19 Best Photography Courses Online in 2023 (January Update) (2024)

They say a picture paints a thousand words, but considering how the advancement of camera technology has come, a thousand words may not even be enough.

While it’s true that corporations run the globe, art ties everything together. Numbers might make the world go round, but good music, captivating stories, and stunning images are what give us hope and humanize everything we do.

Nowhere is this more true than on the internet, where you can take one of the best photography courses from the comfort of your home.

So join us, won’t you, pull up a comfy chair, and let’s get to work!

19 Best Photography Courses Online in 2023 – Overview

Let’s start things by taking a wider view of all of the courses we’ll be featuring, and some important information as well. Remember, you can click the links to head to that course or you can read on to see what we think first.

50% Discount for Photo Editing Software: Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom

If you’re looking to learn photography, you’re going to want to have some photo editing tools on hand to properly optimize your shots.

Adobe are the leading photo editing software providers with their programs Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom however there are Photoshop alternatives.

You should know that you can get a 50% discount on Adobe software by combining both Photoshop & Lightroom in a package, known as theAdobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan.

You could also make use of their free 7 day trial:

• Download a free Photoshop trial for PC, Mac or iPad now

Top 19 Best Photography Courses Online in 2023

Now, let’s jump in to see what are the best photography courses online.

Lectures: 10 | Length: 52 minutes | By: Minh T

Taught by Photographer & Art Director Minh T, Outdoor Photography: See, Shoot & Share the Beauty Around You is arguably the most popular photography course on SkillShare today. And because this pick is a SkillShare Original, you can bet that this offering is well produced. Packed with 10 lessons all under an hour, this meaty walkthrough should be enough inspiration for you to start taking impressive photos as effectively as you can.

2. iPhone Photography: How to Take Pro Photos On Your iPhone

Lectures: 22 | Length: 55 minutes | By: Dale McManus

Your gear doesn’t have to be composed of bulky DSLR cameras and expensive lenses. Sometimes, an iPhone should be enough. But don’t take our word for it; listen to SkillShare’s Top Teacher Dale McManus. In his course, iPhone Photography: How to Take Pro Photos On Your iPhone, he talks all about everything from settings to creative ideas, making sure iPhone learners of all types have their bases covered. All of his 23 lessons are under an hour, too, so anyone who’s looking for a bitesize introduction to iPhone photography should enjoy this course.

3. Photography Essentials: Understanding the Basics

Lectures: 13 | Length: 1 hour 30 minutes | By: Sean Dalton, Travel & Lifestyle Photographer

Not every photography teacher can tell people they’ve had the honor of teaching nearly 20,000 students, but Lifestyle Photographer Sean Dalton. In his course Photography Essentials: Understanding the Basics, the SkillShare top teacher discusses a variety of subjects that range from balancing exposure to finding your style. Quick, insightful, and easy to understand, this pick is bundled with 13 lessons, all under 2 hours in total.

Lectures: 16 | Length: 1 hour 23 minutes | By: Brandon Woelfel

There’s something about perfectly curated Instagram feeds that yell cohesion and good aesthetics. If this is something you’d like to be better at, SkillShare’s Instagram-Worthy Photography: Shoot, Edit & Share with Brandon Woelfel could be for you. Also a SkillShare Original, this intermediate-level photography course will help learners pick up a thing or two about shooting at golden hour, retouching in Photoshop, and editing nighttime photos. Are you up for the challenge? Take this less than 2-hour course online today!

5. DIY Product Photography: Style & Shoot Creative Stills

Lectures: 8 | Length: 35 minutes | By: Rachel Gulotta & Daniel Inskeep

Another superb SkillShare Original is Mango Street Lab’s DIY Product Photography: Style & Shoot Creative Stills. Taught by Rachel Gulotta & Daniel Inskeep, this pick will teach you all you need to know about executing inventive shoots and achieving spectacular shots. And because this contender can be finished in under an hour, there’s absolutely no reason for any aspiring photographer to not have enough time for this course.

