The Value of Hands on Learning In Person with Cris Duncan

Sep 9, 2025

Cris Duncan, a seasoned studio owner and lighting educator from Lubbock, Texas, discusses the invaluable role of in-person learning at the Texas School of Professional Photography. He highlights the immersive, hands-on approach that fosters real skill mastery over the superficial learning often found online. Cris details the school's structured classes focusing on specific photography skills and emphasizes the community aspect, where lifelong connections and motivation thrive. He also reassures beginners that there are tailored paths for all experience levels.

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INSIGHT

Deep-Dive Week Beats Conference Popcorn

Texas School is a weeklong, deep-dive event where students pick one instructor and study that subject intensely for the week.
Small classes (under ~30) prioritize practice, feedback, and mastery over surface-level conference talks.

ADVICE

Use In-Person Practice To Turn Knowledge Into Skill

Practice with real-time feedback so you can fail, diagnose the problem, and fix it under instructor guidance.
Seek hands-on instruction to turn knowledge into practical understanding and repeatable skill.

ADVICE

Pick A Track That Matches Your Skill Gap

Choose a class track that matches your immediate growth need: post-production, studio/business, lighting/camera, or specialty.
Read class descriptions and match intensity and skill-level before registering.

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#591 Cris Duncan is an experienced studio owner from Lubbock, Texas, well-known for his expertise in lighting and in-person photography education. The conversation dives into the transformative value of hands-on, in-person learning experiences for photographers at all stages, shining a spotlight on Cris’ role with the Texas School of Professional Photography—a weeklong, immersive event designed to provide deep dives into specific areas of photography, rather than the surface-level "popcorn" approach of larger conferences.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

In-Person Education vs. Online Learning - Cris highlights the unique advantages of in-person workshops (like Texas School) over online resources. While online tools are valuable for information, in-person learning provides real-time feedback, hands-on practice, and the chance to safely make and correct mistakes.
Structure and Tracks at Texas School of Professional Photography - Texas School offers deep-dives in four main tracks—digital post-production, successful studio/business growth, lighting and camera skills, and specialty/technique. Students select a single class for the week, fostering mastery and focused learning.
Building Community and Lifelong Learning - Success is fueled by connecting with others, sharing experiences, and forming lasting friendships. Community learning fosters motivation, accountability, and creative problem-solving. Cris describes students returning year after year, advancing in their journeys, and forming strong professional networks.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS & CONCEPTS

Concierge Family Portrait Experience: A premium, tailored photography service that guides clients in everything from wardrobe choices to matching artwork with home décor, ensuring the final portrait complements the client’s personality and environment.
Texas School of Professional Photography: A weeklong educational event near Dallas, Texas, offering immersive, instructor-led classes to help photographers build foundational and advanced skills in a collaborative, hands-on environment.

DISCUSSION & REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In what ways does hands-on, in-person instruction help you understand and retain new photography skills better than online learning?
How might joining a creative community or peer group accelerate your own photography journey?
What skills or business goals would you most want to “deep-dive” into if given a week-long immersive class?
Reflect on a time you learned best by failing—and how feedback helped you improve.

RESOURCES:
Visit Texas School’s Website - https://texasschool.org/
Follow Cris Duncan on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cjduncan

Connect with Raymond!

Go from Confused to Confident behind the camera with The Ultimate Photography Education Bundle - https://beginnerphotopod.com/bundle
Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
Grab your free camera setting cheatsheet - https://perfectcamerasettings.com/

Thanks for listening & keep shooting!