Do you click on Instagram and marvel at the stunning and dramatic travel photography that pops up in your feed? Or perhaps you’re more old school and can’t wait each month to read that glossy travel magazine you subscribe to so you can take in the countries and cultures that most people can only dream of experiencing up close.
And who is responsible for sparking your dreams of wanderlust? The intrepid travel photographer! These adventurous souls reject the 9-5 grind for a week photographing bison in Yellowstone followed by a jaunt overseas to shoot a hot air balloon festival in Japan and wrap it all up with a weekend in the upper peninsula of Michigan get spectacular shots of the autumn leaves changing colors.
We bet you think that always being on the go and jetting off to exciting locations at the drop of a hat is just a pipe dream. But it’s definitely not. Successful travel photographers find work through magazine assignments and commercial projects, honing their photography skills along the way.
And, when they’re not focusing on snow-capped mountains or colorful festivals, they’re exploring societies unfamiliar to them and meeting new people. It’s a rich and rewarding career, to say the least!
How do I learn travel photography?
If you are looking for a new career or perhaps hoping to supplement your current income with another gig, why not become a travel photographer? If you have a wanderlust and an adventurous spirit, travel photography may be just the thing. When it comes to travel photography, choosing the right travel camera is essential to capture stunning images on your adventures.
But you may be wondering how you go about getting the skills necessary to become a travel photographer. According to ZipRecruiter, the qualifications and equipment you’ll need as a travel photographer are:
- Impressive photography know-how
- A laptop
- Image editing software
- A professional camera
- Creativity and technical skills
And one of the best ways to get the skills needed to become a great travel photographer is to take a travel photography course online.
The 5 Best Travel Photography Courses Online
In this article, we’re going , we’ll discuss how it really is possible to learn travel photography online.
Then, we’ll review the 5 best travel photography courses online today so that you can acquire the top-notch skills needed to become a travel photographer. And we want to highlight the course that we think is the best: Jimmy Chin’s MasterClass in Adventure Photography. Jimmy not only tells you how to be a great travel photographer; he takes you along on location, so you can see what travel photography is really like. This first-hand look will teach you the important tips and tricks you’ll carry throughout your career.
Read on as we discuss this exciting and worthwhile travel photography course as well as some other great travel photography courses online.
Then, we’ll let you know how much you can make as a travel photographer. So, let’s get going!
Is it really possible to learn travel photography online?
It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s possible to learn almost anything, including travel photography, online.
And it’s never been easier to work towards starting, changing or supplementing a career by studying something new online.
You’d be amazed at how far online courses have come. In some online courses, students even receive personal feedback from the instructor and can interact with others in the course.
But the best thing about studying online, especially travel photography, is that you can work on your own hours. You won’t have to fight traffic, search for parking or deal with any of the other inconveniences you run into when taking a brick-and-mortar course. If you’d rather listen to lectures at 3 am, well, you now can!
And, as we said, you can definitely learn travel photography online, and one great thing is that many classes are taught by some of the world’s best travel photographers. You’ll be getting your information right from the source. You’ll learn all of the tips and tricks successful travel photographers use to get those once-in-a-lifetime photographs!
Thousands of people have already taken a travel photography course online and have gone on to exciting new careers. If you’d like to join them, read on as we give you a peek into what you’d be learning.
The 5 Best Travel Photography Courses Online
There are a lot of travel photography courses offered online these days. But how do you know which one will be right for you? We’ve taken the guess work away revealing the five best travel photography programs today. We’ve looked at the syllabi, the materials you’ll receive when signing up for the class, and the feedback/networking you’ll have access to during and after the class is complete, to come up with these beauts.
World-renowned photographer Jimmy Chin’s MasterClass in Adventure Photography is the best travel photography course online today! Not only will you learn an amazing amount of vital information, but you’ll be on the edge of your seat as you watch Jimmy conducting a climbing photoshoot with friends Conrad Anker and Bree Buckley.
Jimmy will show you all the things you need to know to become a great travel photographer, from lighting, to managing a photo shoot, to editing your photographs to even professionalism and interacting successfully with clients.
