The best photographers rise to the top by practicing, while second-best photographers rise to the top by shooting blackmail photos of the first-best. Snap like a champ with today's Groupon: for $49, you get a two-hour photography course and photo walk at Ira Nicolai Photography (a $134.40 value).

Ira Nicolai or one of her seasoned sharpshooters guides photographers through the functions and potential of their digital camera. During the one-hour Q&A session, students cradle their cameras while learning about technical niceties such as presets, scene modes, light meter, image exposure, and creative exposure control. Detailed handouts ensure that rookie mistakes stay safely reserved for the chemistry lab, even after bringing home a battalion of new skills. After the course, newly mighty image capturers roam the wild as Ira Nicolai, a former stock-agency art director, or her deputy leads the pack through the landscape to snap plant-mating scenes with new confidence. Enroll online in weekend or weeknight classes. Groupon holders also receive a 10% discount on Ira Nicolai Photography’s other services.