Seminars

Dave’s personality is that of a teacher.  His thirst for learning has always been coupled with a desire to share his knowledge and experience.

His first exposure to formal teaching came in his early twenties. Elected as the vice president of personal development for the Greater Flint Area Junior Chamber of Commerce, Dave was responsible for teaching five personal development classes.

After graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology (R.I.T.) with a Bachelors Degree in Professional Photography and establishing a successful commercial photography studio the dean of The School of Photographic Arts and Sciences (SPAS) at R.I.T. recruited Dave to develop Course number 2019-307-01 Reference Photography. Reference Photography was for junior and senior painting and illustration students. The purpose was to bring all students to a level of competency with a camera so they could be hired to take reference photos to use for illustrations and paintings.  Dave taught photography at R.I.T for 3 years.

While living in Hawaii Dave took a fellow photographer scuba diving on his friends first deep dive.  Tom who was very nervous before the experience was impressed with the way Dave explained everything they had to do, then lead him through the experience.  Tom was so impressed he told Dave, “You are so good at this you should be getting paid for it. I will build you a website if you want to start a business.  That is how DiveWithDave.com was born.  Over the next 10 plus years Dave taught hundreds of people how to scuba dive.

Sanford Photo Seminars was birthed in Hawaii because Dave frequently found himself teaching tourist and fellow divers how to take better photos.

Photo of Dave on Sizzor Lift.

Student Work