Beginners Photography Course – Online Access $39
Are you interested in starting the journey of learning photography? I’m so excited for you! I’m also thrilled that you are looking for a Beginners Photography Course to help you start mastering the basics. Your camera is quite a sophisticated tool. If you want your photography skills to progress quickly, it’s worth taking the time to fully understand how your camera works, along with the fundamentals of photography like light and composition.
TL/DR: A Quality Beginners Photography Course Introduces the Fundamentals
Whether you choose to enroll in my beginner’s class or not, know that a good, quality beginners photography course will explain the basics of exposure settings (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO), white balance, focus, focal length, light, composition, and editing. Photo courses introduce these foundational skills of photography which you as the photographer can then apply, practice and refine for years to come!
Photography is such a versatile art form that can be taken in so many directions. There are so many styles and genres to explore. There’s truly always more to learn, but it all starts with mastering the fundamentals.
Why Join An Online Beginner Course?
In theory, you could spend countless hours, reading blogs and watching videos to piece together photo basics. But I have a feeling, like me, you don’t really have time for that. Also, sometimes you simply don’t know what you don’t know. A good photography class eliminates the guess work and launches you into learning.
Investing your time in a course for beginners will help fast track you through the beginning of the learning process and help you get to the fun part of application and experimentation more quickly.
What Does This Online Class Cover?
My online photography class is split into 6 main sections. Each section contains a combination of slide presentations, videos, and handouts to provide learning through multiple experiences. This class introduces the fundamentals of both digital and film photography.
Section 1: Exposure
In this section, students will learn what exposure is and how it affects a photograph. Basic camera settings that create the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, and ISO) will be defined and explained. Different methods for metering for exposure will be explained and demonstrated.
Section 2: Additional Camera Settings
Additional camera settings including white balance, focus, and lens focal length will also be defined and demonstrated. The differences between jpeg and RAW file types will also be explained. Suggestions file organization and storage will also be discussed.
Section 3: Light
Many think of the camera as being the main medium of photography. In fact, light is the medium that your camera captures and manipulates. This section will provide a brief introduction into different qualities of natural light that the photographer will encounter outdoors and indoors.
Section 4: Editing and Developing
Taking the photo is only half of the process. Digital files require editing and film requires development. In this section, students will be introduced to the basics of editing images in Adobe Lightroom. This module does not cover dark room development of film. However, it does provide information about how to use film labs for development and scanning.
Section 5: Composition
In this section, students will learn introductory compositional techniques that make images more interesting and pleasing to the human eye.
Section 6: Appendix
Here the student will find additional information like how to load film into different types of film cameras. More in depth explanations of accessory tools will be located here as well. The Appendix may grow over time in response to student questions.
“Thank you for the very CLEAR and organized method of teaching!” – Elaine D
How Is This Class Taught?
I designed my beginning photography course with busy adults in mind. The online class is comprised of a combination of demonstration videos, voice over slides (that you can listen to while doing chores if you’re like me), quick reference cheat sheets, and printable checklists to keep you on task. The modules can be accessed at any time after purchase and will be available for the lifetime of the course.
While this education is intentionally designed to be easily accessed and consumed on your phone or computer, hands on practice is still vital for mastery. You must spend time exploring and practicing with your camera.
At first, trying and changing these new settings will feel clunky and awkward. However, with time and frequent practice, muscle memory will kick in. Changing settings will begin to feel second nature, freeing up your mind to focus on other aspects of photography like light and composition. All of this to say, watching the videos and reading the worksheets are only the first step. Frequent, intentional practice will be required for mastery of these basics.
Who Is This Course For?
This photography class is designed for beginner to intermediate photographers who own a camera, but haven’t fully mastered how to shoot in manual mode.
If one of my friends came to me and said, “Kelley, I just bought a new camera! Tell me what I need to know to get started,” the information in this resource is what I would share with them.
The beginners photography course was intentionally designed to introduce the basics to a general audience. While I am personally a portrait photographer, the information presented in this online photography class is intentionally not niche-specific. The instruction be applied to many different genres and styles.
Are you interested in landscape photography? You’re welcome here!
Are you learning how to take photos for work? I’m happy to have you!
Do you find yourself drawn to dark and moody images instead of bright and airy? The information found here will still serve you as you get started!
