Photography For Beginners – Your Free Course

Our beginner photography course will help you understand the basics of light and how your eye fixes lighting. How to get your camera to catch what your eye sees to produce better pictures. The tutorials will also help you understand your camera and how to take pictures with it. If you would like to go a step further, our best recommendation is to take our 365 Days of Photography Course.

Listed below are lessons hand-picked to help you get started. Make a goal for yourself of when you will finish all the photography lessons.

Lesson: 1

Getting Started in Photography 4

Getting Started in Photography – 17 Things to Consider

Getting started in photography doesn’t have to be challenging or intimidating. Persistence, a few creative projects, and networking can all help you thrive as a beginner. The Essentials of Getting Started In Photography Photography is a rewarding and satisfying hobby for millions of enthusiasts worldwide.

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Lesson 2:

Basic Camera Settings

Basic Camera Settings

Did you recently purchase a new camera but are not sure which camera settings to use? You’re not alone. Most beginner photographers are initially overwhelmed

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Lesson: 3

Lesson: 4

lens aperture closeup

What is Aperture? An Introduction Lesson

Aperture in photography is a diaphragm in lenses that controls the amount of light that can enter the camera. This function works in a similar way to how the iris in the human eye opens and closes to let more or less light in. A basic explanation is that as the aperture size increases, the amount of light let in increases, and as the aperture size decreases, the

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Lesson: 5

shutter speed explained for beginner photographers

What is Shutter Speed in Photography? Basic Guide for Beginners

What is shutter speed in photography? This is a great question because understanding what shutter speed is in photography is fundamental.  Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open when you take a photograph. The shutter speed is basically the timer for light coming into the camera. The shutter speed is one part of the exposure triangle. These are

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Lesson: 6

What is ISO

What is ISO?

The acronym ISO refers to International Standards Organization. This gives us absolutely no clues as to how it is relevant in photography. The ISO setting on a camera controls how responsive the camera’s sensor is to light. This is universal across all brands and types of cameras. ISO settings are the same on phone cameras and on all types of film

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Lesson: 7

digital noise.

What is Digital Noise and How to Reduce It

Noise in photography is a complex issue that needs to be addressed, especially as you enter the professional arena. Managing noise in your photos often involves a combination of capturing the lowest noise possible in-camera and making further reductions to noise levels in post processing. Learn more in our detailed step by step guide.

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Lesson: 8

Lesson: 9

white balance in photography

Understanding White Balance in Photography

ContentsWhy it’s Important to Control the White Balance Settings on Your CameraWhat is White Balance?How to Determine and Adjust White Balance Settings?White Balance PresetsAuto White Balance SettingDaylightShadeCloudyTungsten LightWhite Fluorescent LightFlashCustomColor TemperatureManually Adjusting White Balance Using the Custom SettingAdjusting Color TemperatureSaving Your Photos in the RAW File FormatConclusion Why it’s Important to Control the White Balance Settings on Your Camera When the white balance

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Lesson: 10

understanding color in photography

Understanding Color in Photography: Full Guide

Color in Photography The definition of color is a component of light that is separated when it is reflected off of an object. Color begins with light. The color we see is influenced by the characteristics of the source and what it reflects off. Wavelengths of reflected light determine what color

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Lesson: 11

Lesson: 12

Lesson: 13

Lesson: 14

How to Shoot in Manual Mode

Manual camera settings may be challenging for beginner photographers. In my opinion, shooting in manual mode with your camera is a great way to learn photography. If you already have some experience and are not interested in manual camera settings, this article may not be for you. Or you might learn an about thing or two about shooting with a manual DSLR camera or mirrorless

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Lesson: 15

Lesson: 16

Lesson: 17

dslr camera exposure settings.

What is Exposure in Photography?

In photography, your exposure determines what gets recorded on your camera’s image sensor. The science behind exposure in photography is called Sensitometry. Getting the right exposure is fundamental in photography. It’s like getting your balance in riding a bike. You’re never going to win a competition unless you have

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Lesson: 18

How Do You Know if You Have a Correct Exposure?

Setting a correct exposure is foundational to good photography. But what is a correct exposure?  A correct exposure is one that you are happy with. It means you have set the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO controls well. The result is that not too much light or too little

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Lesson: 19

closeup of an exposure compensation dial on a dslr camera.

Exposure Compensation: How to Use it Correctly

Pick up a digital camera nowadays and one of the things you’ll instantly notice is the Exposure Compensation on the menu screen. It’s the strange-looking scale with a + and – sign on opposite ends, with numbers labeled along the scale. You may have noticed this countless

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Lesson: 20

Compositional Rules in Photography

5 Basic Compositional Rules in Photography

ContentsCompositional RulesRule #1: Leading LinesRule #2: Rule of ThirdsRule #3: Negative SpaceRule #4: Horizon LineRule #5: Symmetry and Patterns Compositional Rules As a beginner photographer, you must surely be looking at the images made by other photographers, people whose work you admire. Among the many things that you may undoubtedly notice, you may also have noticed that somehow

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Lesson: 21

the rule of thirds

What is the Rule of Thirds and How to Use it in Photography?

