Photo Uno

I took Photography I, and am hooked on Photo Uno. Excellent instruction, clear and well-​calibrated class material, and a beautiful space to learn and practice in. Photo Uno has exceeded my expectations, and I can’t wait to take my next class.

i was looking for a basic photography class, and was not sure about this place because its small and unfamiliar, comparing to all the big photography schools in ny. it ended up being a great experience. the teachers are very nice and patient, and the school happy to help with any problem that you may have. they are over all very attentive to their students and their needs. defiantly money well spent, highly recommended

I am just about to complete Photography 1 (6 wks, 12 hours in total) and I am more than happy with choosing PhotoUno. The instructor, Patricia, is very friendly and I learned a lot already right from the beginning. After week 4, I felt already pretty comfortable using manual mode. Everything is perfectly organized and very customer-​friendly such as the straight forward possibility to make up classes. Definitely the right pick!

Exceptionally good classes. I have taken several evening seminars, and the portrait class (5 weeks) and the studio lighting class (5 weeks). I learned a LOT very FAST. These folks really get to the heart of the matter.
Courses are extremely well designed. The lectures are on point, and both the in-​class exercises and the homework will up your game.
The studio class provides a solid overview of how to use the studio gear (strobes, reflectors and such) AND what are the creative possibilities. It is far beyond what I expected. The class includes use of their photographic studio 2 hours per week for homework, which is enormously helpful. I enrolled in the studio lighting class just to understand lighting better, but now I love using studio gear as well.
The portrait class provides a well rounded overview of styles of portraiture and homework to ensure you practice the primary styles.
Sessions begin with a review of your homework. The direct feedback from the instructor and other students is especially valuable. This was always my favorite part of the class. You don’t get this feedback on your work by watching youtube videos! And you don’t get the hands on experience that you need by watching youtube videos.
If you are considering it, go ahead and jump in, take one of their classes. Good value too. Very highly recommended.

Fantastic class!
This review is for Photography 1 –instructed by Romina.
The two hour period begins with a group critique, followed by a lecture, then hands on exercises and finishes with questions.
I am very impressed with the amount of information we cover in a 2 hour period! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this class… I have always been afraid of ‘breaking’ my camera trying to use the manual mode. Within the first hour Romina had taught us basic set up and we were taking photos in aperture mode… I walked into the room having no idea what an aperture was!
This class is worth every penny. The atmosphere is upbeat and encouraging; the small class sizes allow everyone to get the attention they need… Outside of the class, Romina was excellent at returning emails with useful feedback. If you don’t want to commit to a 6 week program, they also offer private classes and really affordable workshops. I had a wonderful time! I can’t wait to pick up Photography II and eventually their Portraiture class!

I registered for Photography 1 and i’m loving every minute. The class is small and intimate, the instructor is amazing. I’m learning so much. This is a great learning experience very informative and a positive environment. Highly recommended.

After my earlier review, the owner (Francisco) was gracious enough to offer me a free private class, and I accepted. The class was fast-​paced, perfectly tailored to my requirements, and very informative. The instructor (Paula) was extremely knowledgeable and had prepared ahead of time to make the experience useful for me. I would definitely like to try out another private class at PhotoUno soon, and I highly recommend them to others.
So, lesson learned: If you aren’t sure what level class you should take, give them a call and discuss your background before registering. That way, you can be sure you’re going to get the most out of your class. If you have unique interests or requirements not covered by a course, then the private classes are very good and I highly recommend them.

I took a private class at Photo Uno and I loved it. It was a great learning experience that was really tailored to my needs. The instructor was really knowledge and I feel like I walked away with a lot of learning. I want to go back for more classes here and highly recommend this place to anyone interested in learning more about photography!