6. Wedding Photography: Composition, Portraits & Posing

Lectures: 12 | Length: 22 minutes | By: Teppo Haapoja

Getting good at wedding photography can take time, and if you want to get ahead of the curve, this skillshare photography course is a great way to go. Taught by talented wedding photographer Teppo Haapoja, dives into the subtleties that come along with wedding photography, as well as, techniques that can help you stay on top of things.

Landing wedding photography gigs often depend on an impressive portfolio, but when getting started on one, ensuring your subjects feel comfortable ensures their poses are natural. Other than this, this course also dives into image composition for weddings which is something that requires a more refined approach.

There are many factors that come into play with photography like lighting, curating the setting for your portraits, and ensuring your subjects get aesthetically appealing photos. This course from skillshare does its best to ensure you have everything you need to nail photography in weddings.

7. Food Photography: Shooting at Restaurants

Lectures: 7 | Length: 34 minutes | By: Daniel Krieger

Whether it’s on social media or just for promoting good food photography can capture anyone’s attention. That said, making food look as good as it tastes can look be challenging. And when it’s uncharted territory, it can definitely look underwhelming if done wrong.

This skillshare course dives into gear, ambiance, and even ordering. Daniel Krieger helps you make the most of your environment regardless of whether it’s with a camera phone or a DSLR. This course can help your food photography be more enticing, flattering and add a professional touch to what can otherwise be amateur photography.

Bringing out the best in the lighting and knowing techniques to help bring out the best image composition for restaurant photography although uncomplex can take your photography to a whole new level.

Udemy

8. Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography

Lectures: 357 | Length: 23.5 hours | By: Phil Ebiner, William Carnahan, Video School, Sam Shimu Jones

If what you’re looking for is the complete Photography course experience, give Udemy’s Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography a try. Led by reputable media men, this offering is bundled with 63 articles and 23.5 hours of on-demand recorded video lectures. Isn’t that amazing? If that isn’t enough, this pick comes with a downloadable certificate once you finish the course, too!

9. Beginner Nikon Digital SLR (DSLR) Photography

Lectures: 7 | Length: 1 hour 10 minutes | By: JP Teaches Photo

If you just bought yourself a Nikon device, Udemy’s Beginner Nikon Digital SLR (DSLR) Photography could very well be for you. Led by the talented JP Pullos and Lydia Billings, this pick is composed of 1 downloadable resource and an hour of on-demand video.

10. Complete Photography: 21 Courses in 1 [Beginner to Expert]

Offered by Creative Online School and run by Udemy, Complete Photography: 21 Courses in 1 [Beginner to Expert] is the best crash course for anyone looking to learn as much as they can about photography as quickly and thoroughly as possible. With 11 articles and 8.5 hours of on-demand recorded videos to choose from, what’s not to love?

Domestika

11. Experimental Outdoor Self-Portrait Photography

Lectures: 7 | Length: 1 hour 54 minutes | By: Cristias Rosas Chocano

Who says photographers can’t take stunning photos of themselves? if this idea interests you, Domestika’s Experimental Outdoor Self-Portrait Photography is a fantastic offering you shouldn’t miss. With over 17 lessons and a certificate you can print after the course, this pick is understandably anyone’s favorite. A course by the incredible Cristias Rosas Chocano, prepare to let your guard down as you bank on letting your emotions and instincts take the creative lead.

12. Creative Product Photography from Start to Finish

Lectures: 20 | Length: 3 hours 11 minutes | By: Creative Agency

Granted how e-commerce is thriving by the day, it makes perfect sense why product photography is booming nowadays too. Is this something you’d like to excel at? If the answer is yes, Domestika’s Creative Product Photography from Start to Finish is a great course for you. Led by the amazing leaders of Weekend Creative, this pick is 20 lessons long and also comes with an enviable certificate after you complete the course.

