Instructors

Marie Joabar

Drawing on more than 12 years experience as the Corporate Trainer and Education Programs Manager for one of the Washington DC area’s leading camera retailers, Marie Joabar founded Capital Photography Center in January 2012.

With a talented staff of instructors and a wide variety of classes, its mission is to help those with a love of photography grow their passion and reach their goals - be it to capture better snapshots or become a professional photographer.

As an instructor herself, Marie finds just the right way to take complicated concepts and technology, and break the information down into easy-to-understand nuggets to share with others. Whether teaching photography basics or helping one better understand their camera, she works to take away one’s intimidation or sense of overwhelming that often accompanies learning new things. 

Marie is also very active in the Shenandoah Valley where she teaches photography classes for Shenandoah County and writes the Shared Exposures photography column for “The Mountain Courier.” Her photos can be found in various print and online publications for the Shenandoah County Department of Tourism and have been published in various local magazines and newspapers.

Her work can be seen on her website at www.mariejoabar.com.

Marie teaches the following classes for Capital Photography Center:

* Photo Basics- Getting Off Auto
* Photo Basics Field Shoot
* The Lightroom Library and Develop Modules In Depth
* Long Exposure Photography
* Night Photography
* And many others

What People Are Saying About Marie

“Marie is very friendly and was able to put herself in the mind of the beginner using clear and concise communication!”

“Marie clearly knows photography and comes from a technical perspective, but she has a talent for translating that technical information into understandable content and not everyone can do that! She was terrific!”

“The instructor made the class so interesting that it did not appear to be a four-hour class!”

"Marie is an excellent instructor and is well-versed in many different models of cameras, including Sonys, Nikons, Canons, and film cameras. Her expertise in photography really showed throughout the class."

"She encouraged trial and error and was great at giving feedback to individuals on their efforts as well as pointing out great shots for the class to try. She was incredibly encouraging and the class was informative and fun!"

“Marie struck the perfect balance of knowing her stuff and being non-intimidating!"

Aaron Clamage

Based in Washington, DC, Aaron Clamage specializes in editorial, portrait, corporate and event photography. 

Growing up as the son of a successful filmmaker has informed the way Aaron approaches photography.  Whether capturing an intimate portrait or documenting an event, he always has the same approach.  Assemble and craft the pieces, but let the subject do the talking.

Aaron’s work has been published nationally and internationally.  Some of his clients include The Washington Post, NBC, The Kennedy Center Honors, Scholastic Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, PBS, Linkedin, GM, The Sierra Club, American Girl Magazine, L’Oreal and The National Academy of Sciences.

Aaron's work can be viewed on his website: www.clamagephoto.com

Aaron teaches the following classes for Capital Photography Center:

* Getting Started With Portraiture
* Editorial Portraiture
* And more

What People Are Saying About Aaron

"Terrific class....learned so much! 

“This was a great class and everything Aaron shared was useful.”

Tim Cooper

Tim began his career as a commercial and assignment photographer working with clients such as The North Face, The Ritz Carlton, Vasque boots, 3M, Blue Note Records, and The International Heart Institute. His editorial and commercial photographs have appeared in Travel & Leisure, New York Times Magazine, Outdoor Photographer, Fly Rod & Reel, Northern Lights, Modern Luxury and Private Clubs as covers, advertising, art and editorial illustration.

In addition to commercial work, Tim has also been involved with the Rocky Mountain School of Photography since 1993. He has taught workshops, classes, seminars, as well as held the positions of Consultant, Director of Education, Director of the Black and White Program and Director of Digital Imaging. Tim currently teaches various workshops, classes and seminars for the school in addition to writing and consulting on both photographic and digital technologies. He is the author of the training videos Perfect Exposure for Digital Photography, Perfect Composition, and Magic Light, and book series Complete Photoshop for Digital Photographers.

Today, Tim combines his love for photography with his love for showing others a means by which they can realize their own similar passion. Through fun, clear and informative workshops, instructional books and videos, Tim hopes to share what he has learned by experience over the years.

