Photography is one of the most dynamic industries in the world today, and it doesn’t only encapsulates high-earning professionals but also casual hobbyists. Photography has always been a way to express oneself.
Finding the best way to learn photography online can be tricky as there are thousands of online courses. To help you get started we’ve listed only the best popular courses to learn photography.
As the world shifts to a digital market, the need for photographers becomes more evident. Therefore, learning how to create amazing photos is one of the quickest ways to start your journey as a photographer today.
Most people don’t realize that photography isn’t just about pressing a button on a camera. There are different layers to photography that contribute to producing a breathtaking still image of an equally stunning view. Today, we’ll be looking at some of our recommendations for the best way to learn photography online without leaving home.
In a Hurry?
If you don’t have much time, use the below links for a few courses on how to be a photographer without a degree. Rest assured, we only recommend the best courses:
–Photography Basics and Beyond by Coursera is our #1 recommendation.
–Fundamentals of DSLR Photography is the one if you are looking forward to mastering the DSLR.
–iPhone Photography is best suitable if you want to improve your skillset in taking the best shots from your iPhone.
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Photography: Capturing Timeless Moments
You can choose from countless options in photography to start creating art immediately. However, most people don’t realize the depth and scope of mastering such a passion. Indeed, even the most seasoned professionals will admit that they learn something every day.
Photography is also more than just the tools needed to create beautiful photos, it is an appreciation of various creative mindsets that contribute to an art form. As a photographer, you need to look beyond the subject and understand the design from its roots.
There are a lot of factors to consider when taking up photography, both in professional and casual use. However, some more obvious ones include shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Of course, you can learn the basics through free tutorials, but the best training experiences happen during paid courses. More importantly, online learning is one of the best methods to quickly learn photography apart from traditional education.
Best Way to Learn Photography Online
Photography is a form of art that can be used to tell stories and share experiences. Photography is not just about the camera, but it is also about the people behind the lens.
Photography skills can help you in many ways. There are many jobs in photography that require different levels of skill, from shooting on a DSLR camera to editing photos on Photoshop. Learning photography can help you get your foot in the door for many jobs as well as boost your resume.
1. Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization – Coursera
In this introductory course, you will be learning about the basics of turning your boring, dull, and tasteless photos into spectacular pieces of art. Moreover, even if you’re using a smartphone, DSLR, or even a mirrorless camera, you’ll discover how to take any device to its fullest potential. The course will take you through various principles ranging from creative composition approaches and establishing control over the camera.
Many professionals suggest that beginners experience as much basic training before advancing to challenging topics. More importantly, a photographer with a good foundation of knowledge will find it easier to master any lesson. Of course, while learning potential is relative to the learner, raking in essential information early on will become the backbone of your future career.
Indeed, Coursera can teach you how to be a photographer without a degree, and all you need is a few months of dedication. For requirements, the course will assume that every student is a beginner with no prior knowledge of photography. As such, we recommend this 6-month program for those looking to start their photography journey today. Coursera’s online courses have flexible schedules, giving students the freedom to take learning at their own pace.
2. Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization – Coursera
As mentioned earlier, photography is more than just the photographer and a tool. It is an appreciation of art. Therefore, the following recommendation is our pick for aspiring learners who wish to understand modern creativity and art design. More importantly, the course will enable you to see photography from an entirely new perspective.
While the program is entirely devoid of any photography training, it is meant to help photographers understand the nature of contemporary art. Indeed, such knowledge can be critical to the difference between creating a mundane photo to a priceless snapshot of a beautiful memory. However, while only subtle, students will enjoy different experiments on how technology plays a more prominent role in modern art than in the past.
The program is completely self-paced and is a top recommendation for beginners. Conversely, professional photographers may benefit from enrolling in this course due to the nature of instruction it employs. Here, students will learn the critical thinking skills needed to analyze and deconstruct any design to its core.
3. Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century: The Camera Never Lies – Coursera
Previously, we recommended courses that focused on separate areas of photography. In the next class, we feature an intuitive approach to how film and imagery take interpretation in the 20th century. More importantly, aspiring photographers will discover the historical impact of every photo on the culture and tradition of photojournalism.
The Film, Images & Historical Interpretation course is an excellent choice for photographers who desire a career in photography and journalism. Indeed, there is nothing better than combining the truth with the physical evidence of stunning photography.
Upon completion, you can expect to gain an even better understanding of the various elements behind choosing a medium and incorporating multiple attributes into your subjects. Moreover, students will also understand how photos are manipulated for personal gain and the historical impact of how their interpretation buries itself in time.