I bought my Canon DSLR 5 years ago when my son was born. At home when everything is constant I’ve learned to have 1 setting in AV mode and do pretty well with the pictures, but whenever I’m outside of the house it’s really hit or miss (blurry kids, weird color in the sun or dark places, none focus faces … etc), and never really dared to touch manual mode.
We are going to South Africa next month for a wedding, so my wife suggested that I take a photography class. So I Unilocaled photography class in Manhattan and found PhotoUno.
At the end of Photo 1 class with Patricia here are my thoughts.
* The classes and environment are fun and cozy.
* Each class is focused on learning 1 – 2 things at a time so that you get a solid understanding of what each setting is used for.
* Patricia is a great teacher, explaining everything in easy to understand terms.
After finishing Photo 1, I really feel like I got a lot more out of it than I expected.
I am very glad to say that I am very comfortable in Manual Mode now. My photography friends have also complemented me on how much I’ve improved in taking pictures and I have a lot more fun taking pictures now. I really wish I would of taken the class sooner.

I did my research and pick Photo Uno, may I please say thank god I did so :) I started with photography I, I had a point and shoot camera with manual capabilities. At the end of the class I was so confident in manual mode using all the techniques we’ve learned the camera was not good enough anymore. I got a new camera and enrolled in photography II and Lightroom II classes enjoyed each of them very much. You can’t beat the price either!

Hi. I have a career outside of the creative arts and wanted to learn photography as a hobby last July when I bought myself a new camera. I found PhotoUno off Unilocal and went to their Photography I course … 13 months later, I have taken most of the courses they have to offer, and have really gotten to know the school well. I have taken classes elsewhere in NYC (shhh… don’t tell Patricia and Francisco), and I can honestly say this school is awesome and hands down my favorite.
Top 10 Reasons PhotoUno is my favorite NYC-​area photography school.
1) The Instructors. The instructors are all extremely nice, approachable, interested in teaching and sharing, and are very skilled at photography with a lot of great advice to fill in the gaps. Each instructor has their own unique strengths and wisdom from which you can learn. Patricia, the founder, was formally trained at the International Center for Photography and the mission and curriculum of the school is definitely rooted in the fundamentals.
2)Flexibility. They offer a wide range of classes to fit your schedule; from 2 hour seminars that last one evening to 5 – 6 week courses for deeper instruction — there is a class you can attend.
3) Photography I-​II-​III. The curriculum is well designed and constantly evolving. The Photography I –II — III series of classes, when taken in succession, really do a great job in teaching you the fundamentals both in technical skills and creativity. Photography is part technical, and part creative, and no school or class can teach you everything you need to know in 18 weeks. That is impossible, But after these 18 weeks you are on the right path for life long learning so that you can get the most out of this hobby.
4)Lightroom I and II. These classes have allowed me to take my pics to the next level. You truly haven’t made a picture (digitally) until you have captured a raw file and processed it in a «digital darkroom» such as Lightroom or Aperture. These classes allowed me to enjoy photography on a deeper level.
5) Live classes. I love reading about photography, and seeing Youtube videos and reading blogs and websites to learn as much as I can about photography. But there is no substitute for live classes. The great thing about PhotoUno is the teaching staff. They are friendly, approachable outside of class, and if you take the time to visit their school you will learn and reinforce things you cannot learn on your own.
6)Their studio space. They put a lot of time and effort into designing and maintaining their space. Combined with the small class sizes, their studio is spacious, comfortable, beautiful, and a relaxing place to learn.
7) Private classes. If there is something you want to learn that is not covered in their currently offered classes, you can request a private class and they will pair you with an instructor best suited to the area you want to tackle. The prices are very reasonable.
8) Studio for rent. If you want to shoot studio work, they have the space. Haven’t tried this yet, but thinking about it.
9) The location. Close to Grand Central, easy to get to.
10) The other students. PhotoUno attracts great students, and most of the people I’ve met I’ve not only enjoyed working with, but I have also learned something in the process.
I can’t think of any criticism … they are very fair and reasonable and are willing to address concerns students may have as they pop up. Since they started the school fairly recently, they are still evolving. They are also adding new classes and seminars as interest grows.
Bottom line, this is a great school run by great people and your photography will be rewarded if you invest your time with them. And you will enjoy coming to class.