Is your goal to simply take better photos of kids playing sports? You’re in the right place!
Once you’ve mastered the basics presented in this photography course, you may want to pursue further genre or style-specific education in the future! This is especially true if your interested in starting a genre specific business in the future. There are so many photography classes out there that can eventually help you niche down.
If you know you are interested in photography, but aren’t sure of any specifics beyond that, don’t fret! There’s something absolutely magic about the start of an artistic journey. Experimenting and exploring can be so much fun. I intentionally have made this learning framework general and open-ended to help serve you in this process.
How Long Is This Beginner Online Photography Course?
The video portions of this learning program will take a little over 4.5 hours to watch. Some information is also presented through handouts.
While a handful of the videos are closer to 30 minutes, I made an effort to keep most videos short. Many are between 5-15 minutes, making them easy to watch while killing a little time (waiting in the car for your kids if you’re like me!).
But remember! It’s not all about sitting back and consuming information. When learning photograph, you will make the most progress by learning, then applying and practicing the information, and finally analyzing your results. (And honestly, the experimenting, practicing, and playing are where the fun and magic happen!)
About the Educator
In case we haven’t crossed paths before, my name is Kelley Hoagland. I’m a wife, mom of three girls, and portrait photographer near Chattanooga, TN. While I’ve always enjoyed artistic pursuits, I actually never intended to become a photographer. I didn’t even take any beginners photography classes in high school or college.
I often tell people that I “accidentally” became a photographer. My journey actually started when I failed to schedule newborn photos after the birth of my first daughter. Photos hadn’t even been on my radar!
After struggling to find anyone with openings, I ended up taking the photos myself. Miraculously, they turned out half decent despite the fact that I took them with my camera set to “auto” and I had zero concept of flattering light.
Following my first “photoshoot”, my husband suggested I might enjoy learning how to actually use my camera (as well as an excuse to get out of the house and take a break during my maternity leave.
Thus began my journey with photography! As I learned and practiced, friends started taking notice. People began asking me to photograph their families and a business was born.
Wondering what has drawn me to teaching? Well, I actually have a background as an Occupational Therapist. (I told you I never planned to be a photographer!) One of the hallmarks of OT is that we are experts in task analysis, meaning we take a task (or occupation) and break it down into manageable to identify problem areas and teach new techniques or compensatory strategies.
Why is this relevant to photography? Well, this background helps me view skills with an eye trained for breaking down the steps and teaching them in an accessible, methodical way. I hope you will find that this background serves you well as you learn from me!
Why Are You Interested In Taking a Class for Beginners?
Do I expect your photography journey to look like mine? Certainly not! You may even be thinking, “I have zero desire to start a business. I’m just looking for a fun hobby!”
I promise, you’re still in the right place! Pursing this art form for the simply joy of creating is a worthy use of time. I would love to help support you in that.
No matter your reasons, as you start this task of learning beginner photography, I do encourage you to take some time to reflect on why you want to learn photography. Do you have a specific goal or dream? What about this art form interests you? What inspired you to purchase your camera in the first place?
If I Don’t Already Own a Camera, What Starter Cameras Do You Recommend?
This section includes affiliate links, meaning I receive a small commission for any products purchased through my link.
You will certainly want to have a camera handy as you go through the photography information!
All of us photographers have our preferences when it comes to camera manufacturers. I have mainly shot Sony digital cameras for the past few years, so that will color my answer.
If you’re just getting started, I think Sony’s a6000 crop sensor cameras like the Sony a6400 are wonderful! It’s so compact and portable, making you more likely to take it on outings and practice your photography. Instead of buying a bundle that includes a lens, I would recommend splurging for this Sony 50 mm (for crop sensor) lens for superior image quality.
Other popular picks include the Canon Rebel Series and Nikon Z50 ii (this one comes with a kit lens that you may want to upgrade later). Read my full list of recommended beginner cameras here.
Is this a Beginners Digital Photography Class or Beginners Film Photography Class
It’s actually both! While I primarily use a digital camera for client work, I have begun shooting more and more film in recent years. Therefore I include beginner information for both forms of photography.
Photography is photography. There are simply some minor differences between digital and film which I will explain to you. As you learn more about photography, you will likely see that this art form is really not about the gear or medium, but about your artistic eye and knowledge. I like to call it your “photography brain”. Your artistry and understanding of the craft and be applied to all sorts of cameras.
