13 Best Free Online Photography Courses For You
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Best Free Online Photography Courses
Photography has become one of the most popular choices of profession for a large number of people nowadays. And with such increased popularity, it has become really competitive as well. This has led to the wide availability of photography courses online.
Photography isn’t all about hitting the shutter button and capturing an image, but it requires detailed knowledge for one to be a professional. Thanks to modern-day worldwide internet access, anyone can now gain access to an online photography course to learn everything they require to be a professional and the best part about this is that, they won’t be required to even spend a single cent.
Here is the list of the best free online photography courses for beginners and intermediate photographers. Some of these courses are present throughout the year, whereas some are limited to certain periods only. These courses will teach you about all the information and basics of digital picture taking.
Top Free Online Photography Courses
- Introductory Photography Course by Udemy
- Beginners Digital Photography
- Basics of Photography: The Complete Guide
- Photography for Beginners by PhotographyCourse.net
- Fundamentals of DSLR Photography
- Ditch Auto – Start Shooting in Manual
- Photography Essentials: Understanding the Basics
- Commercial Photography: Still and Moving Image
- Professional Family Portraits by Kirk Tuck
- Stanford’s Digital Photography Course
- Digital Photography Diploma by Alison
- Unique Classes for Photographers: CreativeLive
- Your Road to Better Photography
Now let’s take a deeper look at these courses to see what they offer. They have been listed according to their level.
Introductory Photography Course by Udemy
Offered by: Udemy
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Duration: About 2.5 hours
Certificate: Paid
Udemy offers the Introductory Photography Course which is a free online photography course created by Chris Bray. The main purpose of this course is to teach you how to use the camera without the ‘Auto’ mode and discover its different features. Chris Bray aims at teaching his students from the very basics of using a camera to learning the correct methods of setting the autofocus mode, autofocus points, and resolution.
Apart from this, Chris has also explained to his students 10 tips for getting professional photos using certain techniques like the rule of thirds and how to set up the perfect background.
This course normally costs about $480; however, you can access it for free on Udemy. It consists of 10 lectures starting from the introduction and background and going through shutter speed, lighting, and lens, all the way to practice photography. It is based on a duration of 2 hours and 37 minutes.
This is the best course to get your hands on photography which is completely free.
Pros
- Free of cost
- Short and easy to understand
- Teaches students about the different settings of the camera
Cons
- The certificate isn’t free of cost
Beginners Digital Photography
Offered by: Alison
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Certificate: Paid
The beginners Digital Photography course offered by Alison is one of the basic level courses from the extensive list of photography courses you can find Alison. If you are looking for a beginner’s level course to upgrade your skills without spending any penny rather than adding another certificate to your list of achievements, this is the perfect course for you. This is because the course is free; however, you will have to pay for getting the certificate.
This course consists of 3 modules. All these modules cover a total of 21 topics. It covers different topics to guide you through your journey of becoming a more pro photographer. Module 1 will give you a nicely taught introduction to working with cameras going all the way to the last module, which focuses on photoshop and lightroom introduction for photographers.
Pros
- Short and simple
- Deals with different aspects of photography
- Alison consists of a wide variety of courses for beginners as well as pros.
Cons
- The certificate isn’t free of cost
Basics of Photography: The Complete Guide
Offered by: Lifehacker
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Lifehacker offers this comprehensive and excellently designed mostly text-based course to get you through the basics of photography. It consists of five sections that deal with different topics starting from the working of digital cameras. Below are the topics that are covered in this course;
- Understanding how your digital camera works
- Your camera’s automatic and assisted settings
- Your camera’s manual settings
- Composition and technique
- Editing images in the post
The course is not entirely based on text and has some video content as well. It means you get a complete package of text and videos to completely guide you in the process of your learning. Apart from this, at the end of the course, you can also find additional courses, if you wish to expand your knowledge more than what’s already been taught to you.
Pros
- Text + Video instructions
- Will teach you about photo composition and photo editing
Cons
- Requires you to read and focus
Photography for Beginners by PhotographyCourse.net
Offered by: PhotographyCourse
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Lessons: 34
This is another text-based course that is supported by some videos as well. PhotographyCourse offers photography for beginners. It focuses on the basics and outlines of capturing the ideal pictures. It is a detailed course that manages to guide you through a lot of settings like aperture and exposure triangle as well as explains the different camera modes.
Another impressive component of this course is the glossary which enlists 251 common terms that are used in the world of photography. It also has a suggestion section that will give you ideas for projects that can be translated practically as well.
It consists of 34 lessons which make sure that you are full of beginner-level information. Once you have completed this course, you can move to the next level, which is the intermediate level.
