Best Photography Courses Online 2025

19 online photography courses to turn your passion into a solid skill.

Photography is a fun way to express your creativity. But if you have the right techniques up your sleeves, it can be a rewarding activity, opening the doors to several career avenues. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate photographer, we’ve rounded up the 19 best photography courses online to help you brush up your skills or even start a business.

Overview

Photography helps us capture the fleeting moments of life the way we want. Anyone can pick up a camera and snap their heart out. But serious photography calls for specific techniques to help you reach your camera’s full potential and create beautiful photos. 

These concepts range from composition, depth, motion, lighting, and posing to mastering perspective, angles and the exposure triangle. While you can read up on all these things on the internet, the information is often overwhelming and you can quickly lose direction.

Benefits – On the other hand, photography courses take a step-by-step approach and cover all the basics and advanced techniques in a way you can easily follow. Moreover, field experts who love sharing their experience and knowledge usually deliver the best courses. It feels more like an apprenticeship where you gobble up all the secrets of image creation from the comfort of your home.

Genres – In addition to the essential concepts, these photography courses teach you the best practices for different genres, including portrait, street, landscape, and travel photography. You can also learn all about post-production, eventually enabling you to use photography to earn money.

Many e-learning platforms offer such classes, and we cover the best below. The courses are sorted by provider, making exploring one or more online photography classes from each platform easy. Let’s take a detailed look at each one:

Best Photography Courses Online 2025

365 Photography	MasterClass	Domestika
★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★
DSLR, Concepts	Photography & Art	Photography, Style
$99/year	from $10/month	from $14.99 course
Visit Website	Visit Website	Visit Website

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Read the full disclosure at the end of this post.

Note: This post curates some of the best courses but cannot cover all available photography classes. It is a guide to help you find the right course. Use the Table of Contents for navigation.

1. 365 Days of Photography

365 Days of Photography (visit website) is an all-in-one online course with renowned photography journalist Kevin LJ. The class helps beginners and intermediates master photography’s technical and creative aspects in daily bite-site lessons.

This online photography class revolves around 365 modules, with one lesson for each day of the year. Beginner photographers learn to control their cameras, understand lenses and composition, manual modes, light and contrast, flash and reflectors, focus, slow shutter speed photography, color and B&W, narratives and looks, and post-production.

Lighting is an important part. 365 Days of Photography helps you recognize different types of lights and use them to click aesthetic pictures. Understand the impact of light, tone, shadows, and contrasts on your photographs. Students can try their new skills in various photography styles such as portrait, landscape, street, products, or sports photography.

This 12-month class is an excellent online photography course for beginners, on-and-off, or dedicated camera users looking for a comprehensive and fun learning experience. It includes a bonus module called Natural Light Portrait Photography.

You can get the class individually or become a member for $99/year and access all their online photography classes, contests, and community forums.

Instructor: Kevin LJ | For: Beginners, Intermediates | Lessons: 365
Time: 12 months | Certificate: Yes | Refund: Yes. 30 days guarantee.
Price: $99/year. Access to all courses, content + community.
Info: View course page. | Membership: View website + info on photography classes.

2. Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography – Udemy

Photography Masterclass (visit website) is one of the most cost-effective, comprehensive, and best photography courses online, with 390K+ students enrolled.

Aimed at both beginners, this course starts by teaching about camera gear and all the necessary equipment. Composition, exposure, lighting, and shooting modes are discussed in detail with practical demonstrations and real-world shoots.

The class also provides instructions on applying these concepts to different photography styles, including street, sports, portrait, landscape, wildlife, and night photography. Unlike other courses with limited scope, this masterclass also teaches you how to make money with photography.

Instructor: Phil Ebiner, William Carnahan | Skill Level: All levels
Lectures: 375 | Video: 27 hours | User Rating: ★★★★☆
Price: View course. From $19.99. Up to 75% off. Browse category on Udemy.

3. Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography – MasterClass

What’s better than learning the secrets of photography directly from the world-renowned portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz (visit website)? If you have a passion for portrait photography, this class will teach you everything from creating concepts and working with light to best portraying the subject and bringing photos to life in post-production.

Leibovitz also takes you behind the scenes of a Vogue photoshoot to show you what really goes down and what makes photos stunning. In addition to all these real-world examples, the course also provides a workbook with resource material.

The feedback received from other students and occasionally from Leibovitz herself is a great motivational factor for leveling up your skills. This class can set you on the right path to starting a business in wedding or fashion photography. It is one of the best online photography courses for beginners and advanced photographers.

Instructor: Annie Leibovitz | Level: All levels | Review: ★★★★★
Price: from $10/month. Get access to all 200+ online courses.
Info: View course page. Compare pricing plans and browse all online courses.

4. Professional Photography For Instagram – Domestika

Professional Photography for Instagram (visit website) is one of the most popular courses on the popular Domestika platform. If you want to increase the reach of your Instagram content for business or private purposes, this could be the right class.

Instructor Mina Barrio will teach you how to use creative photography to communicate your values, ideas, and messages to a broad audience. You will learn how to define and create a theme matching your project’s requirements, goals, and style. This includes composition, motives, stories, colors, backgrounds, branding, and post-production.

Using your material, learn how to edit photos and prepare them for publishing on Instagram. You will study effective techniques and tools to organize your social networks and know when and what to publish. This includes publishing on Instagram Stories.

A class project helps you apply your new skills and show the results on Instagram. This class could be an excellent choice for social media enthusiasts and business professionals looking to increase the impact of their ideas, brands, or clients on Instagram.

