Our beginner photography course will help you understand the basics of light and how your eye fixes lighting. How to get your camera to catch what your eye sees to produce better pictures. The tutorials will also help you understand your camera and how to take pictures with it. If you would like to go a step further, our best recommendation is to take our 365 Days of Photography Course.
Listed below are lessons hand-picked to help you get started. Make a goal for yourself of when you will finish all the photography lessons.
Lesson: 1
How to Get Into Photography: The Complete Guide
Now more than ever, more individuals are thinking of becoming or have become professional photographers. The most straightforward answer to becoming a professional photographer is buying a good camera and sound equipment, taking some courses to learn photography, practicing your skills, and ultimately deciding which
Lesson 2:
Basic Camera Settings
Did you recently purchase a new camera but are not sure which camera settings to use? You’re not alone. Most beginner photographers are initially overwhelmed
Lesson: 3
Understanding the Exposure Triangle
The exposure triangle is the foundation of photography. An intuitive understanding of exposure is crucial for advancing in the art of photography.
Lesson: 4
What is Aperture? An Introduction Lesson
Aperture in photography is a diaphragm in lenses that controls the amount of light that can enter the camera. This function works in a similar way to how the iris in the human eye opens and closes to let more or less light in. A basic explanation is that as the aperture size increases, the amount of light let in increases, and as the aperture size decreases, the
Lesson: 5
What is Shutter Speed in Photography? Basic Guide for Beginners
What is shutter speed in photography? This is a great question because understanding what shutter speed is in photography is fundamental. Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open when you take a photograph. The shutter speed is basically the timer for light coming into the camera. The shutter speed is one part of the exposure triangle. These are
Lesson: 6
What is ISO?
The acronym ISO refers to International Standards Organization. This gives us absolutely no clues as to how it is relevant in photography. The ISO setting on a camera controls how responsive the camera’s sensor is to light. This is universal across all brands and types of cameras. ISO settings are the same on phone cameras and on all types of film
Lesson: 7
What is Digital Noise and How to Reduce It
Noise in photography is a complex issue that needs to be addressed, especially as you enter the professional arena. Managing noise in your photos often involves a combination of capturing the lowest noise possible in-camera and making further reductions to noise levels in post processing. Learn more in our detailed step by step guide.
Lesson: 8
Depth of Field: What Is It and How To Best Control It?
The term depth of field is common photography jargon. It refers to the part of a photo that is in acceptably sharp focus. The range of how much is in focus varies depending on the settings you choose and the camera and lens you use. One of the first things
Lesson: 9
Understanding White Balance in Photography
ContentsWhy it’s Important to Control the White Balance Settings on Your CameraWhat is White Balance?How to Determine and Adjust White Balance Settings?White Balance PresetsAuto White Balance SettingDaylightShadeCloudyTungsten LightWhite Fluorescent LightFlashCustomColor TemperatureManually Adjusting White Balance Using the Custom SettingAdjusting Color TemperatureSaving Your Photos in the RAW File FormatConclusion Why it’s Important to Control the White Balance Settings on Your Camera When the white balance
Lesson: 10
Understanding Color in Photography: Full Guide
Color in Photography The definition of color is a component of light that is separated when it is reflected off of an object. Color begins with light. The color we see is influenced by the characteristics of the source and what it reflects off. Wavelengths of reflected light determine what color
Lesson: 11
Contrast in Photography – How to Make the Best Use of It
The contrast in photography comes in a few different forms. How you make use of it is well worth considering. Contrast, or lack of it, can make or break a photograph. Making the best choices about how you manage contrast is one of the photography fundamentals. In this article,
Lesson: 12
Understanding Tonal Range in Photography
Can’t wrap your head around the concept of tones in photography? Our comprehensive guide on tonal range is just for you!
Lesson: 13
Understanding Digital Camera Modes
Digital camera modes are often misunderstood and an area of confusion for many new photographers. This article takes you through the basic camera modes.