Here is what you learn:
- On Location: Portraits and Natural Light
- Capturing Your Passions
- Principles of Narrative: Concept, Research, and Pitch
- Principles of Narrative: The Shoot and the Edit
- Photo Studies: Shooting at the Top
- Commercial Work: Pitching and Working With Clients
- Commercial Case Study: Canon Shoot
- High-Stakes Photography
- Photo Studies: Creative Partnerships
- Building and Leading a Team
- Photo Studies: Mountain Architecture
- Editing
- Post-Processing: Conrad on the Wall
- Post-Processing: Portrait
- Gear: Cameras, Lenses, Power, and Storage
- Settings: Modes, ISO, Focus, and Depth of Field
- Career Advice: Building a Body of Work
- Becoming a Photographer: Jimmy’s Story
You’ll also receive a PDF that includes photography and supplemental learning material. And you’ll gain access to an online community where you can talk to other people who are taking the class or who have already taken it. You’ll be able to share images and get feedback, discuss lessons and even network with other likeminded photographers.
Take it from us, this is an inspiring class that goes deep in travel photography. You’ll come away feeling more creative and ready to start practicing what you’ve learned!
The Art of Travel Photography instructor Phil Ebiner proclaims, “I want to show you how to be a better creator, make money from your creations, and live the life you dreamed of.” And, with 47,000 followers on Skillshare, he undoubtedly is making a positive influence on his students and others interested in travel photography.
You’ll gain:
- A greater understanding of your camera’s advanced settings
- Creative travel photo tips
- The knowledge of how to take portraits outdoors
- Editing know-how
And you’ll even be given a hands-on class project to create an online photo album to share your work with the world.
Plus, you’ll have unlimited access to the class and a supportive online creative community.
This complete travel photography course will teach you the confidence you need to get that amazing photo on your next trip. You’ll learn what equipment you’ll need, how to edit your masterpieces and how to gain a loyal following on social media.
It’s suggested you have a basic understanding of how to use camera settings like aperture, shutter speed, ISO and white balance. The course will teach you the rest!
And, as a bonus, you’ll get:
- Downloadable photos with which to practice editing
- Live demonstrations – follow the instructor on a travel photography shoot
- Downloadable travel checklist
- Premium support from your instructor
Nigel Danson distills his 30 years of landscape photography experience into this dynamic class. It’s important that you learn your craft from someone who’s been honing his out in the field, not from someone who’s been sitting at a desk. And in this course, you will. Danson’s lessons will make you feel like you’re out there, in nature, composing an award-winning shot.
In these 50 videos, you’ll learn all about:
- Natural lighting
- How to shoot vistas, seascapes, woodlands and more
- How to produce super-sharp images
- How to edit and process those images
- Advanced camera settings
- What gear you’ll need
- And much much more
You’ll have lifetime access to the videos, a community Facebook page and original RAW files to learn to edit on.
Learn how to elevate your photography skills to tell your own story with the Photo Muse Masterclass. You’ll discover the artist in yourself as you study shot composition, basic to advanced camera mastery, and how to communicate your own style. From promoting your own brand on Instagram to becoming confident and empowered in your art, the course has it all.
You’ll have access to the course lessons forever. Plus, you’ll receive Adobe Lightroom presets and an invitation to a members-only Facebook group, where you’ll be able to ask questions and receive feedback your photography.
How much money do travel photographers make?
You’ll be pleased to know that it’s possible to make a living as a travel photographer, especially if you are a gig worker. The average travel photographer salaries ranged from around $33,000 to $44,500, according to ZipRecruiter.com. However, with a lot of practice, networking and putting all your effort into it, you could make upwards of $76,500 per year!
For a higher earning potential, travel photographers need to make sure they have the right skills. And with electronics such as cameras continually improving, your technical skills may need to be refreshed every few years.
The years of experience you have also affects your salary as a travel photographer. So, as you gain a foothold into your exciting career, traveling the world and seeing new places, make sure you are asking for what you are worth.
Wrapping Up
It was hard to choose the best travel photography course online, but Jimmy Chin’s Adventure Photography course has everything you need to get started on your travel photography adventure. But please check out the other classes we listed as well. They all offer valuable information that you can use to propel yourself to success as a travel photographer.
And, along with learning that yes, you can become a travel photographer by taking courses online, our information on how much money you could earn will allow you to make the most informed decision you can. You’ve got thrilling adventures awaiting you as a travel photographer!