Tim offers the following courses on the Capital Photography Center Online platform:
* Perfect Exposure For Digital Photography,
* The Zone System of Metering
​​​​​​​* Demystifying Flash Photography

Matt Felperin

Matt Felperin is a DC area native raised in Takoma Park, MD.  Matt has always been drawn to nature and has been sharing his findings with anyone within earshot since his days as a small child looking for salamanders and crayfish in nearby Sligo Creek. 

He truly treasures the Chesapeake Bay and has enjoyed field work and naturalist programs in several types of habitat within the Chesapeake Watershed. He credits working under naturalist Greg Kearns for truly sparking his love of birds.

Matt is the Roving Naturalist with NOVA Parks, the regional park system of Northern Virginia. In this role, he leads environmental education and recreation programs such as bird walks and kayak tours for the public.

He views his wildlife photography work as one of the most useful tools to connect people with nature. 

Matt teaches the following classes for Capital Photography Center:

* Birding and Wildlife Photo Workshop in Florida
* Pelagic tours on the east coast
* Birding and Wildlife Field Shoots in the DMV area 
* And More

What People are saying about Matt

“I attended the Wildlife workshop that Matt taught and it was so much more than I expected. Keep up the good work!”

“Matt is an incredible instructor and, even more importantly, very approachable with any questions that came up along the way.”

“This was such a great workshop, I learned so much and had a lot fun too!”

"Matt did a great job in guiding us to learn about different wildlife and adjust our camera settings accordingly in a challenging environment. I learned a few tips that improved my photography significantly. Photos that I've taken after that class are a lot better."

Rick Frankle

Rick Frankle worked as a teacher and computer specialist in the Howard County, Maryland Public School System for over 30 years. He earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Technology Leadership with a focus on multimedia development from The George Washington University. He was named as Outstanding Educator by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

He began exploring the world of photography in the darkroom at summer camp. More recently, he has used his passion for photography to document his travel experiences throughout the world.  

You can learn more about Rick on his website, www.PassportlnFocus.com  

* Rick teaches the Creating Your Photography Website class for Capital Photography Center.

What People Are Saying About Rick

"Such a great class to learn how to showcase your work. I’m excited to publish my work online."

"Rick is terrific, I really like his pace and how clear his explanations were."

"As a novice for websites, I needed help with everything and Rick made it so easy."

"Rick is very personable and so willing to answer people’s questions. I really enjoyed this class!"

“Just wanted to share how much I appreciated Rick and his class. Not only did I enjoy the class, he went out of his way after the class to help me with a problem I was having and we ended up doing a brief zoom session so he could show me what I needed.  It may have been a small thing from his end, but for me, it was a big thing! You are lucky to have him as part of your team."

“Rick is a great instructor and is easy to follow along. He made the chore of creating a website an enjoyable project for me and I’m excited as I continue adding my photos to it.”

Judy Graham

Judy Graham is an avid photographer whose focus is on creating stunning landscape images. Her journey into photography began after a trip to the Grand Canyon several years ago when the snapshots she took on her cheap point and shoot camera did not reflect the true beauty she witnessed. Today, Judy travels widely in pursuit of capturing award-winning photos, including ones of the Grand Canyon.

Judy is eager to share her excitement and knowledge of photography with others. Her goal is to help photo enthusiasts create dynamic photos using different camera settings and a variety of composition techniques. 

Judy has enjoyed various roles in travel and photography including work for Overland Canyon Tours guiding photographers from all over the world in the famous slot canyons near Page, Arizona as well as to the well-known Wave in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness along the Utah border.

Originally from Bethesda, Maryland Judy currently lives in McLean, Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland and spent her career in corporate America.  Retirement now affords her the time to travel far and wide capturing amazing imagery.

Her work can be viewed on her website, JudySGrahamPhotography.

* Judy teaches in our 'Year of CPC Photography' program and other online offerings.

What People Are Saying About Judy

"Terrific class. Just the right level for me: not too advanced, but full of information and ideas about composition that added greatly to my knowledge level. Judy was very patient and passed on valuable tips on composition."

"Judy is a phenomenal teacher and I learned so much from her it’s amazing. I will definitely be taking more of the classes she is teaching!"