Lesson: 14
How to Shoot in Manual Mode
Manual camera settings may be challenging for beginner photographers. In my opinion, shooting in manual mode with your camera is a great way to learn photography. If you already have some experience and are not interested in manual camera settings, this article may not be for you. Or you might learn an about thing or two about shooting with a manual DSLR camera or mirrorless
Lesson: 15
Camera Metering Modes Explained
Knowing how and when to use which metering mode can initially be a bit confusing. You can learn about the various modes in this article.
Lesson: 16
Focus Modes: When and How to Use Them
Looking to master focus and composition? Level up your skills with this in-depth focus modes guide for digital photography!
Lesson: 17
What is Exposure in Photography?
In photography, your exposure determines what gets recorded on your camera’s image sensor. The science behind exposure in photography is called Sensitometry. Getting the right exposure is fundamental in photography. It’s like getting your balance in riding a bike. You’re never going to win a competition unless you have
Lesson: 18
How Do You Know if You Have a Correct Exposure?
Setting a correct exposure is foundational to good photography. But what is a correct exposure? A correct exposure is one that you are happy with. It means you have set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO controls well. The result is that not too much light or too little
Lesson: 19
Exposure Compensation: How to Use it Correctly
Pick up a digital camera nowadays and one of the things you’ll instantly notice is the Exposure Compensation on the menu screen. It’s the strange-looking scale with a + and – sign on opposite ends, with numbers labeled along the scale. You may have noticed this countless
Lesson: 20
5 Basic Compositional Rules in Photography
ContentsCompositional RulesRule #1: Leading LinesRule #2: Rule of ThirdsRule #3: Negative SpaceRule #4: Horizon LineRule #5: Symmetry and Patterns Compositional Rules As a beginner photographer, you must surely be looking at the images made by other photographers, people whose work you admire. Among the many things that you may undoubtedly notice, you may also have noticed that somehow
Lesson: 21
What is the Rule of Thirds and How to Use it in Photography?
What is the Rule of Thirds in Photography? The rule of thirds is a composition technique. It divides the frame into a grid with two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The method is to align the subject or main elements of your image on the 4 intersecting points, or along the vertical
Lesson: 22
How To Use Negative Space to Make Your Photos More Powerful
Carefully thought-out photography compositions often incorporate negative space in their design. Photographers who make use of negative space add power and meaning to subjects that may otherwise be bland. Negative space in photography composition is all the area around the subject. Positive space is your subject. It’s not a matter of one being good and the other bad. Positive
Lesson: 23
How To Use Leading Lines in Composition
Knowing how to use leading lines in photography is one of the key composition skills beginner photographers can acquire. Learning composition starts with an understanding of how we look at things and how we see things. When you look at an image, your eyes dart around
Lesson: 24
How to Use Strong Lines in Photography Composition
Making use of strong lines in photography compositions creates strength, adds peace, guides a viewer’s eye, and much more. You have to be aware of the lines, either real or implied, so you can include them most relevantly in your images. Good photography composition has many guidelines. Sometimes these are called rules. However, I don’t believe
Lesson: 25
8 Reasons Why Your Photos Are Blurry
No photographer likes to see that their photos are blurred. Wondering ‘why are my pictures blurry’ is the cause of much frustration. The good thing is that there’s always a reason an image turns out blurry. In this article, I’ll teach what causes blurry photos and what
Lesson: 26
10 Common Beginner Photography Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
It’s inevitable for beginners to make photography mistakes. Here’s our detailed guide to help you overcome all the errors!
Lesson: 27
RAW vs JPEG – Which Image File Format is Better?
RAW and JPEG Files RAW format and jpg (or jpeg) format are two distinctly different files types produced by your digital camera. When you set up your camera you can choose to save your photos are either of these formats or save them as both simultaneously. The main differences between
Lesson: 28
10 Different Types of Cameras
From DSLRs, mirrorless cameras to the iPhone, it’s easier than ever to find a digital camera and start taking great photos. We’ve compiled a list of the ten different types of cameras most photographers use. This article applies to all types of photographers – beginner, casual, or professional. We hope this article inspires you to
Lesson: 29
How to Choose a Camera: 9 Questions to Ask
Choosing a camera can be challenging. Here’s a series of questions to help you decide which is the best camera for you.