Pros
- Doesn’t require you to sign up
- Also offers an intermediate-level continuation
Cons
- Extensive course
Fundamentals of DSLR Photography
Offered by: SkillShare
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Duration: About 1.5 hours
Certificate: Paid
Fundamentals of DSLR Photography is a beginner-level course which is taught by Justin Bridges. DSLR is the most common type of camera used by photographers, so we did our work and found the best free online photography course for DSLR cameras.
The course consists of 12 lessons which have a duration of 1 hour and 19 minutes. These lessons start with an introduction and explanation of what is a DSLR camera. It then dives into more detailed settings which include balancing the exposure triangle, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and editing tips.
These lessons are simple and taught by the very expert Justin Bridges, who is an experienced photographer with his work published in some of the well-known magazines such as Complex Media.
This course has been specifically designed for impatient learners as the lessons are simple and speed up quickly so that beginners can start shooting without any assistance.
Pros
- Easy to follow
- Allows students to be independent and confidently
Cons
- The certificate doesn’t come free of cost.
Ditch Auto – Start Shooting in Manual
Offered by: Learn with Jerad
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Duration: 4 hours
Jerad Hill is a wedding photographer with an experience of over 6 years. He is a professional in videography and photography. This course is aimed at DSLR users. Everyone is familiar with shooting in the automatic mode, however, this course teaches about manual mode. This model provides a whole new level of customization that enables you to capture professional-like pictures.
This is a short course with a duration of only 4 hours and divided into different sections including introduction, basics, getting to know your camera, understanding light, knowing your settings, other tips & closing thoughts. The most engaging part of this course is the short quiz presented at the end of each section, allowing you to test your progress.
Pros
- Properly organized
- Quizzes at the end of each section
Cons
- For DSLR users only
Photography Essentials: Understanding the Basics
Offered by: SkillShare
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Cost: Free
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins
Lessons: 13
Another course is offered by SkillShare, but this course focuses on beginner to intermediate-level photographers. Like the previous one, it is also short and straightforward.
This course is taught by Sean Dalton who is a pro photographer. Sean aims at teaching the students all about photo editing, understanding your DSLR, and getting the best composition and camera settings.
The total time of the course is 1 hour and 30 mins and has been divided into 13 lessons. The course covers a number of topics ranging from camera settings, balancing exposure, focus, composition, and any other setting you can think of. It also offers a course project to test your skills.
Pros
- Easy to follow
- Short
- Class project
Cons
- The certificate doesn’t come free of cost.
Commercial Photography: Still and Moving Image
Offered by: Future Learn
Level: Intermediate
Cost: Free
Duration: 4 weeks
Weekly Study: 3 hours
Commercial Photography: Still and Moving is a free course offered by Future Learn for people who want to upgrade their skills as photographers. This course aims at developing your visual sensibility and teaching the new techniques of commercial photography. It aims at allowing its students to explore the relationship between still and moving image photography.
The course is intended not only for aspiring photographers but also for people who wish to work in or gain knowledge about commercial photography. It is based on some elements of photography courses at the Norwich University of Arts.
Pros
- For intermediate photographers
- Easy to follow
Cons
- Focuses on Commercial Photography
Professional Family Portraits by Kirk Tuck
Offered by: Craftsy
Level: Intermediate
Cost: Free
Duration: 2 hours
Kirk Tuck is a well-known and highly experienced photographer. Tuck is offering the free Professional Family Portraits course on Craftsy. This course can’t be classified as a beginner-level course. This is because it offers advance level strategies for capturing flattering portraits and explaining how to deal with your subject.
This course has been divided into 5 different sections including preview, introduction & in-home photo shoot, ambient light, location for group photos, and processing basics in lightroom and photoshop. The entire course has a total duration of 2 hours. One of the appealing features of this course is that you can find extra material related to the topic in the form of a PDF, to further explain the concept.
Pros
- Teaches in-home photo shoots
- Each class has a preview for you to have some idea about its content.
Cons
- Certain features are accessible only to paid members
Stanford’s Digital Photography Course
Offered by: Marc Levoy, YouTube
Level: Intermediate
Cost: Free
Lectures: 18
YouTube is a free and popular video-sharing platform. It consists of videos about all the topics you could think of and the best part is everything’s for free. It also has video-based information about any topic you could think of.
Marc Levoy is offering 18 free lectures on the most popular video-sharing platform. The playlist is entitled “Lectures on Digital Photography” and serves as an extensive form of knowledge.
Pros
- Easy to access
- Theoretical based
Cons
- Extensive
Digital Photography Diploma by Alison
Offered by: Alison
Level: Intermediate
Cost: Free
Duration: 10-15 hours
Digital Photography Diploma is one of the numbers of photography courses that are offered by Alison. This course is designed for people who are looking forward to polishing their skills and having a better hold on the art of photography.
