Quality photos leave their subjects looking their best, unlike mouth-staining popsicles and confrontational Christmas-shopping tussles. Learn to capture life from its best angle with today's Groupon: for $49, you get a five-hour digital-photography course for beginners from McKay Photography Academy at the Mesa Convention Center (a $399 value) in Mesa and a $25 voucher for printing services from One Click Pix (a $424 total value). Choose from the following dates:

•Sunday, August 28, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
•Sunday, August 28, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
•Monday, August 29, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
•Sunday, October 9, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

McKay Photography Academy trains eyes, fingers, and imaginations to work in tandem as a snapshooting dream machine during any one of its classes. The course instructs 1,000-word wannabes in the relatively new fine art of digital photography, helping camera clutchers understand the intricacies of their instruments and showing them how to utilize a device's capabilities to produce the desired effects. David and Ally McKay, an award-winning duo recognized by Professional Photographers of America, guide the class through basics such as manual settings, composition, and downloading before progressing to more advanced aspects, such as lenses and perspective, exposure control, shutter speeds, and hosting parties in abandoned darkrooms. In addition to the $25 voucher from One Click Pix, Groupon holders will also receive a $25 voucher from Canvas by Blossom.