Norah was my instructor and I can tell you I got the most out of my 2 hour private class. I am a first time user with DSLR and she touched every point that I needed, in order for me to get the most out of my camera. I am extremely interested in learning food photography and she gave me useful tips on how to get the most out of my photographs! Loved the class and the instructor, will come back for sure!

I took Photography 1 last fall. I bought my camera (first DSLR) in August, started class at the end of August and was shooting in manual in 4 weeks. My photos are significantly better than all of my friends who have had cameras for years (and who have no idea how to use them). Patricia is impressive, kind, knowledgable and an excellent teacher. The class size is perfect. The best part for me was how the class was structured: one class a week with homework. You learn a feature, go home and practice, rinse and repeat.
I’ve talked to other people since taking this class and have found that this class, homework, class, homework methodology works best. Many folks do a weekend crash course and walk away not retaining much.
I’ll be going back for their Photography 2 class shortly. I would have gone right away but life got in the way a bit. However, I cannot wait to sign up. Excellent photography school!

The «Street Portraiture» workshop at Photo Uno went well. Photo Uno is located on the east side of midtown Manhattan. The class, ran by photographer Paolo Morales, was fun, educational, and enlightening. Palo has a welcoming personality and you can tell he enjoyed photography. It was like he was telling you about his best friend.
The workshop included a presentation of photography work as samples and discussion about street photography and street portraiture. What I liked most was that he had a great balance between the visual presentation, discussing the topic, and engaging the audience.
We learned about different styles of street portraiture and about the photographers who were famous in the style. Paolo added current samples of work from people he knew personally as well as from his own collection.
The samples shown gave me new insight and perspective on street photography. I learned how lighting, selection of subjects, angles, and patience work hand in hand in street photography. You can change the feel of photo with subtle adjustment. Paolo also showed us contact sheets that led up to the master shot. This made the work more real and on our level as beginners.
Paolo was patient and welcomed questions. Every question asked was a benefit to all for it showed the different ways this class can be used in other types of photography. It helped with adding to our people skills, location ideas, and getting a basic understanding of the legal aspects of street photography. My fears of the myths of street photography were replaced with actions I was willing to try.
The teaching style and small class setting was a winner for me. The design of the space was perfect and cozy. On the walls of the classroom were small galleries of student work. Each photo had richness and story to it.
Overall, I am glad that I attended this workshop. It gave me more tools to add to my creative arsenal and gave me ideas about projects I want to explore.
I will be back Photo Uno :)

What a great place! Patricia is an amazing teacher: she explains everything in layman’s terms and makes you feel very confident about your photography skills. She helps you get to know everything that your camera (lenses, flashes, reflectors, anything!) can do and you leave with a very strong understanding about how to use the right tools to take the right shot.
The space is very comfortable and fun — I love the exhibitions and the individual attention that each student’s work gets. Highly recommended if you want a good education at a reasonable price, plus learn to use your camera in a fun way!

I was looking to improve my photography skills because I travel a lot and wasn’t pleased with the quality of photos I was taking. I walked by PhotoUno on the way to work one morning and figured I’d check out the school online. With night classes and its close proximity to my office in Midtown East, it seemed like the perfect school for me.
Since I had a basic knowledge of photography, I signed up for the Photo II class and found it incredibly helpful. My goal was to learn to shoot in manual mode, so regardless of what sort of light I’m dealing with, I could learn to adjust my exposure to produce an image to my liking. By the end of the 5 sessions, I could do just that. I applied what I learned to my next trip abroad and was really satisfied with the pictures I made.
In addition to Photo II, I’ve taken the Portraits and Landscape classes, and plan on taking the Photoshop Lightroom course in early October. I’ve been incredibly pleased with all the classes I’ve taken and have found the teachers to be knowledgeable, courteous, and very helpful. The course slides are thorough, make-​up classes are available, and someone is always able to meet you or help you outside the scheduled class-​time or answer your questions (or provide feedback on your photos) via email. The owners of the school, Patricia and Francisco, are wonderful people who deliver a high standard of quality to their students. PhotoUno is the perfect school for a hobby photographer looking to improve their skills.

