Sony Alpha 101 – Getting to Know Your Camera
with Scott Sitkiewitz
This beginner-friendly class is designed to help new photographers feel comfortable and confident with their Sony Alpha camera.
We’ll begin with an introduction to Sony’s menu system, including how to navigate different firmware versions and locate essential settings. From there, we’ll explore the camera’s physical controls—buttons, dials, and switches—so you’ll know exactly what each one does and how to use them effectively.
Next, we’ll dive into the fundamentals of exposure with an easy-to-understand look at the exposure triangle—aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. You’ll see how these three elements work together, and how Sony’s shooting modes (from Auto to Manual) give you both convenience and creative control.
We’ll also cover image quality settings, including the advantages of shooting in RAW vs. JPEG, and how to choose resolution settings that match your needs. Since sharp focus is critical to great photos, we’ll introduce the basics of Sony’s powerful autofocus system and explain how to select and adjust focus modes.
Finally, we’ll break down the Function Menu—a quick-access tool that makes changing key settings simple and efficient.
By the end of this session, you’ll have a solid foundation for using your Sony Alpha camera, ready to take better photos and build your skills with confidence.
Instructor Bio:
Scott has been a professional photographer since 2003, specializing in maternity, newborn, children, and family photography. In 2015, he expanded his expertise to include product photography, traveling internationally to capture high-end wristwatches. Shortly thereafter, Scott broadened his skill set to include videography. As a licensed drone pilot, he specialized in content creation for real estate marketing, producing dynamic video interviews and showcasing new homes and communities through engaging visual storytelling.