The Top 5 Online Photography Courses

Beginner’s photography courses are very straightforward in their content. Every class won’t be the exact same, of course, but they will be similar in what they cover. They are meant to cover the absolute basics of photography.

Here’s a list of the basic topics usually covered:

• The different types of cameras
• The importance of lenses
• How to understand the mode settings on your camera
• How to make a good photographic composition
• How to work with your subject
• How to be satisfied with your work

When it comes to choosing what type of camera you want to use, you cannot be too careful. That is, after all, the basis of photography.

Most teachers in these online classes will cover the different types of cameras within the first few lessons. Whether you are learning about video cameras, DSLRs, travel cameras, or simply the camera on your phone, you will learn about them in a few lessons.

Whoever is teaching will definitely preach about their favorite camera, but they might give insight about what qualities to look for in a camera to fit in with your photographic goals.

If a class requires a specific type of camera, it will list that camera, but that class should still cover the different types of cameras. Different types of cameras have different quality resolutions, so its important to know your options moving on after the class.

Digital cameras have higher resolutions, but some have higher resolution qualities than others. This is why discussing the different types of cameras and their qualities at the beginning of a photography course is very important.

Differing camera types typically lead into the discussion of the importance and usage of lenses. The lens of the camera determines a lot about the quality and focus of the image. They are the main conduit of photography techniques. 

The lenses are what give photos a more zoomed in look. The shorter a lens is the more you will be able to fit into a photo, whereas a longer lens will be used for more detailed and focused subjects. The class should cover when to use a shorter lens versus when you use a longer one.

A lens also helps determine light exposure factors like shutter speed, ISO (the light sensitivity), and aperture. The class will teach you what these are and how to adjust your lens so that your pictures do not get washed out by light or become too sharp.

Lenses are just as important as the camera itself, so using the wrong lens can make it impossible to get the exact photo you want, so that is why classes cover this towards the beginning alongside camera types.

Lenses can be controlled manually or by the camera itself. These functions are determined by the camera mode, which are sometimes referred to as gears. Your class will also cover where to look for your mode buttons and which modes result in what.

The auto-focus camera mode determines what the exposure should be, the focus, etc.— but it is up to the user to know when to use which mode if they do not like the automatic settings.

The mode buttons can be confusing because they are usually little wheels with a switch that points to what seem to be random letters around the circumference, but never fear, because your class will cover what all those letters mean and when to use them which one!

After teaching you the basic functions and definitions of the technical sides of the camera and photography itself, the class will introduce how to mesh those things with your own artistry via the composition basics.

A composition in photography is the artistic way the photographer chose to lay out the elements in the photo. The ‘basics’ are simply the common and understood rules to creating a visually pleasing composition.

Some common rules that will be covered in your class will be the rule of thirds, the usage of the elements and principles of design (like shape, color, line), and the rules of framing and edges.

All of these rules and elements will be broken down and explained in the context of photography during your class. For example, framing would lead into the discussion of angles and how your angle determines what the viewer sees as the focal point of the photo.

Eventually this discussion would lead into the topic of editing. Some instructors may cover the advantages of different types of software, but they may only cover what they use most personally.

They will cover how to adjust the exposure, color hue, temperature, focus, and many other things within your photo to not only adhere to the composition basics, but also show your own creativity through your picture.

Lastly, after you know all the basics of photography, your instructor will begin to teach you how to be a true photographer. You will need to learn two things: how to work with your subject and how to be satisfied with your work.

Subjects in a photograph are hard to handle. As the photographer, you have your own vision of what you want, while they have theirs (even if it a pineapple). But part of your job as the photographer is to be patient until you are both satisfied.

Satisfaction is one of the hardest things to achieve, though, but you have to accept that your work almost never comes out the way you expect it to. That doesn’t mean that your talent is garbage, but rather it is different than what you pictured it to be. Still great, just different.

Your class will teach you every tool you will need to know to get started as a photographer. Though, the most important thing these classes will teach you is how to be inspired by your surroundings and embrace your creativity through photography.