STG Studios

Where to start when learning photography online

For a lot of people taking a class in person just isn't an option, if they want to get started in a field that interests them, they'll have to learn photography online. That's really not a bad option, if you keep a few simple rules in mind.

 

Money Back Guarantee

 

This one should be obvious but just make sure you get that in writing. In fairness, it's not really possible to design one photography course that will work for everyone. Just in case there's a mismatch between your learning style and the design of their course, you'll want a mechanism to bail out if things aren't working right. This isn't a question of good or bad, just what works for you.

 

Up To Date Content

 

I'm constantly surprised at how many photography courses online seem to have been written five or six years ago. There's no mention of modern camera models and how to adjust their settings. No discussions on HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography and other techniques that are relatively new concepts in photography. Make sure the course you take is updated regularly and keeps pace with changes in the industry.

 

Expert One-On-One Assistance

 

Check out the industry bona fides of the people reviewing your work. How long have they been in the business, ask them to list some accomplishments and see samples of their work. Most offer some type of blog or free courses, do some reading. Try out the free courses and see if they fit with your learning style.

 

Don't Forget Post-Processing

 

Taking a good photo is only half the battle these days. A good amount of the work takes place in post-processing, usually an image manipulation program like Photoshop or GIMP. Anyone serious about photography should spend a lot of time on this subject. No matter your field: glamor, fashion, portrait or architectural photography your real bread and butter will be in how your photos are handled in post.

 

Ask Questions

 

In my travels I've run across a few good online schools. It pays to spend some time on your research, if you go online simply type the words "online photography courses" in a search box and you'll get a large number of results. Visit at least 5-6 sites from the first couple of search result pages and read what they have to offer. Select 2-3 that appeal to you most and contact them directly using their "contact us" links. Ask specific questions such as how they classes work, how fast they respond to students' requests or about the availability of your personal tutor. Do they offer feedback on your photographs? Individual feedback is an extremely valuable option, which helps your photography tremendously. You do want professionals actually look at and evaluate your photographs and offer advice on how to improve. Stay away from schools that have all automated "good job" kind of response. These are not helpful at all. What you need is a constructive criticism.

 

Another good thing to ask is whether their courses are accredited. Decent schools will contact you back within 24-48 hours and thoroughly answer your questions rather then just give you general auto-response.

 

As you can see there are things to look out for when it comes to finding a good photography school and it's not just about the price.

 

About the Author

Shannon Gibbs is a photographer, she loves writing about it. A firm believer that you can obtain fantastic results from even the most modest digital camera if you know how. Online Photography Courses - Ideas on Lighting Various Areas of the Encounter, Why Digital Photography Courses

Lighting Demo with a Model - Free Online Class

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