Wondersnaps
Wondersnaps is a year-long immersive photography experience designed for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to seasoned photographers. With expert-led Zoom classes, hands-on field trips, personalized assignments, and portfolio reviews, you’ll gain confidence and creativity while mastering Lightroom Classic and professional photography techniques.
Wondersnaps is Beyond the Classroom:
Denver Practice Sessions – Join Shanon for hands-on adventures, perfecting your camera skills in real-world settings.
Colorado Photo Retreat – Spend a weekend exploring stunning landscapes with renowned photographer Steve Weaver.
“Come Alive” South Africa Safari – A once-in-a-lifetime wildlife photography expedition with award-winning photographer Chad Cocking. 🦁🐘
🌱 Giving Back with Every Click: A portion of your tuition supports The Timbavati Foundation in South Africa, funding education, conservation, and the K-9 Rhino Unit. This aligns with our Ayni philosophy—giving without expectation, a core principle of The SAMI Institute.
Join the Adventure – Limited Spots Available!
Wondersnaps is capped at just 12 participants, ensuring a personalized and impactful experience. If you’re ready to transform your photography and awaken your creative spirit, email Shanon Marie at kanchaysonqo@gmail.com to secure your spot!
Pricing & Payment
💲 Each 2-hour Wondersnaps class: $75 (Venmo or Zelle accepted)
📷 Participants provide camera & gear.
✈️ Field trips & private sessions are not included in class fees.
Meet Your Expert Guides
✨ Chad Cocking (South Africa): Wildlife photographer & field guide, Chad has spent over 15 years capturing Africa’s most majestic creatures. His work is featured in books, magazines, and galleries worldwide.
✨ Joe Klocek (Denver, CO): Founder of The F Stops Here, Joe is a master of photography education, specializing in macro, editing, and technical skills for every level.
✨ Steve Weaver (Colorado Springs, CO): Award-winning landscape photographer & former geology professor, Steve blends science and art to capture Earth’s raw beauty.
2025 Wondersnaps Class Lineup
📅 January 5: Wildlife Photography Essentials 🦓 with Chad Cocking
Get started with the right gear, settings, and techniques for stunning wildlife shots.
📅 February 9: Mastering Your Camera & Lenses 🔍 with Joe Klocek
Discover the magic behind exposure, tripods, and the tools that bring your vision to life.
📅 March 2: Lightroom: From Chaos to Clarity 🗂️ with Joe Klocek
Organize, manage, and streamline your Lightroom workflow for effortless editing.
📅 April 6: Perfecting Wildlife Camera Settings 🎯 with Chad Cocking
Dial in your camera for breathtaking wildlife shots, from exposure to positioning.
📅 May 4: Global Edits in Lightroom 🎨 with Joe Klocek
Learn to enhance entire images with powerful global adjustments.
📅 June 15: The Art of Light & Composition ✨ with Chad Cocking
Harness light and framing techniques to elevate your storytelling.
📅 July: Colorado Photo Retreat 🏔️ with Steve Weaver
A breathtaking three-day excursion to capture the wild beauty of Gunnison, CO.
📅 July 26: Portfolio Review & Pro Tips 🏆 with Joe Klocek
Receive expert feedback and refine your shooting & editing style.
📅 August 10: Building a Powerful Image 🔥 with Chad Cocking
Craft a stunning image from concept to execution, including post-processing.
📅 September 7: Precision Editing & Masking 🎭 with Joe Klocek
Fine-tune your shots using selective adjustments in Lightroom.
📅 October 5: Capturing Fast-Paced Action 🚀 with Chad Cocking
Master action photography and capture movement like never before.
📅 November 23: Photoshop Magic ✨ with Joe Klocek
Level up with advanced editing, from color grading to object removal.
As a Member of Wondersnaps, YOU are invited to join Shanon on the... “Come Alive” Photo Safari to South Africa!
This incredible two-week journey will begin in Sabi Sands the southern part of Krueger National Park. This exciting place is famous for its leopard sightings! The cats are accustomed to visitors — making this an excellent opportunity to take loads of leopard photos. After our time at Elephant Plains Lodge in Sabi Sands, we will be traveling to the Timbavati and Tanda Tula Safari Camp. This is where we will meet up with Chad. Then, Chad will introduce us to Tanda Tula , the Timbavati and all the animals that make it their home. We will get to see Lions, Leopards, Cape Buffalos, Elephants, Rhinos and much more! During our time we will visit the Timbavati Foundation and the K-9 Rhino Unit!
