Online Photography Courses?

[lauraabrown]

I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times, but I'm a bit overwhelmed by my search results. Do any of you have recommendations for online photography courses?

I took photography in high school, but that was almost 10 years ago. I've played off and on with it since, but have really found a passion for it again in this past year. I have a Canon 7D (mom gave it to me for Christmas one year) and while I know the basics of how to use it, I want to be able to do more than what I feel like is point and shoot.

I do best with "interactive" learning, not just tutorials. I benefit greatly by actually having feedback. I had considered actually enrolling with Academy of Art for their BFA in Photography... Till I realized it was $100K+

Thanks!!!

 

[Destin]

For the basics I reccomend just finding YouTube videos for specific topics.

For off camera flash I reccomend strobist.com

For more advanced and/or more structured learning check out SLRLounge.com. Great setup, great information.. but it'll set you back $350/year

 

[lauraabrown]

For the basics I reccomend just finding YouTube videos for specific topics.

For off camera flash I reccomend strobist.com

For more advanced and/or more structured learning check out SLRLounge.com. Great setup, great information.. but it'll set you back $350/year

$350/yr is much more affordable than $850+/unit lol Thank you very much!

 

[Destin]

For the basics I reccomend just finding YouTube videos for specific topics.

For off camera flash I reccomend strobist.com

For more advanced and/or more structured learning check out SLRLounge.com. Great setup, great information.. but it'll set you back $350/year

$350/yr is much more affordable than $850+/unit lol Thank you very much!

No problem!

 

[cherylynne1]

I agree with all the above. There are also some great classes on CreativeLive. It's free if you watch while they're streaming, otherwise you can purchase the classes and watch whenever you'd like.

 

[vintagesnaps]

If you like to learn in an interactive way you might want to look into continuing ed. or adult learning classes in your area, thru places like community colleges, community art centers, voc/tech schools, etc. The cost should be reasonable and they may have online classes as well as classes that meet in person.

The Art Academy is a private, for-profit school. Their accreditation for what they call degrees is through an interior design accreditation that I never heard of (and had to look up). Most universities won't even accept the credit hours from those for-profit schools in transfer and students end up out all the money spent on worthless so-called 'degrees'. I guess it was a good, legit school years ago but I think since got bought out by a company and is run as a business.

If you're considering any courses look up the instructors listed and see what their background and experience is. I haven't seen anything much online that I'd recommend or spend money on. Sometimes people can build up their internet presence and make a website look impressive but there may not be much substance to what you'll be getting for what you pay.

 

[Big Mike]

I agree with Vintagesnaps. Most people learn best with interactive face-to-face learning.
It's pretty common to find Photography classes offered as continuing education, night classes, etc....whatever you want to call it.

I teach classes like this. Many students often tell me that they learned more in one course(4 three hour classes) than they did in months or years of books, websites, and YouTube tutorials.

 

[zombiesniper111 11]

FREE Harvard University Photography Course, Online

 

[gozooming]

I am attending the New York Institute of Photography and I love it!

 

[rosh4u]

You can lot of videos using which you can learn photography from youtube. Other than this, you can also join various forums on photography where you can enhance your photography skills.

 

[dunfly]

I watch a lot of the B&H Explora videos. There are over 500 but if you look through the list and pick out the topics you are interested in, they are great. Most last between 1 and 2 hours.
B&H Event Space - YouTube

Some of the older ones are particularly good relative to theory and composition.
BH-Photography Master-clases - YouTube

 

[benhasajeep44 43]

Unless you need a degree to get into a certain position at a company. I think the canned online courses are just so so for the best, and absolutely terrible for the worst. I agree with finding one on one local if you want structured instruction. But like others have mentioned. Check into the instructor. Talk to students currently enrolled with them, and past students. Just because they have taught for 20 years, doesn't mean they can teach! There are many videos for free online. And for beginners I think just about all you need to know can be procured for free online. Now there is also a lot of mis-information out there. Forums are good to ask questions in, to weed out the bad information. Once you get going and learn more information. You will start picking up the traits of someone with knowledge vs. someone that's an internet hero and doesn't really know squat.

 

[OGsPhotography]

Take lens cap off, look at camera, make sure it is on, check battery indicator, check mode, maybe fire test shot, check shutter speed, aperture, then ISO. Perhaps play with Focus Mode and metering. Adjust settings, take more photos etc etc

Think, hmm, what can I ask them at tpf.com about to make this go better....
Then come back to the photo forum for more of your ( free and best) online photography course!

Don't forget to rinse and repeat.

Also, read you manual then go take more photos.

 

[Cody'sCaptures]

Lynda, creative live, kelbyone, phlearn(photoshop), adorama, b&h, youtube... List goes on & on the real basics you can find online for free

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

 

[lauraabrown]

Thank you everyone so far for all the replies! I will definitely be looking into some of your suggestions. I've looked into the local community college, but as of right now I can't commit to on campus classes as I'm a stay at home mom and with my husband's work schedule we just can't swing it right now. That was one of the reasons I looked into Academy of Art, because they offered the program completely online. But once I started researching the school more, as vintagesnaps mentioned, they're not worth the "degrees" they offer.

Thank you once more!