Introducing Beyond Auto | Education for Photographers

It was nearly 15 years ago when I hosted workshop attendees in my home, teaching them how to shoot manually with their cameras. Even now, I still get messages asking for tips on how to take better photos.

I see it all the time—people buying entry-level (and sometimes even professional-level) DSLR or mirrorless cameras, hoping the new gear will magically improve their photos. Only to end up disappointed, wondering why their Apple iPhone seems to take better images than a $1,000 camera.

What most beginners don’t realize is how many variables go into creating a great photo. It’s not just the camera. It’s understanding how to set up a shot, how to control light to achieve the right exposure, and how to use depth of field to shape the scene. Without that knowledge, many default to Auto—handing over full control to a device that can’t interpret your intent or creative vision.

I stepped away from in-person workshops for a while, but recently, the idea of bringing them back started to resurface. With more people reaching out again, it felt like the right time—but with a different approach.

So instead of returning to traditional workshops, I’m building something bigger.

I’m excited to introduce Beyond Auto—a set of online photography courses, along with a community designed for photographers at the beginning of their journey. A place where you can learn, ask questions, and grow alongside others who are figuring it out just like you.

As I continue developing the course and community, you can join the waitlist to be among the first to know when everything launches.

In the meantime, I’ll also be releasing tools and resources for those who want to turn photography into more than just a hobby—from preset packs and pricing calculators to worksheets and simple website templates.

I want to be there at the beginning of your journey—to help guide you through it. Because I remember what it was like starting out. It wasn’t easy. I had to piece everything together myself. YouTube helped, but as the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.”

That’s exactly why I’m building this—so you don’t have to figure it all out alone.

If you’re interested in joining the waitlist and getting early updates, click the link below.

This is a new chapter for Andrew Smith Photography—and I’d love to have you be part of it.