Before photography, the only way people could preserve their most treasured memories was by forcing everyone around them to stand completely still for days at a time. Get schooled in a less complicated manner with today's Groupon: for $69, you get admission to one group photography workshop from Wilson Camera Digital Lab & Portrait Studio. Students must bring their own SLR, digital SLR, or advanced manual-mode point-and-shoot camera (or "bridge camera") for the workshop.

Wilson Camera instructs eager amateurs on how to expertly wield an SLR or advanced point-and-shoot camera to craft dazzling photographic images. During the 2.5-hour workshop, Rudolph Henninger shares professional techniques and tips gleaned from 37 years in the field. Digital compact cameras may be less complex and easier to sneak into celebrity dance competitions, but professionals prefer SLRs for their interchangeable lenses and time-melting shutter speeds. Hobbyists who prefer to brandish advanced point-and-shoots or bridge cameras needn't feel neglected; under Henniger's tutelage, students leaning toward either form of equipment will learn the skills—like metering, lighting, and posing, as well as mastery of ISO settings and f-stops—that go into creating stellar stills.

Although amateur detectives and owl paparazzi may prefer evening sessions, workshops take place on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons for bright results. Classes are held in Papago Park, where students can snap scenic Southwestern vistas featuring the park's three lakes, sandstone buttes, and giant tumbleweeds made of fusilli noodles. Each class can accommodate up to 50 students, so reserve a spot in advance to boost your chance of hosting Ansel Adams's phantom between your ears for an afternoon.

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