The votes are in! Here are the best 7 online photography courses, classes, certificates, and training programs. We recommend that you check out multiple online photography courses trailers to get a better feel for each teaching style. The list of photography learning resources was compiled based on factors like difficulty level, instructor, price (free vs paid), the number of students and duration. Scroll down to see our list.
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Best Photography Courses
- Fundamentals of Photography
- Introduction to Photography
- Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography
- Photography Composition & Portrait Photography Masterclass
- How to Be a Commercial Photographer
- The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Photography – 2018
- Digital Photography Taught by a 30 Year Photography Pro
Fundamentals of Photography
Platform: Other
Duration: N/A
Always wanted to become a professional photographer? We think we found the right course for you. This online photography course covers all the fundamentals of photography. You will learn about different camera types, sensors, shutter speed, focal length, lenses, aperture and more. Overall there are over 100 lessons in this class.
The Fundamentals of Photography online course is available on CreativeLive and taught by John Greengo an award-winning photographer who specializes in outdoor and travel photography. John currently has over 80,000 students enrolled in his online course.
Skills you will learn
- How to become an expert in using the manual mode
- Choosing the right gear for your set up
- Developing an efficient and productive workflow
- Utilizing natural light to your advantage
- The fundamentals of digital photography
- How to compose beautiful images
The course is a great fit for every beginner. You’ll take your first steps in this course by learning about the technical terms and then move through the different subject areas.
Introduction to Photography
Platform: Other
Duration: About 2 hours
In this introduction to photography course, you will gain all the basic skills needed to become a good photographer. This Lynda online class is the first in a series of photography online courses. Topics covered in this class include things like exploring cameras and lenses, controlling exposure, composing and shooting portraits. Also useful, the best Photoshop courses.
The Introduction to Photography course is available on Lynda and taught by Ben Long an award-winning photographer and editor at Macworld magazine. Ben is an absolute professional and some of his clients include 20th Century Fox, Blue Note Records, Global Business Network and the San Francisco Jazz Festival.
Skills you will learn
- Understand how night and low light affects your photos
- What camera and gear every professional photographer needs to own
- How to manage your photos
- The foundations to start a career as a photographer
- Different techniques for shooting portraits
The course is good for novice and hobby photographers who want to improve their art.
Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography
Platform: Udemy
Duration: Around 22 hours
This massive online photography course will teach you how to take amazing photos, even if you are a beginner. If you are looking to get started and willing to invest quite a bit of time, then this class could be a great fit. The instructor will take you through topics like exposure, composition, focus, camera anatomy, lighting and mobile photography. As well as walk you through different cameras and lenses.
The Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography online course is available on Udemy and taught by Phil Ebiner a best selling instructor who has taught over 900,000 students. There are currently 85,000 students enrolled in this online class.
Skills you will learn
- Learn how to take impressive photos of family/friends
- Understand basic photography rules (including composition)
- How to light your subjects with natural light
- Editing like a professional
- Learn about the different career opportunities for photographers
- How to take better photos with your phone
The author describes the course as a good fit for anyone who wants to take better photos.
Photography Composition & Portrait Photography Masterclass
Platform: Udemy
Duration: Around 11 hours
In this introductory photography class, you will learn to become a more creative photographer (and person overall 😉). This photography course is a great way to familiarize yourself with DSLR, black/white and street photography. Upon completion of the online course, you will receive a certification.
The Photography Composition & Portrait Photography Masterclass course is available on Udemy and taught by Mark Timberlake | Professional Online Training Courses For Beginners. There are currently 8,183 students enrolled in this online class.
Skills you will learn
- Find your own creativity
- Master portrait photography
- Learn to take photos that impress others
- Understand how light works
- How to take great color photos
- How to take great black and white photos
- Learn to use your flash
The course is for beginner photographers who want to learn more about the creative side of photography.
How to Be a Commercial Photographer
Platform: Udemy
Duration: Almost 33 hours
Do you want to become a professional commercial photographer? Check out this course. In this online class, you’ll learn the skills needed to turn your hobby into a career. This includes learning about photography fundamentals, color management, product photography, architecture photography and lighting people. You will also receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course which you can post on LinkedIn.
The How to Be a Commercial Photographer online course is available on Udemy and taught by Charlie Borland a professional photographer with over 30 years of experience. His clients include big name brands like Xerox, Fujitsu, Nike, Blue Cross and Columbia Sportswear. Currently, there are around 3,500 students enrolled in his online class.
Skills you will learn
- Learn to become a master of photographic lighting
- Develop the skills to photograph architecture
- Understand how yo market your photography business
- Learn to estimate the workload for an assignment
- How to sell your photos on stock photo websites
- How to take amazing product photos
The course is great for any person with a passion in photography. Especially if you want to make some 💵doing what you love. These lessons can also help you expand your part-time photography business.
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Photography – 2018
Platform: Udemy
Duration: Around 9 hours
The purpose of this course is to teach you about urban and nature photography. You’ll learn how to capture the beauty of the world with your camera. Whether it is the nighttime sky over San Francisco or a sunrise in the Bahamas. Some of the topics include finding the right gear, using your DSLR, composition and Lightroom. Upon completion of the online class, you will receive a certification.
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Photography online course is available on Udemy and taught by Josh Katz a photographer and influencer with over 350,000 Youtube subscribers. There are currently 2,000 students enrolled in his online class.
Skills you will learn
- Learn to shoot dynamic images in cities
- Understand compositional elements
- When and where to shoot for optimal lighting
- How to market your work
- How to develop a strong portfolio website
- Discover editing techniques in Lightroom that will increase your productivity
The course is targeted at beginners and hobbyists who want to develop their photography skills.
Digital Photography Taught by a 30 Year Photography Pro
Platform: Udemy
Duration: About 9 hours
This 9 hours online photography class will teach you all about the different technical aspects of being a good photographer. Some of the topics include choosing the right equipment, mastering light, exposure, composition and the business of photography. You will also receive a certificate of completion at the end of the class.
The Digital Photography Taught by a 30 Year Photography Pro online course is available on Udemy and taught by Chris Parker a teacher who has worked in the photography business for many years. There are currently 2,000 students enrolled in his online class.
Skills you will learn
- How to use the manual mode on your camera
- Learn how aperture is used
- Discover shutter speed
- Learn about ISO
- Understand the exposure triangle and its limitations
- Explore photography as a career
The digital photography course is perfect for all photography levels, beginner to advanced. It can be a great introduction to how to work with your camera or can help you develop the skills to take better photos.
We hope you found the class you were looking for. Did you enjoy our favorite photography online courses, classes, programs with certification? Other related resources the best Fashion Design classes and Instagram Marketing courses. If you think we forgot something, please let us know. Happy studying! 😉