Laura Hatcher

Laura Hatcher is an award winning and published event, headshot and portrait photographer based in Alexandria, Virginia. She started her photographic journey while on active duty with the United States Navy. Laura, now a retired Naval Officer, opened a small studio in the heart of Old Town, Alexandria and is enjoying her second career as a full time photographer.  She continues to serve the Veteran community with her headshot and military ceremony photography.

Laura’s work has been featured in the Washington Post, Architectural Digest, Forbes Magazine, VIP Alexandria Magazine, and several college Alumni magazines. Her clients have included: The City of Alexandria, Visit Alexandria, The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association (her Alma Mater), The US Capitol Historical Society, and Texas A&M The Bush School of Government and Public Service.  Laura's work can be seen at: www.laurahatcherphotography.com

Laura teaches the following classes for Capital Photography Center:

* How to be a Photography Business Owner
* Exploring Headshot Photography
* Getting Started With Studio Lighting
* Portrait Editing- Tools and Techniques

What People Are Saying About Laura
"Laura is engaging, challenging, has great empathy and can sense when a class participant is feeling overwhelmed. Her entire vibe is upbeat and encouraging. I signed up for more of her classes."

"I really like how excited Laura is to share her knowledge. She is very generous with her time and talents."

“Laura is a wonderful teacher and I loved her delivery and teaching style. She provided so much more information than I was expecting, and I cannot thank her enough for her candor and her approach."

"Honestly, Mrs. Hatcher is a great teacher. She makes the content practical and very easy to understand."

"Laura is engaging, challenging, has great empathy and can sense when a class participant is feeling overwhelmed. Her entire vibe is upbeat and encouraging. I signed up for more of her classes."

Beth Haubach

Beth joined Capital Photography as the Education Programs Manager in 2017 and we are now happy to have her as a talented instructor! She brings a long time love of photography with her having been bitten with the 'photo bug' back in her high school days. 

Beth has a keen eye for composition and what makes a strong image. Her skills vary from abstract, architectural, floral, landscape, portrait and street. As you can see, she loves to photograph mostly ANYTHING! 

She constantly pushes herself beyond her comfort zone and loves to explore new ideas and techniques to expand her skills further.

She looks forward to meeting and helping you think outside the box with your own photography. Here work can be seen on her website, A2Z Photography.

Beth teaches the following classes for Captial Photography Center:

* Abstract Photography
* Exploring Vintage thru the Lens
* Historic Woolen Mill Field Shoot
* And Others

Corey Hilz

Corey Hilz is a professional photographer specializing in nature and travel photography. He finds the diversity in nature and cultures around the world offer boundless opportunities for new images. Corey approaches his subjects with an artistic eye, looking for a fresh perspective. He goes beyond the documentary image to show a unique perspective using color, shape and line. He strives to share the beauty of a destination you’ve never seen and provide a new perspective on a familiar subject. While Corey has collected diverse images from extensive travel, he also finds some of the most interesting subjects close to home.

Corey is a published author and his work is seen in magazines, books, calendars and catalogs. His photographs are also seen in exhibits and his prints are found in private collections. Corey has written six books, including two books on digital workflow and the first book dedicated to Lensbaby. 

Corey has a passion for sharing his knowledge and his instruction enables photographers to improve their photographs technically and artistically. He leads workshops to locations in the United States and abroad. More about Corey can be found on his website, www.coreyhilz.com

Corey teaches the following classes for Capital Photography Center.

* Lightroom In A Day
* Printing with Lightroom
* Photoshop For Photographers
* External Flash Made Easy
* Advanced External Flash
* And Many Of The In-The-Field Shooting Classes

What People Are Saying About Corey

"Corey Hilz never disappoints! I have taken several classes and workshops with Corey and I always come away with more photographic knowledge and insight than before. Not only does he have great vision, he is also technically savvy, making him a guru in the field and in the classroom. Corey is patient with all of his students regardless of level, and he makes his explanations easily understandable. I can’t recommend Corey enough if you are contemplating a workshop or class with him."

"Corey makes one feel confident. Yes, Corey truly is a gifted teacher, and he is able to clearly explain complex concepts to a complete novice."