What is the Rule of Thirds in Photography? The rule of thirds is a composition technique. It divides the frame into a grid with two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The method is to align the subject or main elements of your image on the 4 intersecting points, or along the vertical

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Lesson: 22

How To Use Negative Space to Make Your Photos More Powerful

Carefully thought-out photography compositions often incorporate negative space in their design. Photographers who make use of negative space add power and meaning to subjects that may otherwise be bland. Negative space in photography composition is all the area around the subject. Positive space is your subject. It’s not a matter of one being good and the other bad. Positive

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Lesson: 23

Road leading lines through an arched bridge

How To Use Leading Lines in Composition

Knowing how to use leading lines in photography is one of the key composition skills beginner photographers can acquire. Learning composition starts with an understanding of how we look at things and how we see things. When you look at an image, your eyes dart around

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Lesson: 24

composing photographs with lines.

How to Use Strong Lines in Photography Composition

Making use of strong lines in photography compositions creates strength, adds peace, guides a viewer’s eye, and much more. You have to be aware of the lines, either real or implied, so you can include them most relevantly in your images. Good photography composition has many guidelines. Sometimes these are called rules. However, I don’t believe

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Lesson: 25

8 Reasons Why Your Photos Are Blurry

8 Reasons Why Your Photos Are Blurry

No photographer likes to see that their photos are blurred. Wondering ‘why are my pictures blurry’ is the cause of much frustration. The good thing is that there’s always a reason an image turns out blurry. In this article, I’ll teach what causes blurry photos and what

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Lesson: 26

Lesson: 27

RAW vs JPEG image comparison

RAW vs JPEG – Which Image File Format is Better?

RAW and JPEG Files RAW format and jpg (or jpeg) format are two distinctly different files types produced by your digital camera. When you set up your camera you can choose to save your photos are either of these formats or save them as both simultaneously. The main differences between

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Lesson: 28

10 Different Types of Cameras

From DSLRs, mirrorless cameras to the iPhone, it’s easier than ever to find a digital camera and start taking great photos. We’ve compiled a list of the ten different types of cameras most photographers use. This article applies to all types of photographers – beginner, casual, or professional. We hope this article inspires you to

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Lesson: 29

Lesson: 30

Lesson: 31

learn to use a dslr camera.

How to Use a DSLR Camera: Basic Guide for Beginners

Using Your DSLR Camera Learning to use a DSLR camera is on the mind of every new photographer who has one. These cameras are complicated pieces of technological equipment. If you own a new DSLR camera, you don’t want to be stuck using it in auto mode. This is what you use your phone for,

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Lesson: 32

Lesson: 33

Lesson: 34

focal length explained.

Understanding Focal Length and Angle of View

Understanding focal length helps photographers determine what lenses to invest in and which lens to use on a particular shoot. Focal length describes one of the primary characteristics of a lens. And it plays a critical role in how we execute our creative vision. In this

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Lesson: 35

Lesson: 36

11 most common types of lighting

How to Use These 11 Types of Lighting in Photography

Lighting is the most important consideration in photography. It’s what makes the photograph possible. So, let’s get a better understanding of what we are talking about when we are discussing the types of light.  What is Light in Photography? Light is the fundamental element in photography.

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Lesson: 37

How to Avoid Making Bad Lighting Mistakes

Good lighting is essential to good photography. Bad lighting mistakes can ruin an otherwise fabulous photograph. This is frustrating for any photographer. Learning how to manage bad lighting is challenging. When the light is not to your liking, sometimes it’s not possible to change. So what can you

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Lesson: 38

So, you want to be a photographer like this man with his camera, but now you have to choose between the most popular types of photography genres

13 Most Popular Types of Photography Genres

There are approximately 152,000 people employed as photographers in the United States. People choose this career for a variety of reasons. Some like the idea of self-employment as a photographer, while others are looking to make a living from traveling or doing something else they love

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Lesson: 39

Lesson: 40

Analyze a Photograph

How to Analyze a Photograph (4 Simple Steps)

Analyzing a Photograph Learning to analyze a photo requires introspection and self-analysis. Whether is a photo you have taken or one taken by another photographer. Image analysis is an essential aspect of the development of any photographer. The photographic analysis leads to a realization of the

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Lesson: 41

capturing shadows as an idea for photography projects

Personal Photography Projects: 13 of the Best Ideas

Personal photography projects are one of the best ways to help you improve your photography. Being focused on a particular topic you will develop more than if you photograph random subjects. Learning as you regularly take photos for your project will accelerate your progress even more.

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Lesson: 42

A Glossary of 251 Most Essential Photography Terms

Photography terms are numerous and can be super confusing for new photographers to get their heads around. But having a good understanding of the photography terms used to describe essential processes will help you enjoy photography a lot more. Some of the technical jargon is just

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If you’re new and just starting out with photography or an amateur photographer looking to improve your creative photography skills or learn the basics of digital photography, try one of our premium beginner photography classes.

Photography is fun, and now it’s easier than ever for beginners to get started with an online digital photography class that you can watch anywhere, anytime, and on any device. Learn the basics like exposure, focus, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and more. We have some of the best online photography classes that teach you to go beyond auto mode and learn to take amazing photographs using different camera modes and settings.

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We have fantastic news: from April 2024, we will launch our 'Great Big Photography World' podcast again! Stay tuned!

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