13. Directing Models for Photography

Lectures: 20 | Length: 4 hours | By: Eduardo Gómez

If photographing models is the track for you, Domestika’s Directing Models for Photography will not disappoint. Taught by sought-after photographer Eduardo Gómez, this find is 4 hours long and 13 downloadable files helpful. And as with every other course on the platform, this course affords its users’ downloadable certificate, as well.

14. Professional Photography for Instagram

Lectures: 16 lessons | Length: 1h 57m | By: Mina Barrio

Even though the fundamentals are pretty much the same, photography on social media requires a more nuanced approach depending on the aesthetic of your brand or client. Regardless of whether you’re photographing products, Instagram influencers, images for Instagram stories, or just aesthetically pleasing photos. Mina Barrio walks you through an insightful learning experience with the right techniques, tools, and settings for expert photography on social media.

Creating visual content for brands need not be complicated but it does require an eye for detail and a good idea of Interior photography. Unlike many of the courses on this list, this one only requires you have a phone and a little creativity.

And this course from experienced product photographer Mina Barrio definitely helps get you started.

CreativeLive

15. How to Start a Photography Business

Lectures: 87 | Length: 12 weeks | By: Pye Jirsa

It’s one thing to be an amazing photographer, but it’s a completely different thing to run a photography business. If you want to be both, Creative Live’s How to Start a Photography Business by powerhouse photographer and entrepreneur Pye Jirsa should do you well. Complete with 87 lessons under 15 extensive and detailed hours, this course talks about finding your passions, busting common photography business myths, mastering the art of SEO marketing, and so many more.

16. Capturing Story in Portrait Photography

Lectures: 49 | Length: 8 hours 27 minutes | By: Kelly Brown

Arguably one of the more poignant courses on the list is CreativeLive’s Capturing Story in Portrait Photography. Spearheaded by the amazing Kelly Brown, this course is loaded with 49 professional videos in HD, more than 8 hours of meaningful video content, and a whole lot more downloadable resources! If you’re ready to be an impactful storyteller, allow this pick to improve your skill sets and visions.

17. Fundamentals of Photography

Lectures: 107 | Length: 24 hours 30 minutes | By: John Greengo

Nothing beats a photography course that discusses, in complete detail, the Fundamentals of Photography. Led by award-winning photographer John Greengo, this course is bundled with 24 valuable hours of recorded video lectures, 107 lessons, and a ton of fascinating theories and ideas any creative can explore.

Coursera

18. Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization

Lectures: Comes with 5 courses | Length: 6 months | By: Peter Gelendinning, Michigan State University

Offered by Michigan State University through Coursera, Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization is one wonderful offering any aspiring lensman will enjoy. Approximately 6 months to complete, this beginner-level course comes with a shareable certificate, a flexible schedule, and 2 skillful photography teachers— Peter Glendinning and Mark Sullivan. Need we say more?

19. A Masterclass in Photography – Be A Confident Photographer

Lectures: 98 | Length: 8 hours 37 minutes | By: Mike Browne

The confident photographer within you will blossom by taking up Mike Browne’s “A Masterclass in Photography.” The course includes 13 downloadable resources and 8.5 hours of on-demand video. To master this course you need the excitement and commitment towards photography and a DSLR, Mirrorless, or Bridge camera with settings. The best advantage of this course is that it does not require a special or expensive camera kit. Mike Browne says “you need only 5 camera controls to be a competent and confident photographer.” Learn from this course, and gain the clarity and confidence you need for your career in photography.

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Related Posts

Top Photography Courses Online in 2023

Overall, the Top Photography Courses Online in 2023 are a dime a dozen. Find a course with a mentor you resonate with the most and take as many notes as you can.

While there is no replacing the power of technical knowledge, many other principles related to passion, vision, and creativity all play an integral contribution to how successful you can become too.

Good luck!