4. Fundamentals of Digital Image and Video Processing – Coursera
Understanding how to operate a camera is one of the most fundamental aspects of photography. More importantly, there aren’t many educational options due to the pandemic. However, Coursera is one of the leading providers in the online learning space, and its courses don’t break the bank.
We cannot recommend enough this detailed course on digital image and video processing. Here, you will learn to take full advantage of the different skills and software needed to process photos and videos. Moreover, you can take these techniques and apply them in real-life situations in the future.
Photography and videography go hand in hand in creating artistic masterpieces for personal or commercial use. Therefore, this detailed training session will equip you with the necessary knowledge to create stunning images and videos. As for the photography course duration and fees, the session takes a day and a half to finish while staying within reasonable pricing.
5. Fundamentals of DSLR Photography – Skillshare
For the past decade, starting a hobby or career in photography has been closely linked with DSLR. These are small, digital single-lens reflex cameras that combine the processing power of an imaging sensor with an optical mechanism. In modern society, buying a DSLR is your first step toward becoming an enthusiast or professional photographer.
As a result, our next course is all about learning the history, culture, and various features of a DSLR camera. Moreover, you will also discover how you can take such a small device and produce stunning photos and video captures. The program features several deep-dive video tutorials explaining how to take complete control of your DSLR.
Students will enjoy introductory lessons for the photography course details up to a buyer’s guide to the best cameras and lenses. Indeed, this Skillshare offering is one of the most straightforward courses on this list and is an excellent option for beginners and professionals alike.
6. iPhone Photography: How to Take Pro Photos On Your iPhone – Skillshare
The iPhone is one of the most revolutionary inventions in the technological space to date. When Steve Jobs revealed the first iPhone in 2007, the entire tech industry flourished and came alive. Moreover, in addition to packing exceptional smartphone capabilities, the iPhone is also known to be best-in-class for phone cameras.
However, while the iPhone sees mass production every day, many people still fail to utilize their devices to their full potential, let alone the camera. As a result, we recommend this complete and detailed walkthrough of how you can take your iPhone and create professional-grade photography. More importantly, you will learn to incorporate common photography knowledge in perspective, vantage points, and even the rule of thirds into the iPhone in your pocket.
Finally, while the central part of the course focuses on taking surreal photos with an iPhone, you will also learn how to edit your captures in the post and make them even more exceptional. In the final few chapters, students will enjoy a workshop on optimizing their photos in Lightroom and how to fool people into thinking their photos came from a professional camera.
7. Adobe Lightroom: Finding Your Unique Editing Style – Skillshare
Most people fail to realize that capturing photos is only half of creating stunning digital art pieces. More importantly, understanding the whole process separates the professionals from the casual hobbyists. As a result, we feature another Skillshare offering that tackles the editing side of the process and how you can take your photos to the next level using the software.
Adobe Lightroom is one of the top choices for professionals and enthusiasts alike for post-production with various photos. More importantly, the application is one of the most widely optimized programs for countless mediums. Therefore, this mastery class in Lightroom will help you find your style and build upon it for future creations.
8. Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography – Udemy
Udemy is one of the best platforms to nurture learning in a multitude of skillsets. For that reason alone, we recommend this masterclass in photography for beginners and professionals in the creator space. More importantly, while this is a masterclass, lessons are carefully tailored to provide a refreshing and interactive learning environment for various learning styles.
This masterclass will cover everything from camera-control and photography theories to editing your photos in post-production. From a value standpoint, this program is a great option for those who want to learn strictly about photography and editing without going anywhere else.
9. Complete Photography: 21 Courses in 1 [Beginner to Expert] – Udemy
We feature a complete online Bootcamp for our last recommendation in transitioning from a beginner to an expert in photography. As far as online courses go, this is one of our top contenders for a single program that includes everything you need. More importantly, at the time of writing, Udemy is offering great deals on their website for various photography courses, including the Complete Photography course.
This course is an indispensable addition to your repertoire of online classes for enthusiasts and starting professionals to nurture knowledge in this industry. Furthermore, with thousands of reviews on Udemy, you can take assurance in the fact that you’ll always have feedback to rely on.
Conclusion
If you are interested in learning photography through online courses, then these are courses that you should get. These courses in photography can help beginners to learn the basics of photography or teach more advanced techniques.
The conclusion of this article is to help you understand the importance of learning photography and starting your career as a photographer.
The best way to learn photography online is by taking one of the online courses listed in this article.
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