Online Courses for Professional Photographers
There are some excellent online courses available and some of them are free, just type
“Photography free online courses” into your search engine. Morguefile are an example they offer sound technical advice on a variety of subjects, as well as aspects of types of photography, it is a good point to start with, showing the resources Jodie Coston, a freelance photographer, has made available online, after a series of classes she gave. The New York Institute of Photography offers an online course over a period of about eight months, with a few hours work a day at your own pace, they offer courses in Photography and digital photography. Whilst they state they have been teaching photography for a hundred years, they do not quote their prices online, you have to contact them direct. They offer the information that most of their students are mature. Photo seminars offer a free workshop and a free lesson, so that you may you may evaluate the course before you buy. The enrolment cost is 39.00. U.S. dollars. They also offer links and resources. Better Photos, also offer a wide range of courses at different prices, with differing lengths, the subjects are either technical or cover “How to take more dramatic photographs”. For these courses you need to transfer the photographic assignment you were given to a web page on their site, so you need access to a computer. One particular site which seemed outstanding and did also offer a free course along with other offers was click here. There are times when the free courses cannot teach you any more and you have to pay for further knowledge.
If you are just starting digital photography, you will find that you need skills that are not covered in analog photography. You will need to learn how to use an editor Adobe Photoshop, which is the industry standard for desktop imaging. Whilst Adobe produce their own official training manuals, they are not the easiest resource for total beginner’s (my apologies to the author, but they are hard), there are on line courses available.
There are excellent resources for the committed photographer, as well as the passionate hobbyist offered by the Kansas public Library. They offer galleries, informative articles, history resources, and general photographic resources. It is a very easy place to lose yourself for a couple of days; it is certainly worth more than a cursory glance. As well as on- line courses there are excellent resources available to the photographer. There are several sites for the professional photographer. The American Society of picture professionals is an association of professionals who sell photographs overseas and at home. They have four types of members, and their fees range from $25.00 to 100 U.S. dollars. The American site of Media Photographers, have three aims. To protect and promote the interests of photographers whose work is for publication, to promote professional standards and ethics, as well as the promotion of friendship between photographers. They also have several classes of membership, as well as buying and selling photographs. The National Press Photographers Association has some interesting free reports available, and you do not have to be a member to read them. There are an assortment of lessons both free, and paid for and also those available only to member’s at the Web Photoschool. They offer a tour around their site, so you can familiarise yourself with its feel. The lessons cover beginner’s to professionals.
For those of you that feel you learn better under tutorial guidance, the School of Photography offers courses 24/7 for you to work at your own pace. The courses are from beginner to the professional with a course on “how to freelance”. They have a free course available on aspects of night photography, which is in three parts. Exposure 36 specialise in photographic education. Most of their courses are in centres in Canada and the U.S.A. but they offer CD’s and also offer training on a one to one basis, or for yourself and a group of friends to set up a photographic workshop. They also have a series of articles aimed at all levels that are available for purchase. For the nature lover in the U.S.A. there are online newsletters available that cover all aspects of photography in America. They are an invaluable introduction to the photographer who wants to explore new areas.
Not only are there online courses available, but also for those who need to brush up on specific techniques, such as marketing, there are electronic books (ebooks) available, most of these are written by professional photographers already making money in a competitive market. These ebooks cover how to market a small time business, photographic techniques, and photographic markets.
Here are 7 to look at:-
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Better Photos offer a wide range of courses aimed at all levels; they offer courses on techniques such as lighting, as well as courses on marketing aspects. Each week you are sent a lesson via electronic mail. Contained in this lesson is a practical assignment, which has to be completed within a fortnight. For those that already have a degree and want to study further it is now possible to study for a Master’s degree on line. The course duration is two years and is tutor assisted.
However, as mentioned earlier, my favourite is:-The School of Photography