Local photographer Joseph Fague will teach a photography class for the Fulton Parks & Rec. Department on Feb. 9. Fague, who has operated a photography business in town for 20 years, said he learned his skills from his father.
"My father had a photography business, so I kind of grew up around it," Fague said. "I shadowed him for a long time."
Fague attended high school in Lake of the Ozarks, then moved to Fulton in 1994. Two years later, he opened his own photography business.
"I started out doing senior pictures and weddings," Fague said. "My business grew by word of mouth."
The class will primarily focus on the basics of owning a camera, Fague said.
"The class will teach how to adjust settings on the camera first, then how those settings adjust your pictures," Fague said. "Finally, we will cover how to share those photos on social media."
Fague will also tailor the class to the participants' needs. "I constantly try to determine how in-depth I need to go in certain topics," he said. "This is not an advanced photo class, you can find that at a university level. I try to be flexible and customize the class to things people are interested in."
Fague said helping people is the reason he teaches the class. "Its seeing them start to figure things out for themselves, all based on some basic concepts," Fague said. "When the light bulb goes on, that makes it all worth it."
Assistant Parks & Rec. Director Sharlene McArtor recommended the class to two types of people. "It's for people who own a camera and want to learn more about it," McArtor said. "But it's also for people who are thinking about buying a camera."
McArtor asked all participants be 13 and older. The course will run for three days, and each class will last around two hours each night. There is a $35 fee to participate. The deadline to register is Feb. 1. For more information, contact Fulton Parks & Rec. at 573-592-3190.