"I've done enough photo workshops to know that some instructors are good in the field while others are good in the classroom. Corey is outstanding in both! In the field he has an uncanny ability to show up just when you need his help. His comments are always constructive and nonjudgmental. He lends his equipment freely (he got me hooked on Lensbaby) and encourages you to try new techniques. In the classroom, his teaching is methodical and logical. He shows you how to make the most of the digital darkroom with the software that you have (and then he shows you again using the software you wish you had). Corey is a natural teacher."

"I completed the Lightroom in a Day class with Corey Hilz today.  This class far exceeded my expectations.  I was admittedly skeptical of the long list of topics to be covered in one day but Corey is a gifted instructor and he presented a large amount of technically complex materials in a very easy to understand clear, concise, and coherent in manner." 

"Corey Hilz did an excellent job of outlining the goals for the class, reinforcing some key concepts and adjustments relevant to the indoor environment, and providing guidance and feedback on composition. There was ample time to practice and Corey circulated among the group to review photos, provide helpful feedback, and answer questions. Extremely satisfied with the experience"

Kim Kelly

Kim’s interest in photography took root when she received her first camera, a Canon AT-1 (film) as a college graduation gift and she has continued to shoot ever since. She eventually migrated over to digital technology and her passion for capturing images continued to grow. Kim served as the Field Trip Director for three years for the Digital Photography Club of Annapolis and serves as the club’s liaison to the Maryland Photography Alliance. 

She currently makes her home near Annapolis and considers the Chesapeake Bay region, with its extensive shorelines and historic maritime richness, her playground. Through her images, she hopes to invoke a curiosity in the viewer to ask questions about her subjects. She enjoys taking them places they would not normally go themselves. Many of her works feature old workboats or nautical treasures found in and around the tributaries of the Bay. She is also passionate about photographing nature, wildlife, landscapes, travel, and architecture, etc. 

Kim’s works have been displayed in local Annapolis businesses, been in juried shows and have been in print in several publications including Chesapeake Bay Magazine, Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources 2019 Calendar, MarinaLife and the cover of the Tidewater Times. She has had several solo exhibitions in the area as well. You can see her images adorning the walls of several commercial & residential properties in the area.

Kim's work can be seen at KimKellyImages.com

Kim teaches a variety of outdoor in-the-field classes for Capital Photography Center, such as;
* Summer Sunflower and Springtime Tulips
* Maritime Photo Field shoots
* Covered Bridges 
* Botanical Imagery
* Eagles at Blackwater NWR
* And many others

What People Are Saying About Kim

“Kim showed us different techniques, angles and backgrounds to display in the photos, which made the photos a lot more interesting than the photos that I normally take.”

“What made this class, was the knowledge of the event and backstory that was given throughout this workshop. Kudos to Kim for putting up with us moving around on a hot summer day.”  

“Kim is a great instructor and I learned so much at the class.” 

"Kim’s class exceeded my expectations and I love her teaching style."

"Great workshop with Kim! I learned so much from her and had fun in the process!"

Michael Koren

Michael Koren is a free-lance sports and event photographer in the Washington/Baltimore metro area specializing in youth sports game-time action and team portraits.  Prior to this Michael worked professionally shooting model portfolios, corporate portraits, product photography for catalogs, and client advertising campaigns.

Michael’s passion for photography is shared through his skill as a photography educator.  Michael teaches classes at Montgomery College on a variety of photographic topics from mobile photography to street photography. Additionally, he has served as President and Education Chair of the Silver Spring Camera Club in Maryland.  He has led numerous seminars and workshops for the Camera Club, Ritz Camera, Calumet and the former Washington School of Photography with topics ranging from beginner photography to hands-on advanced level workshops and classes.

Visit Michael’s website to learn more.

Michael teaches the following classes for Captial Photography Center:

* SmartPhone Photography
* Photographic Composition – Essential Techniques
* Exploring Street Photography Field Shoots
* Street Photography Travel Workshop in Philidelphia
* And Many Others

What People Are Saying About Michael

"He is excellent with adult learners — great deal of patience, humor, and kindness. I would love to take another class with him!" 

"Michael is fantastic. So articulate, instructive, and patient!! We all were saying at the end of the class how amazing the afternoon had been!"

"I was blown away by the class!!! Much more then I expected it to be! I can’t wait to take more! I loved the way he explained things and the order he did stuff in made lots of sense. You can tell he is a seasoned teacher, and an experienced photographer who also loves it! Can’t wait to squeeze more of his classes into my schedule...."

