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Discover 6 free online photography courses and more YouTube tutorials that will help you understand digital photography and photo editing. Except for self-discipline, the key to completing free online courses is to find well-organized lessons with interesting and useful material.
6 Free Online Photography Courses and Tutorials
In today’s digital age, photography has become more accessible than ever, thanks in part to the plethora of online photography courses and tutoriass available. This material caters to a wide range of skill levels, from beginners eager to learn the basics of composition and lighting to advanced photographers looking to refine their editing techniques.
Several reputable platforms are offering free online photography courses suitable for various skill levels. Here are six options you might consider:
1
Digital Photography at Stanford University
This digital photography lesson includes lectures by Professor Marc Levoy, interactive diagrams, educational text, exam slides, weekly photograph assignments, and final exam practice questions. Also, it covers several topics like spatial convolution, thin lenses, gamut mapping, color matching, telephoto zoom lenses, phase detection, depth of field, etc.
2
iPhotography’s Free Online Photography Course
This beginner-friendly course comprises 30 concise lessons, each approximately 60 seconds long, covering topics like camera settings, posing, lighting, and editing. It’s designed to impart essential photography principles efficiently. Access requires creating a free account.
3
Karl Taylor Education’s ‘An Introduction to Photography’
This comprehensive course offers 10 free classes, a downloadable eBook, and a quiz. It covers fundamental aspects such as exposure, shutter speed, aperture, lenses, lighting, and composition. The course is structured to help you master your camera and enhance your creative skills.
4
Udemy’s Free Photography Courses
Udemy provides a variety of free photography courses and tutorials suitable for different skill levels. These courses cover a range of topics, from basic camera usage to advanced photo editing techniques. Among thousands of photography classes focusing on everything from camera settings to post-processing techniques, you can browse their selection to find courses that align with your learning objectives.
5
Alison’s Free Online Photography Course
Aimed at those with a basic understanding of photography, this Alison course delves deeper into concepts like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. It offers a more in-depth exploration of these topics to help you refine your skills.
6
Format’s Compilation of Free Photography Courses
The Format has curated a list of free online photography courses from various trusted providers, including Alison, Udemy, and even Harvard. These courses cater to different levels and cover a wide array of topics, from camera skills to photo editing.
Photo Editing Tutorials
For those specifically interested in photography editing, websites like Skillshare and YouTube provide countless tutorials that cover software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Additionally, many photographers share their expertise through blogs or personal websites where they offer free lessons and resources.
By exploring these platforms, aspiring photographers can enhance their skills without incurring any costs, making it easier than ever to embark on a journey into the world of digital photography. Here are some of the best YouTube channels for learning photo editing, whether you’re into Photoshop, Lightroom, or mobile editing:
Photoshop & Advanced Editing
- PiXimperfect – One of the best for Photoshop tutorials, advanced retouching, and creative editing.
- Phlearn – Offers detailed tutorials on Photoshop techniques, compositing, and retouching.
- Photoshop Training Channel (PTC) – Focuses on professional Photoshop techniques and tricks.
- Blue Lightning TV Photoshop – Great for creative effects and artistic transformations.
Lightroom & Photo Enhancements
- Serge Ramelli Photography – Covers Lightroom color grading, photography tips, and landscape editing.
- Anthony Morganti – Detailed Lightroom tutorials, great for beginners and professionals alike.
- Evan Ranft – Lightroom editing for street and urban photography.
Mobile Editing (Snapseed, Lightroom Mobile, etc.)
- Mango Street – Offers creative and aesthetic photo editing ideas.
- Peter McKinnon – Great for Lightroom editing, photography, and general creative inspiration.
- Brandon Woelfel – Known for unique, dreamy editing styles and color grading techniques.
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View Comments (3)
The second course looks very interesting. It's always nice to learn more about photography, and I still have to learn a lot. I love taking photos of nature, and I also do portrait photography. But for me I need to follow a course that is not to difficult yet. I really want to learn more about how to use the right light. I also would like to follow a course about Photoshop. I use this sometimes (but not so much, because in portrait photography I like it to be a natural look), but I want to learn more about it.
Have a nice week,
greetings, Vanessa
I will definitely need to check these out soon . Thanks for sharing. I love photography do it often as I can. I have a Nikon and I love it . I really enjoy photographing birds
That's great! So glad that you find it useful!