Once we have waved goodbye to Chad, we will travel on to Parfuri Tented Camp. This is a rare treat to be able to shoot images of many exotic birds and amazing trees! During our stay at Parfuri, participants will learn about this wonderful history of pirates, animals and trees. We then will proceed on to Cape Town for a couple of days of sightseeing then return back home.
Space is limited to 6 participants.
If you are interested,
please contact Shanon ASAP!
Wondersnaps
303-886-1901
kanchaysonqo@gmail.com
Wondersnaps Come Alive Safari
The song of the Lion of the full moon
There was a new call to a distant land… New smells, sounds, and feels that find a deep, forgotten place to the land inside…
The instincts are inspired by a million conversations of the natural world..
Each sound vibrates the primal alive… Each vibration opens numb places…
Each day, one is called to participate… Participate openly without defense… Participate with curiosity instead of knowing…
Participate with the beauty, magic, and vitality of the circle of life, not being afraid…
The call to go beyond what can be seen… To open to the call of the wild, a familiar place that had been tamed…
Feeling the pulse rise… Feeling the excitement… Embrace the adventure… Open up to the passion…
Embrace the joy…
Come alive…
Shanon Marie
A Few years ago Shanon Marie was introduced to the beauty of the Bush of South Africa. Little did she know that this trip would reignite a fire deep inside of her. One night on a drive,a lone lion called to his brothers. That roar vibrated deep inside Shanon and something magical started to happen. That love song began to ignite a fire deep inside of her. The fire rekindled was the art of photography, a passion that waited patiently for her to come to discover it once again. What an amazing experience!
Shanon would like to invite YOU to participate in her ”Come Alive Photo Safari” to see what is asleep in you that needs to be awakened! This two-week Photo Safari through the three major ecosystems of The Krueger National Park is limited to six participants. Shanon is excited to be working with the renowned Wildlife Photographer, Chad Cocking.
Wondersnaps Photo Guide Chad Cocking, South Adrica
I’m Chad Cocking, and what began as a “gap year” has turned into a “gap decade”—and counting! My passion for wildlife photography took root during my university days in Johannesburg, where I discovered the perfect blend of my love for nature and the art of photography. To fully immerse myself in the wild, I became a field guide, spending my days exploring the bush and capturing its beauty through my lens.
Since 2007, I’ve been based in South Africa’s Timbavati Private Game Reserve, a place that has truly captured my heart. Years of living and working in this remarkable landscape have given me the privilege of following generations of lions and leopards through their triumphs and challenges. While these big cats often take center stage, my photography extends beyond them, showcasing the sweeping landscapes and the rich diversity of life that thrives in the African wilderness.
My work has been featured in coffee table books, magazines, and calendars both in South Africa and internationally. I’ve also published two books dedicated to sharing the beauty and untamed spirit of this extraordinary place I call home.
Wondersnaps Joe Klock, Denver, Colorado
Joe Klocek has been deeply immersed in the photographic industry since 2005, working as a photographer, instructor, and industry expert. In 2017, he founded The F Stops Here to make professional-quality photography accessible to every enthusiast.
With a passion for education and innovation, Joe has developed several products, authored seven books, and teaches courses covering macro photography, wildlife, editing, videography, and studio lighting. His expertise has made him a sought-after speaker at photography societies and travel expos in recent years.
Based in Denver, Joe shares his home with his wife, son, and an ever-growing book collection. The F Stops Here offers a range of educational programs, Lightroom training, and resources to help photographers refine their craft and master the art of photography.
Steve Weaver Colorado Springs, Colorado
Stephen Weaver is an award-winning photographer with over 40 years of experience capturing the beauty of the natural world. With a formal background in geology, he blends scientific expertise with artistic vision to create stunning images that highlight the intricate structure and composition of the Earth’s landscapes.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Stephen developed a deep love for nature and the outdoors at an early age. As a geology student, his first visit to the Rocky Mountains sparked a lifelong passion for the vast landscapes of the American West. Today, he photographs across North America, with a primary focus on mountain and desert environments. He has also embraced the beauty of the prairie, dedicating time to a project documenting the short and tall grass prairies of the western plains.
For many years, Stephen worked with a large-format 4×5 view camera and transparency film to create his landscape images. His deep understanding of geology allows him to capture landscapes with a unique perspective, revealing the powerful forces that shape the natural world.
In addition to his photography, Stephen served as a professor of geology at Colorado College. His ability to connect art and science makes his workshops and excursions both visually inspiring and intellectually enriching. Whether teaching photography techniques or sharing insights about the land, Stephen offers a one-of-a-kind experience that deepens appreciation for both the craft and the environment.