“I thought the class was a good mix of class time with history, concepts, guidance, how-to-approach and then practice time on the streets of DC. Michael provided very good direction as well as hands-on tutoring in the field. Very happy with the class.”

“I wanted to write to say how much I enjoyed the class. My first experience going around with a photographer seeing what catches his eye and it was so great you were pointing out pictures I could get. So relaxing!”

“Michael's presentation was comprehensive and very instructive.  He provided excellent suggestions for finding opportunities while in the field, including how to use background, shadows, gestures, etc.”

"This was a great class! I am a beginner and I never felt intimidated or overwhelmed. The class was a lot of fun and I feel like I learned so much. I’m looking forward to taking another one soon"

"Michael gave great advice and feedback on composition, framing, and focus. He did a great job of reinforcing the importance of slowing down to stop, think and re-think about everything in the frame or as he put it, the "what" and "why" for each frame."

Tammy Loverdos

Tammy is a professional photographer in the Washington DC area specializing in interiors and Real Estate. Her work is regularly featured in the Washington Post, Visit Alexandria, Virginia Living Magazine, DC Urban Turf and more. 

Tammy has over 20 years of work experience in marketing, communications and design. Her roles ranged from marketing and design for the banks at Fleet Street to communications and design for USAID.

She has lived and worked in 4 continents and now lives in Alexandria with her husband and daughter.    

She is passionate about sharing her photography skills and knowledge with others. Visit Tammy's work on her website, www.ShowcasePhotoTours.com.

Tammy teaches the following classes for Capital Photography Center:

* Real Estate Photography
* Capturing Stunning Interiors 
* Architecture Photography Field Shoots 
* Architectural Art and Murals Field Shoot

What People Are Saying About Tammy

"The instructor was great!!!!! She answered every question, walked us through steps on what to know, and explained a lot of information."

"Although technical aspects were covered, I liked that the focus was on composition so we could concentrate on providing the best image."

Mel McNamara

Mel is an avid photographer of places, people, and events.  She started her photographic journey in college with her first film SLR camera and built a darkroom in her parent’s garage. She is accomplished in Photoshop, Lightroom and InDesign.  Mel loves to travel and create books of her adventures, she also enjoys designing cookbooks for people using their loved one’s original recipe cards.  

Mel graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts.  She has a Masters degree in Library Science from Catholic University and a Masters degree in Educational Media from Boston University.  Mel is a retired Library/Media Specialist and Educational Technology Resource Teacher having worked for the Howard County Public Schools in Maryland. 

Mel teaches the following class for Capital Photography Center:
* Creating Books with Lightroom's Book Module 

Photo by Amy Deputy

What People Are Saying About Mel

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the class with Mel. I learned a lot! And even better, I am very inspired to start creating books from my photos." 

"Mel is the perfect choice to teach this class. She brings a great balance of teaching experience, technical knowledge, enthusiasm and humor to the class."

Lori Saunders

Lori is an award-winning fine art photographer in the northern Virginia area specializing in Light Painting techniques. She started her photographic journey studying black and white photography and has always looked for a unique view into the everyday around us. This led to interests in abstract photography and creating images with light. 

Lori has shared her passion for light painting through workshops and presentations in the DMV area and has exhibited award winning images through Mid-Atlantic Photo Visions, Vienna Art Society, Herndon ArtSpace, The SE Center for Photography, Joe Miller Abstract Exhibits, and Maryland Photo Alliance.

Lori teaches photographers how to create unique, surreal images using light in the darkness through step-by-step instruction with tools, movements, surroundings, and camera settings. 

Lori’s work can be viewed on her website at https://lorisimages.smugmug.com/ or follow her on Instagram @Lo8iS or Facebook at “Lori’s Images”.

info@CapitalPhotographyCenter.com

Jeffrey Snyder

Jeff is a sought after award-winning professional photographer. He is based in the DC area and works with professional photographers and large corporate clients nationwide. 

He has photographed events such as Super Bowl’s, Major League Baseball, Movie Premiere’s, Concerts, and MTV Video Music Awards and more. His images have been published in The Washington Post, US Weekly, People, Rolling Stone, Variety, In Touch, and USA Today.

