Spotlight on Guide: Scott Sleek

Scott Sleek semi-retired about a year ago. Yet, for Scott, retiring meant a shift in direction, not a stop. He’s not planning to step away from the things he loves anytime soon.

“I knew I still wanted to keep busy. I was doing freelance and consulting work when I stumbled on GetSetUp in a random Google search."

Scott found being a Guide to be an intriguing opportunity. He developed an iPhone photography class for his demo back in the summer of 2020, and he’s been leading photography courses ever since.

A Passion for Photography

Scott spent his career in the communication field, working as a reporter, a non-profit communications director, and a consultant for telecommunications companies. About 20 years ago, he picked up photography, and it quickly became a passion.

“I really enjoy photography. I have even started doing a bit of that in terms of paid gigs as a portrait photographer.”

While portrait photography isn’t what he teaches at GetSetUp, Scott enjoys leading the Selfie class, which he finds lots of fun.

“That’s where there is the most laughter. I try to keep these classes light and informative. I make fun of myself with some of my own really bad selfies as an example of what not to do.”

Looking at the lighter side of life is part of why Scott really enjoys teaching the Magic of Photo Apps class.

“With mobile apps that you can download, you can do fun and different things with photos. I love the thrill of seeing people’s eyes pop wide open when they see some of the things the apps can do. Some can turn photos into a surreal painting or make them 3D. It’s fun!”

Expanding Creativity: From Visual to Verbal Expression

Scott is also branching out from photography and starting to teach blogging on Medium.

“Having been a writer all my professional career, I’m enjoying showing people where they can find a writing outlet that fits their needs.”

Scott enjoys teaching these creative classes and finds that many people are interested in fine-tuning or expanding their creativity.

“Anyone who really wants to tap into their creativity, whether that is photography or art, and wants to get better at it will hopefully enjoy my classes. My classes help hone artistic skills. They are good for anyone interested in photography as a hobby or anyone who wants to get better at it—especially if they want to understand how to use smartphones to take better photos.”

Scott is full of ideas for new classes, such as Photoshop, photo composition, and tips for good writing. No matter what class he’s teaching, Scott loves to hear each learner’s objectives.

“I like to know I helped steer a learner on their way toward reaching a personal goal.”

Scott understands that learners come from different backgrounds and experiences, so he strives to make his classes as informative and welcoming as possible.

“I really like to disseminate a lot of information. I strive to be thorough. I also want to be friendly, understanding, and patient. There are some people who sometimes feel condescended to or made to feel stupid when they have a technical question. I really try to assure that people do not come away with that feeling and that they feel comfortable asking whatever they want to ask. I hope they come out with some skill they lacked before and were maybe initially intimidated to try to develop.”

Helping Learners Create Photo Magic

Many learners leave Scott’s classes with newfound skills, and they often share their experiences with others.

For instance, Lois in New York was able to make a photobook for her mother that brings back all the memories of her mom’s 90th birthday party. Sandra from Michigan said:

“This class was one of the most inspirational classes that I have ever attended! I love desktop publishing and photography and looked forward to this class for days. It exceeded my expectations, and I am looking forward to exploring all of the photo book programs that were recommended. I will use these often for a variety of projects and plan to recommend this class to all of my friends. As a result of taking this class, I have connected with some preschools and have two interviews this week. I will be doing remote desktop publishing that will incorporate some of the concepts that I have learned in this class. It was a catalyst for inspirational change, and I am grateful for the nudge. I plan on attending the class again, and several others.”

Scott doesn’t just teach how to take pictures—he also shows learners how to save those photos and back them up so they don’t lose them. Plus, some apps even automatically help to organize and categorize photos.

Growing Through New Experiences

In his spare time, Scott loves to go to the gym, travel, and ski, though all have been a bit tough to do over the past year. He’s hoping to get back into his gym routine this year. To make that happen, he and his wife are trying a new home workout to see if it sticks! He also looks forward to the day when he and his wife, Jiwon, can travel again, as those trips give Scott ample opportunity for photography.

He spends a lot of time reading and going on hikes with Jiwon and their dog, Maggie. Scott and Jiwon love stand-up comedy and enjoy live performances at DC comedy clubs when they can. Heading into DC this year hasn’t happened much, so Scott has enjoyed being part of the GetSetUp team right from his home.

“I really enjoy the other GetSetUp staff members. They have been really encouraging. I enjoy working for GetSetUp because I have always tried to stick to work that I felt had a good purpose and provided some kind of benefit to people. I feel like I’m seeing that directly based on what people tell me in the middle of class and based on the feedback I get. It’s nice to see you are making a difference in someone’s life.”

Photos aren’t the only advantage learners find in classes. The interaction and support from the community have been a huge help for many, according to some of the feedback Scott has received. Several learners in his classes were recently widowed, and they expressed appreciation for the connection, moral support, and interaction the classes provide. This community environment is a key component of GetSetUp's charm.

“I’m really excited to see how much GetSetUp is growing. I’ve never worked for a startup before, so watching how it evolves has been exciting.”

Join Scott in a class now and explore your passion for photography!