Why did I include film in this program? Isn’t film dead?
Film photography is actually experiencing a bit of a Renaissance at the moment! Many people love it’s nostalgic, romantic look.
Granted, a film look can be simulated through editing. One of the main reasons many photographers are drawn to learn film photography is because of the constraints film brings to the table. Rolls of film have a limited number of frames. Film is also expensive, so each shot really costs you something. These factors force the photograph to be extra intentional about the photographs he or she takes, rather than rattling of hundreds of shots in burst mode.
Therefore, this online class teaches the basics of film photography along with the basics of digital photography for beginners.
Does This Class Teach How to Use Flash?
This online photography class does not teach flash photography. While I do offer and beginner flash photography course, I strongly recommend mastering the skill of shooting manually in natural light before introducing artificial light your work!
Do I Need Any Other Equipment For This Learning Program?
You do not need any other equipment (besides a camera and a digital device to access the content) for this beginners photography course.
I will introduce you to some other photography accessories, such as incident light meters, that you may wish to purchase in the future. However, you can certainly get started learning photography without them.
I’ll be frank: photography can very easily turn into an expensive hobby. There is always more equipment and gear to try! I am a firm believer in starting with what you already own. Learn to use what you have to it’s fullest potential. Once you find that you have outgrown you’re equipment and it’s holding you back from fully realizing your artistic vision, then consider an upgrade!
One other note: I will be teaching editing using the program Adobe Lightroom. This is the go-to standard editing system for most photographers and does require a subscription. However, there are other free editing softwares out there! If you’re not interested in paying for Lightroom, do a little research into other options. While the interface may be different from what I show you in Lightroom, the basic functions will likely be very similar. (For example, I find the Photos app on my iPhone continues to offer new features that are more and more similar to what I can do in Lightroom.)
In this beginner photography course, I will also briefly discuss file storage. One can easily fill up a computer hard drive with images and slow the whole system down. Therefore, I also make suggestions for external storage that are optional.
Does This Class Teach How To Start a Photography Business?
This intro to photography course is not a business class.
My beginner photography course sticks to the territory of introducing you to fundamental concepts in photography. The goal is to keep the information beginner friendly and applicable to hobbyists and aspiring professionals alike.
Before charging for your work, I recommend investing serious time into understanding how to structure and run a business for profitability. A large majority of photography businesses fail in the first few years, often because the photographer has not taken the time to understand what pricing is required to sustain the business. This class does not provide education on business topics, but I’m happy to point you in the right direction if you reach out to me via email.
Also know that photography is a great hobby! I personally love the way that it encourages me to slow down and actually look. There can be something almost mindful and meditative about the way that it causes me to appreciate the beauty around me.
As a family photographer, I also have the added benefit of enjoying albums full of portraits I’ve taken of my children as they have grown and developed. Knowing that I will be leaving the with physical evidence of how much they were loved and cherished gives me quite the thrill. They regularly pull our “year books” off the shelf and enjoy reminiscing.
Did you know that a research study for 1975 actually found that displaying portraits of children around the house helped improve their self-esteem? Talk about a major pro to engaging in photography as a hobby!
“I hope that you get to nurture your hobby and your passion just between you and that craft and you give yourself time. Give yourself time to make mistakes. Give yourself time to hone your craft.” – Taylor Swift
My hope is that this photography class for beginners will serves as a safe space to learn, experiment, and delight in art.
What Is the Refund Policy For the Beginners Photography Course?
Having purchased my fair share of online classes and products, I know there’s always a slight concern that you may not receive what you are expecting. Wondering about the refund policy?
First of all, know that I want you to get what you need to be successful in your photography. If this course turns out to not be the right fit, let’s make it right! The full refund policy can be viewed by clicking the “terms of serve” a the bottom of the purchase product page.
In partial summary: “If the Product You purchased is not what you were expecting, you can request, within 14 days of your purchase of the product, that we will refund to your original payment method. We will not provide any refund if You request it after the 14-day guarantee time limit has passed. In order to request a refund, please email here: Via email with a subject line ‘Refund Request’.
Have Other Questions?
See All Of The Photography Courses Kelley Offers
Find More Helpful Photography Tips On Kelleys’ Blog
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