Online registration for this program has closed. To check availability, find out about future dates, or if you would like further information, please call 505-983-1400 ext. 111. Also, get the SFW E-Newsletter for updates!















Designed for beginners, this online workshop with photographer and educator Will Van Beckum provides a structured, accessible path into digital photography. Whether photography is a new hobby or something you’re curious to explore more seriously, this course helps you get comfortable with your camera and Adobe Lightroom Classic as you start making great images.
This six-week program offers a well-rounded introduction to both the technical and creative foundations of digital photography. You learn how to take control of your camera, apply core creative principles, and use Adobe Lightroom Classic for editing and workflow. By the end, you’re equipped with the skills to keep creating visually compelling images on your own.
Each week builds on the last, introducing new camera techniques, creative concepts, and Lightroom tools. As the course progresses, you build confidence, make meaningful images, and learn how to edit and export them for both print and digital display. Live Zoom sessions with Will and fellow participants include guided lectures, image reviews, and open Q&A. Each session also features a photo assignment that helps you apply what you learn that week.
Starting with a digital camera can feel overwhelming, but this workshop breaks everything down into manageable, enjoyable steps, making it easy to grow as a photographer while having fun along the way.
This workshop is for those who wish to learn the basics of photography with a digital SLR or mirrorless camera. No level of photographic technical ability is required.
View Withdrawal and Transfer Policies for online programs.
For the convenience of participants, recordings of each class session are posted privately for one month after the end of each session. Santa Fe Workshops takes the recordings down after one month to protect the intellectual property of our instructors.
Will Van Beckum is a Massachusetts-based photographer with a passion for teaching and visual storytelling. His commercial work encompasses a broad range of subjects, including weddings, portraits, and food & drink. After spending five years as the Digital Lab Manager at Santa Fe Workshops, Will earned his MFA at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. His photographic work is diverse, starting in the fine arts but more recently expanding into commercial work. He has exhibited his work broadly, winning major awards and placing work into major collections such as Google. His various photographic projects are united by a passion for creating visually unique and abstract stories that spark imagination and reflection.
Website: williamvanbeckum.com
Instagram: @williamvanbeckum