With the rise of smartphones and social media, photography has become an accessible interest for many. However, taking professional-quality photos requires knowledge and practice. Fortunately, there are many high-quality free online photography courses offered by top institutions in the USA. These courses teach foundational concepts and skills in an engaging way. By investing time into these free online resources, photography enthusiasts can drastically improve their skills.
MIT Offers Comprehensive Introductory Photography Course
For those looking for a comprehensive overview of photography fundamentals, MIT offers an excellent free course simply titled ‘Photography’. The course covers a wide range of topics, including exposure, composition, lighting, lenses, camera types, RAW processing, and more. Taught by professional photographers, each topic builds logically upon the last. This course lays a solid foundation for any aspiring photographer by teaching core concepts and best practices. The structured learning path helps you methodically improve your skills. offered through MIT’s OpenCourseWare platform, all materials are available online for free.
Skillshare Focuses on Learning Through Doing
Skillshare takes a hands-on approach to teaching photography. The online learning platform offers numerous free photography classes centered around practicing core skills. For example, courses will have students go out and shoot photos using specific techniques like lighting or perspective. Then, students upload and critique each other’s work. This learn-by-doing style helps ingrain good photographic habits. While many courses require a Skillshare membership, there is a decent selection available for free. For hands-on learners, Skillshare’s interactive approach can accelerate growth.
Youtube Channels Offer Bite-Sized Photography Lessons
There are many talented photographers who have created educational YouTube channels to share their knowledge. These channels publish short videos focused on teaching specific skills and concepts. A few excellent free channels covering photography basics include Photographer Nick Page, Tony & Chelsea Northrup, and Mark Denney. The bite-sized video format makes it easy to learn at your own pace. Also, the hands-on visual demonstrations are engaging and easy to absorb. While these channels may lack a structured curriculum, they are a superb free resource for actionable tips and inspiration.
CreativeLive Hosts Workshops by Industry Leaders
CreativeLive is an online learning platform that provides access to pre-recorded workshops and classes on photography and other creative fields. The platform hosts courses taught by world-class photographers and industry professionals. Topics span genres like portraiture, product photography, post-processing, and more. While live classes require paid membership, many workshops have free pre-recorded versions available. CreativeLive offers an inspiring learning experience with courses taught in an engaging studio format. The platform is a great resource for intermediate to advanced photographers seeking specialized knowledge.
From foundational courses to specialized workshops, there are many high-quality photography learning resources available for free online. Investing time into these courses can provide immense value for accelerating your skills efficiently and affordably. Consistent practice and application of techniques taught in these online photography courses will lead to tangible improvements in your work.