Lesson: 30
Mirrorless vs DSLR Cameras: Which One is Best for You?
A detailed look at mirrorless vs DSLR cameras, pros and cons of each, and which is best for you.
Lesson: 31
How to Use a DSLR Camera: Basic Guide for Beginners
Using Your DSLR Camera Learning to use a DSLR camera is on the mind of every new photographer who has one. These cameras are complicated pieces of technological equipment. If you own a new DSLR camera, you don’t want to be stuck using it in auto mode. This is what you use your phone for,
Lesson: 32
How to Hold a Camera Steady to Take Sharper Photos: 6 Pro Tips
So learning how to hold a camera may sound a bit silly at first. But think about it, have you ever considered if you are holding your camera the correct way? Typically we are so excited when our new camera arrives we rarely think about the correct way
Lesson: 33
6 Types of Camera Lenses & What to Do With Them
Basic Types of Camera Lenses Do you have a camera lens FOMO? We’ll break down the types of camera lenses out there and how can you use each of them to shoot better photos. Let us know your thoughts and how you can use each lens in your own photography!
Lesson: 34
Understanding Focal Length and Angle of View
Understanding focal length helps photographers determine what lenses to invest in and which lens to use on a particular shoot. Focal length describes one of the primary characteristics of a lens. And it plays a critical role in how we execute our creative vision. In this
Lesson: 35
How to Choose the Right Camera Lens: Guide for Beginners
With so many options, choosing the ideal camera lens for your style and type of photography may leave you feeling overwhelmed. How do you find the right one?
Lesson: 36
How to Use These 11 Types of Lighting in Photography
Lighting is the most important consideration in photography. It’s what makes the photograph possible. So, let’s get a better understanding of what we are talking about when we are discussing the types of light. What is Light in Photography? Light is the fundamental element in photography.
Lesson: 37
How to Avoid Making Bad Lighting Mistakes
Good lighting is essential to good photography. Bad lighting mistakes can ruin an otherwise fabulous photograph. This is frustrating for any photographer. Learning how to manage bad lighting is challenging. When the light is not to your liking, sometimes it’s not possible to change. So what can you
Lesson: 38
13 Most Popular Types of Photography Genres
There are approximately 152,000 people employed as photographers in the United States. People choose this career for a variety of reasons. Some like the idea of self-employment as a photographer, while others are looking to make a living from traveling or doing something else they love
Lesson: 39
How To Make Extraordinary Photography from Ordinary Subjects
A good subject does not make a good photograph. Nor does a good camera. Good photographers make good photographs. Ordinary subjects and ordinary cameras can make extraordinary photography. It’s up to the photographer. These days it’s super easy to grab your phone or camera and take
Lesson: 40
How to Analyze a Photograph (4 Simple Steps)
Analyzing a Photograph Learning to analyze a photo requires introspection and self-analysis. Whether is a photo you have taken or one taken by another photographer. Image analysis is an essential aspect of the development of any photographer. The photographic analysis leads to a realization of the
Lesson: 41
Personal Photography Projects: 13 of the Best Ideas
Personal photography projects are one of the best ways to help you improve your photography. Being focused on a particular topic you will develop more than if you photograph random subjects. Learning as you regularly take photos for your project will accelerate your progress even more.
Lesson: 42
A Glossary of 251 Most Essential Photography Terms
Photography terms are numerous and can be super confusing for new photographers to get their heads around. But having a good understanding of the photography terms used to describe essential processes will help you enjoy photography a lot more. Some of the technical jargon is just
If you’re new and just starting out with photography or an amateur photographer looking to improve your creative photography skills or learn the basics of digital photography, try one of our premium beginner photography classes.
Photography is fun, and now it’s easier than ever for beginners to get started with an online digital photography class that you can watch anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Learn the basics like exposure, focus, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and more. We have some of the best online photography classes that teach you to go beyond auto mode and learn to take amazing photographs using different camera modes and settings.