Jeff's client list includes Madame Tussauds - DC, Miramax - Lions Gate Films, The Blood-Horse, US Weekly, People,  Allied Advertising, Disney/Buena Vista, MGM/UA - Paramount Pictures, FOX - MTV, Hard Rock Cafe - Planet Hollywood, Variety, and many others. 

* Jeff teaches the Horse Racing classes for Capital Photography Center.

What people are saying about Jeff

"I can’t praise you folks at Capital Photography Center and Professional Photographer Jeff Snyder enough for providing such a thoroughly enjoyable workshop.  Jeff could not have been more organized as to when/where to take me at Laurel Park to get the best shots or just generally nicer throughout the day.  I so enjoyed myself and would recommend this workshop to anyone.  It’s worth every penny and then some! It was a truly unique opportunity to spend the day with Jeff. Through his press pass, he provided incredible access to every aspect of the horse races. And yes, the ground does shake as the horses go by! I haven't had so much fun in a long time.  Thank you, Jeff and Capital Photography, for a great day."
Gary S.

"Thank you so much for the time at the races! It was fun to see some of the behind the scenes of this world totally unknown to me before yesterday. I can’t wait to go back!"
Ilenia A.

"It was a delightful day at the races. Jeff began by showing me the room inside where the photographers work, and then outside where the photographers spend most of their time alongside the track. During the class we shot 9 races at either the race start, or the approaching turn, or the following turn, or head on, or the finish line, and the winners circle, and the Paddock. Jeff's face is so well known, that when he shouts a compliment to a still-mounted winner, he gets an interesting response to record. Since the track is not open to the public, without Jeff I would not have been allowed to cross the track for another perspective. Since the class is limited to just 2 students, it allowed me to keep a low profile within the intimate crowd of owners."
David P.

"Jeff was a gracious guide and because of his access, we went all over the track catching different angles, different starts and finishes and all types of images.  I had a lot of fun." 

Rafael Suanes

Rafael Suanes is a seasoned sports photographer with over 20 years of experience capturing the intensity and emotion of both college and professional sports.

As the staff photographer for George Mason and Georgetown Universities, he has chronicled countless memorable moments in college athletics. His expertise extends to the professional arena as a contributor to USA Today Sports Images, where his work has been widely recognized and featured in leading sports publications.

With a background in photojournalism and a passion for storytelling, Rafael’s images not only showcase the action on the field but also the narratives that define athletes' careers.

He is passionate about helping others fall in love with the excitement of shooting sports! 

* Rafael teaches the Sports on the Sidelines classes for Capital Photography Center.

What people are saying about Rafael

"It was amazing! I hope to sign up for another class with Rafael (basketball maybe) as I learned a lot - not just about taking photos, but about what's involved with someone who works as a photographer for a college/university."

"I had a great time and look forward to my next class."

"Rafael was great! He got a feel for my experience level, answered all my questions thoroughly and provided great tips on additional equipment, software and workflow. During the game I was next to him and could ask anything. I had fun and learned a lot and will sign up for additional classes."

Kathy Zemens

Education Programs Manager

Kathy is recently retired from her position of Office Manager in the medical profession and brings her organizational skills and her friendly personality to the mix.

She is joining us as our Education Programs Assistant and looks forward to working with our CPC community!

Kathy is an avid traveler, a lover of dogs, a mother of 2 and grandmother of 4. She enjoys capturing special moments on her phone camera and has a great eye for composition.

Alexandra Siegel

Social Media Coordinator

With a love for capturing moments through portrait and event photography, Alex is excited to infuse her creativity into the online world of Capital Photography Center, where she'll be sharing inspiration, tips, and all things photography with our community. She is a master editor, graphic designer, and content creator, specializing in all things social media. Keep an eye out for her work—it's sure to bring a fresh perspective to your feed.

Alex is the creative force behind Editcove, a DMV digital media and video production company and brings her passion for photography and social media wizardry to Capital Photography Center.

Based in Alexandria, Virginia, Alex balances her vibrant career with life at home with her fiancé, Jay, and their photogenic cat, Sophie, who often finds herself in front of the lens for those perfect test shots.