This course is based on 10 modules covering a total of 68 topics. The total duration of this course is about 10 to 15 hours. It covers a vast variety of topics including an introduction to digital photography, photoshop and lightroom, photographic techniques, and a few assessments to help you test your knowledge. The course is meant to be followed step by step and one can’t skip lectures.
Pros
- Covers essential skills for photography
- Assessments to test your knowledge
Cons
- The free version has ads
Unique Classes for Photographers: CreativeLive
Offered by: CreativeLive
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Cost: Free
If you are a beginner and looking for something unique, this is the perfect choice for you. This site is full of photography courses that are unique and stream live almost every day. Apart from this, they also feature a number of pre-recorded courses that can be accessed by you anytime. The factor that allowed it to be on this list is its creativity and uniqueness. Apart from this they also allow the students to interact with their mentors and other students by uploading their work in the student work area.
Pros
- Students are allowed to upload their work
- Wide range of classes
Cons
- Requires sign-up
Your Road to Better Photography
Offered by: Udemy
Level: Beginner
Cost: Free
Udemy is one of the most popular platforms that offer online courses both paid and free. This course has been specifically designed to make photography simple. It consists of 10 videos with a total time of 31 minutes. It is designed by Corey Reese, who is a celebrity cinematographer and photographer. He aims at teaching his students about shooting in natural light and getting familiar with manual camera settings.
Pros
- Simple course
- Starts from basics
Cons
- No certificate
Best Free Online Photography Courses-Additional Information
How to choose the Best Online Photography Course
The internet is full of free online courses aimed at differently experienced photographers starting from beginners all the way to professionals. It can be an overwhelming task to choose the most appropriate option for you. For his purpose, our experts have gathered here all the points you should keep in mind while looking for the most suitable course for yourself.
Start with Beginner Level Courses
If you are just starting out, it isn’t recommended to dive into the extensive courses that cover a lot more than your mind can digest. You should opt for simple and easy-to-follow courses at this level.
User Reviews
When choosing the right course for you, it is recommended to read the user reviews before investing your time. Doing so will help you understand whether the course is a perfect fit for your requirements or not.
Find your niche
If you are interested in a particular niche of photography, it is recommended to join a course that focuses on the same. For instance, landscape and nature photography techniques are different from portrait photography.
Practice, practice & practice
Mastering a practical skill can never be achieved by just reading instructions or watching videos, one has to get hands-on practice. It is recommended to keep the camera in your hand and test out all the settings and new techniques that are taught during the lectures at the same time.
Best Free Online Photography Courses-FAQs
How do beginners learn photography?
There are a number of steps followed by beginners to learn photography starting from getting the right equipment to selecting a suitable course. For beginners, it is recommended to start with free courses.
Is Udemy good for photography?
For the more technical facets of photography, Udemy is especially helpful. Photographers looking to take better pictures of food or of architecture at night will find a wealth of resources there.
How can I learn photography for free?
You can access any of the hundreds of free courses available online from websites like Udemy, Alison, and so on to learn photography for free.
What are the 3 basics of photography?
The three basics of photography are aperture, shutter, and ISO.
How much should I charge as a beginner photographer?
Entry-level photographers: After receiving some formal education, those who are just beginning their careers in professional photography typically charge between $50 and $150 per hour or between $25 and 125 per image.
Is wildlife photography a good career?
Young people now view wildlife photography as one of the most fascinating employment alternatives. Even professionals with a cherished careers outside are taking to it. In a nutshell, wildlife photography focuses on capturing different wildlife species in their natural habitats.
What equipment is needed to be a photographer?
To start as a photographer, the most essential equipment one needs include a camera, camera lenses, computer, appropriate lighting, and camera accessories.
How many photos should a photographer give?
The short answer is to give 100 photos per day so if it’s an 8 hours event, it must have roughly around 800 pictures.
Do photographers give unedited photos?
Most professional photographers don’t give out unedited pictures to their clients.
What is a beginner photographer called?
A beginner photographer is known as a blind amateur.
Best Free Online Photography Courses-Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you should never shy away from getting more knowledge, and what could be better than gaining free-of-cost knowledge? There are hundreds of free courses offered by different online platforms but not all of them will suit your needs. Therefore it is very important to know about the best free online photography courses so that you can get right into the job without much delay.
Once you have taken the course meeting your requirements, you will get one step closer to taking more professional pictures. It is advised to practice your knowledge so that your growth takes place gradually and your mind is able to hold all the information in the long run.
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