a long time. From the very beginning, I knew that I wanted to take classes with Mike. He has great reviews online and now I understand why. I initially reached out to him because I didn't know what kind of camera to buy. He spent extra time on the phone with me advising me and then emailed me a list with explanations.

I then signed up for a class and was really happy with it. He's a great teacher and makes sure that his students are getting the most out of his class. I'm really excited to be learning from a really talented person and I've already signed up for more of his workshops. I highly recommend Mike if you're looking for photography classes.

Both the 'Make Great Pictures Now' and the 'Get to Know Your Camera' are well worth the time and money. Mike draws on 20+ yrs of experience to help guide you through your struggles. For me it was the technical aspects of my camera. Shop around. You won't find a better deal for hands on professional instruction. And you'll probably have a lot of laughs like the rest of us!

I'm in my fourth class with Mike and I can't say enough. I learned a lot in Make Great Pictures Now. Truthfully, I thought I knew everything about composition having been a graphic designer for so long, but I was totally wrong. The tweaks he did to all of our photos in class were mind-blowing, yet simple in nature, I.e., cropping, color or exposure shifts.

Nothing huge, but big results in the overall emotion of the each picture. I'm in Complete Exposure now and very excited for this important chapter in my photography journey. Mike is a great teacher. He teaches the basics, but enlightens us with his decades of experience and knowledge. His handouts are thorough and easy to follow. He sends us an email after each class with tips and assignments.

He also sends a welcome email before each new class starts with reminders of what we'll cover and what we should study before class. His emails are huge (admittedly so) but packed with great info. I've saved and printed out every one because of the great information in them. He goes above and beyond to make sure everyone understands what he's teaching. I would recommend his classes to anyone that actually wants to learn photography.