Since the outbreak of Covid-19, there is no doubt the interest in photography courses has risen. Frequent questions include; Are photography courses worth it? What photography courses are on offer? How much are photography courses?
Ranging from beginners to advanced, we've hand-picked the best, most reasonable online courses currently on offer. Better yet, courses that you can done easily and in the comfort of your own home.
With smartphones being more prevalent than ever, the demand for high quality photography has never been so high. These courses will give you the skills needed to stand out and take your photography to the next level. Whether photography is a hobby or a career progression, these courses are a great way under the current restrictions to get you to where you need to be and more.
Why should you choose an online course?
Research has shown that due to the recent levels of uncertainty, an increasing number of people are inquiring into distanced learning opportunities to boost their employability and ensure their skills don't become obsolete. According to The Open University, it's to be expected that as many as five million job roles across the UK will require a new set of skills. That gives five million people the opportunity to spice up their skills and potentially even transform them into their full-time career. And, you could be one of these five million.
The reasons behind proactively doing an online course doesn’t stop there. LinkedIn Learning Statistics show there was a three-times increase in time spent learning in the first week of April 2020 during the first lockdown compared to the first week of January 2020. For some, this was simply to help them adapt to the rapid change socially and professionally, and achieve a new work-life balance.
These findings also uncovered new emerging course trends and the importance people hold on soft skills beyond professional development to allow them to survive and thrive. This could be pursuing personal endeavours to activate new thinking or to reduce stress. With direction and a sense of consistency being key, these online courses could connect you to like-minded people and mentors in the industry. Not to mention, help kick-off this new year feeling motivated and involved.
Recommended photography courses:
Being a keen photographer myself, these are six courses worth considering, starting with two for real beginners:
Best online photography courses part 1
1 of 2Creative Live - Fundamentals of Photography
Creative Live is currently offering a 50% discount off its 'Fundamentals of Photography' course by John Greengo (an award-winning photographer specialising in outdoor and travel photography), perfect for any beginner eager to learn all the basics in a short amount of time. With 107 video lessons in total, this course is expected to take approximately 25 hours. Completely done at your own pace, the course is $119 reduced from $199, or you can choose to pay on a monthly basis starting at $13 per month with the opportunity to unlock other courses for free. Based on the reviews, 100% of the 110.3k students recommend this class. And if that doesn't impress you enough, there is plenty of student work included below the course description and written responses acknowledging Greengo's inspirational and fun teaching methods. Yes, this course is designed for beginners, but it's the additional knowledge Greengo teaches, like the importance of creative vision to fruition, and how to bring all the visual elements together that differentiates this course to others on the market. You will learn to take a step back and recognise what makes a quality image and achieve your motivations.
2 of 2Udemy - Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography’
The world-renowned learning portal, Udemy, has a bestseller course 'Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography' on sale now for £10.99 reduced from £59.99. Suitable for beginner photographers wanting an all-round overview to advanced photographers in need of upskilling, the course will approximately take 24 hours to complete with over 220,800 completed students and raving reviews. What jumped out to me the most with this course is its versatility in firstly it's teaching methods (you aren't just blessed with one instructor but three), but also its photography styles (from Night photography to Aerial and Drone photography, they cover it all). With updated teaching materials and classes, this course is designed to teach anyone no matter your equipment or prior knowledge (smart-phones, DSLR or mirrorless) how to master photography techniques to create profitable stand-out images. They even touch base on how to make it into your own business, acquire clients and make more money from the skills learnt. Washington Alto says, "This is an excellent, cost-effective and very comprehensive course and I'm so glad to enrol in the class."
The following courses are more in-depth and designed for you if you're looking to take your photography skills to a professional level:
Best online photography courses part 2
1 of 4Shaw Academy - Professional Photography Course
Shaw Academy is another globally recognised and trusted learning platform who has partnered with Adobe and is offering a discounted 'Professional Photography Course' going now. Pay $69.99 per month with the ability to cancel anytime and you will get your first month for free. The 16-week course is suitable for beginners to advanced photographers as it covers a range of topics across the four modules, starting with the 'Diploma in Photography' module and finishing with the 'Proficient in Photography' module. Not only do you learn the camera basics, composition, shutter speeds, apertures, exposures and manual mode, but you progress to then applying these skills to a range of different styles such as capturing portraits and wildlife, food photography, black and white and colour and many more. After you've got the styled down packed, you learn about the different modes and analytical side of photography such as histograms, lens filters, HDR photography and lighting. By the end of the professional course, you will know how to do the post-production side of photography and create your own portfolio. With 24% of this week's places filled, don't miss out on this highly regarded photography opportunity.
2 of 4Coursera - Cameras, Exposure, and Photography
Coursera, being one of the main online learning platforms, it provides an extensive range of credible and recognised courses with the best universities in the world. Are you interested in building a foundation in digital photography? This six-month 'Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization' course by Michigan State University is perfect for someone who has already tried and received credits from their introductory 'Cameras, Exposure, and Photography' course and wants to get the full accreditation. From learning about cameras to composition, you can enrol for free, try a seven-day free trial and receive financial aid if needed. However, there will be a running monthly cost of £36 to complete the specialisation including a certificate. Even though this course starts on the 3rd of January, this date is very flexible as the specialisation to a degree can be done as your own pace and it gives learners two months to complete the 'hands-on' Capstone project. There are five courses in total, each course designed to last one month. A great beginner's course for someone who wants to not only learn the basics but understand all the elements like lighting to post-production that are vital to a photo's success.
3 of 4The Open University - Digital photography: creating and sharing better images
The Open University being one of the most popular searches for online photography courses currently has a 'Digital photography: creating and sharing better images' 10-week (100-hour) standalone online course. In partnership with The Royal Photographic Society (RPS), this £200 course starts on the 6th of March (registration closing on the 11th of February) and is great for individuals who are new to digital photography or interested in improving their existing skills. Not only will you develop your technical and visuals skills, but you will get the chance to learn all the principles of digital photography and how to succeed in it. Unlike many of the other courses, this one gives you an insight into how to print and project your images, as well as digital aesthetics. There will be weekly hands-on assignments involved and you can receive a certificate on completion at an additional small fee to non-members of the Society. Interestingly, the course is also designed to prepare you for The Royal Photographic Society Licentiate Distinction in Still Photography if you wish to try for the extra qualification.
4 of 4The Institute of Photography - Professional Diploma in Photography (Online Photography Course)
The Institute of Photography's flagship best-selling photography course, 'Professional Diploma in Photography (Online Photography Course)', is another highly recommended course suitable for beginner, intermediate and advanced photographers. It covers not only the basics but the more complex photographic concepts and tools such as in-depth Adobe Lightroom and Flash training. For more experienced photographers, this course can be tailored to your own needs as you are given immediate live help and at least two hours of dedicated tutor chat weekly, making it personal and worthwhile. With a heftier price of £450, the course will take 80 hours to complete and is CPD certified. With tutor feedback by the Course Director and renowned photography journalist, Tim McCann, the course will include several practice and formal assignments and weekly tutor projects. If you are serious about wanting to take photography to the next level and willing to invest more into a course of your choice, this one would be a no brainer. You would be learning from and networking with one of the best, as well as carving out your own niche and professional pathway. Start when you want, have a break and finish it when you can – this one is a keeper!