Photo Uno has a great Photography 1 class. I am planning on continuing there for photography 2. In Photography 1, you learn what all of those buttons do as well as a few tips on how to take better pictures, and interesting effects. The class size is small and you WILL receive individual attention.
Patricia is a very charismatic teacher and eager to help her students. Highly recommended for students of photography.

I’ve had my DSLR for about a year now but didn’t really know how to navigate all the bells & whistles. I met Patricia through a Random Events event and so enjoyed the class she taught where we photographed the Brooklyn Bridge last year that I eagerly signed up for a basic photography course and I just recently completed her Photo II class. I also took the one afternoon Fall Foliage in Central Park.
I feel more confident in shooting with my camera now. And the support Patricia offers doesn’t end with the session. She goes the extra mile and then some, offering advice and suggestions. Her instruction is thorough and is taught in a casual and comfortable environment.
Seminars offered by Photo Uno on composition, B&W and especially playing with light were all informative as well. Patricia pushed me to be creative and offered ideas tailored to my style of shooting. I learned about HDR photography, which I didn’t know about and love experimenting with. Classes are small so I felt I received a lot of attention when I needed help.
In-​class exercises and outside assignments kept me shooting throughout the course. I even made Pic of the Week! We worked on a series which culminated in an class exhibit at the end of the term. I’m looking forward to the landscape course!
I am taking a European photo tour in May where you have to know what you’re doing and now feel that I’ll be able to get the perfect shots, thanks to Patricia and Photo Uno!

I’ve had my DSLR for while now, and I have taken a course before to learn how to use manual mode. However something didn’t stick and I wasn’t totally comfortable with shooting everything in Manual. While I always had an interest in photography, after traveling to Italy with a photographer and seeing the great photos made me want to take better pictures.
This is when I found out about PhotoUno. They offered a series of 2 hour seminars at a low cost. I went to the Composition seminar, well to first see what the lecturer has to say about composition and two to check out the space. I ended up signing up for six week Photography I course.
The course was great. The instructor Patricia is very passionate about every aspect of photography. She will work with you to make sure you understand the topic we are going over. She spent lots of time talking to the students if they had any questions/​concerns related to how to expose for certain shot that didn’t quite come out the way the student wants. When it came to understanding certain exposures, she would create the environment for them (turn lights on/​off, move light etc.) and allow the students to understand by practicing the technique.
I also really like that the class sizes were small. I was one of seven, so we all got lots of individual attention.
I would highly recommend PhotoUno for courses or seminars. We went from the theory of photography in class 1 to using manual mode by class 4. Then there is an exhibition at the end of the 6^th week, where the students will showcase photos based on a topic of their choice.
While the six weeks spent with my classmates were loads of fun, the exhibition was even more fun. It was great to see everyone’s work displayed in 11*14’s on all the surrounding walls of the classroom. And of course, its even better when you hear others oh-​ing and ah-​ing over your photos.

I had been looking for a school of photography for quite a while, until some friends suggested I tried Photo Uno. To give it a try, i attended one of the many 2-​hour seminars they hold every week, on different subjects, and I was totally hooked. The place was nice and welcoming, the people were extremely friendly and helpful, and the groups are quite diverse. I signed up for Photography I, which I just finished last week, and I am ready to go with Photography II.
Patricia is a great instructor. She takes time to make sure we all understand whatever she is explaining, and she makes herself available at any moment should you have any sort of photography-​related questions, from techniques to buying new equipment.
I strongly recommend Photo Uno if you want to learn with no stress and lots of fun!!!