Do basic photography courses exist?

[photohelp]

I started an online business about a year and a half ago. I currently sell on ebay and another site. It started off as a part-time job but has turned into my full-time job. Over the time I've started this, I've managed to invested a lot of money into it. I'm the first to admit that I made a huge mistake. I didn't start the business properly. I should have learned about photography first and then started off slowly purchasing items to sell, but instead I ended investing a lot of money into stock and now I'm backtracking trying to take better photos to sell it. I sell clothing and shoes. I can't afford to hire a professional photographer so I have to do it on my own. I've read a lot about photography but not nearly enough. The only experience I have is with a point and shoot camera. I would like to take a course to gain more knowledge but when I search online I only see courses to get a Bachelor's Degree. I don't want to become a professional photographer. I'm only looking to gain more knowledge. Do they offer basic courses for photography, like a shortened version that isn't so in depth? ...something that will teach me about DSLR cameras, lighting equipment and techniques, or a book anyone can recommend? As I said, I've read a lot, but not nearly enough. I'd like to take a course also if possible without investing 2.5 yrs doing so. I live in South Florida, in the Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach area.

 

[Kbarredo]

Well what do you need to know. the most basic is the exposure triangle, and composition you can youtube that for free. Or do you mean how to use your camera correctly

 

[Big Mike]

Check out your local community colleges etc. There are probably plenty of photography courses that can be taken individually...probably at night or over the weekend etc.

I teach photography and our classes run from 3 hours to 18 hours (spread over 3 or 6 days).

In your case, I think that you may want a basic photography course, but also a lighting course (product lighting, not portrait lighting...if that is an option). You can probably do product photography with any camera, but it's the lighting that is much more important.

 

[Malone]

Check out this website; very informative and will cover the basics.

Digital Photography Tutorials

 

[photohelp]

I mean all of it. I will definitely buy a DSLR. So far, I've read about different lighting equipment, strobe lights, constant lighting, the difference between them, soft boxes, umbrellas, 3 point lighting...as much as I could read online basically. I think I've seen almost every youtube video out there plus read whatever else I could find. I have no experience in photography at all. The only camera I've ever owned is a point and shoot and that's what I've been using for work. My current camera only has 4 mega pixels if that tells you anything lol. I bought it about 5 yrs ago. I've been taking the photos outside and my lighting has been controlled by God so to speak. Sometimes it's too bright, too cloudy, it rains, etc. and I'm SOL because I'm not a professional and don't know how to handle those situations. Sometimes I "luck out" and the pictures come out almost perfect but you can't run a business like that, with only half of the photos great and the other not representing the product. Bad photos = no sales.

 

[Netskimmer]

I never realized product photography for Ebay was so demanding. In any case, I'm sure south Florida has plenty of options for beginner classes. I don't know much about product photography but you shouldn't need anything fancy as far as a DSLR goes, just the most basic would probably do. You'll probably end up spending more on lighting equipment that the camera itself. Good luck.

 

[joealcantar]

Photohelp, keep it simple, why don't you just pay someone to give you some basic lessons that live in the area. I don't believe you would be competing with them as far as photography goes so I'm sure someone would take the offer. Would be much faster and both of you would benefit.

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Shoot well, Joe
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This photographer has a decent course together that folks rave about, take a look and see if it helps.
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http://www.mlkstudios.com/

 

[mfo]

Check out this website.

 

[ann]

You might also check some photo stores in your area. In my location , we have several options, including community college, continuing education schools and one very active store that supports it's own school.
I know that Adorama out of New York offers classes, i believe they are on line as well.

Calumet has a wide variety of offerings, but I am not sure if they have a store in your part of the country

 

[Matt24138]

Understanding exposure is a great book that breaks down most of the basics. I am in the process of reading it. I hard a hard time grasping iso, aperture etc and this book has defined it so I could understand. For 25$ it's a good place to start.