Instructor: Mina Barrio | Level: Beginners | Time: 2 hours | Audio: English, Spanish
Subtitles: Yes | Coupon: Get extra 10% Off with EDUPROJECTS-10
Info: View course. From $14.99. Up to 75% off. Browse all online photography classes.

5. Jimmy Jin Teaches Adventure Photography – MasterClass

Jimmy Jin (visit website), the recipient of National Geographic and numerous other awards for his top-tier adventure photography, offers an online photography masterclass to aspiring photographers. His course comprises a series of twenty lectures that will take you to the locations with Jimmy as he captures some stunning moments in time.

His photography class is designed to teach students how to create breathtaking shots. However, the lectures are not exclusive to adventure photography. You will have a chance to learn about new and creative approaches to editorial spreads, commercial projects, and passion shoots.

Upon enrolling, students will have a chance to witness first-hand the art of taking photos when the stakes are high. Jimmy will teach you how to add depth to your photos, change the overall dynamics of an image, have fun with your shoots, and understand where the bars have already been set.

The latter is essential to ask yourself whether you’re willing to up the ante and make your experience truly adventurous. If you want to experiment with your photos, this is undoubtedly one of the best online photography courses. You can take it for free and also get access to all other online courses on MasterClass.

Instructor: Jimmy Jin | Skill Level: All levels | Review: ★★★★★
Price: from $10/month. Get access to all 200+ online courses.
Info: View course page. Compare pricing plans and browse all their online classes.

6. Fundamentals of DSLR Photography – Skillshare

Fundamentals of DSLR Photography (visit website) will turn your passion into a solid skill. As a student, you will dive deep into digital photography and have all the core concepts at your fingertips. Become a photographer in a true sense.

The class provides 12 online photography classes, each teaching a core concept. You will learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and how to balance the exposure triangle, followed by a studio demonstration to understand sharpness and depth of field.

The course uses an interactive approach and logical structure to impart all the valuable information without feeling intimidating. If you have no technical knowledge of DSLR cameras, this is a great class to give you a real leg up on learning and help you take your photography up a notch.

Instructor: Justin Bridges | Skill Level: Beginner | Video Lectures: 12
Class Projects: 218 | User Review: ★★★★☆
Info: View class. From $15/month. Get 30% off annual Premium plan.

7. Indoor Self-Portrait Photography On A Budget

Indoor Self-Portrait Photography (visit website) is an excellent skill class if you have tried taking Insta-style-like pictures of yourself but never liked the results and now want to master this art. You will get the right help from instructor Taya Iv whose photography artwork has been featured on book covers and in photography magazines.

Taya Iv loves to help others learn all about photography and has also written over 400 articles on the subject. What’s great about this course is that you don’t need expensive equipment, props, and access to lavish places to master the skill.

All you need is an eye to see beauty in seemingly insignificant places. The online photography class is ideal for portrait photographers and camera users on a budget. It helps you get more comfortable in front of the camera and maximize your indoor space and equipment. Learn how to take eye-catching photos that tell a meaningful story and work with the available equipment.

The online class consists of six modules with 30 engaging video lessons. Students learn via creative and fun challenges and also get access to an exclusive community of seasoned and experienced photographers. It is among the best courses for learning the art of taking visually appealing self-portraits.

Instructor: Taya Iv | For: Beginners | Photography Lessons: 30
Time: 4 weeks | Certificate: Yes | Refund: Yes. 30 days guarantee.
Info: View course. $99 for the individual class. Lifetime access.
Membership: Become a member and get all their courses for $199/year.

8. Photography Basics and Beyond – Specialization – Michigan State University

Photography Basics and Beyond (visit website) is a comprehensive path for beginners culminating in a final Capstone project. This could be a good place to start if you are new to photography and want to learn everything.

Before your Capstone project, you will complete four courses covering many principles. In the first class, Michigan State University instructors Peter Glendinning and Mark Valentine Sullivan will introduce you to digital cameras’ essential functions, standard features, and popular accessories.

The following class focuses on camera control. You will become familiar with exposure modes, light metering, ISO, lens options, shutter speed and DoF. The principles of design and techniques for post-production comprise the third photography class. This also includes instructions for Adobe™ Lightroom and adjustment tools on smartphones.

Finally, the last class provides instructions on documentary vs. creative content, how to use light, matting techniques, web placement, copyrighting, and social media best practices. Upon completing all courses and the Capstone project, you will have gained professional-level knowledge of camera control and the principles of composition.

Provider: Michigan State University, Coursera | Type: Specialization
Pricing: Free trial. $59/month Coursera Plus. | Review: 4.8 ★★★★★
Info: View course. Browse: Search all online photography courses on Coursera.

9. Professional Photography for Video and Mobile – Domestika

Chilean photographer Nay Jiménez (visit website) offers an excellent course to help you improve your Instagram, TikTok, and social media posts. She creates social media content for brands like Disney, Puma, and Samsung.

Jiménez teaches you to use lighting, color, and composition to establish your visual style. The course covers phone camera features and capabilities, as well as accessories. You will learn how to do flat-lay photography and stop-motion videos. She even shows learners how to publish their content for maximum reach.

Students also explore the work of photographers who inspire them. Lastly, the class project challenges you to work with a model to complete four photography tasks. This is one of the best courses if you want to use a smartphone to create your artwork, portfolios, memories, or video presentations.

Instructor: Nay Jiménez | Level: Beginners | Lessons: 18 | Time: 3 hours
Audio: English, Spanish | Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, etc.
Info: View course. From $14.99. Up to 75% off. Browse all online photography classes.

10. Tyler Mitchell Teaches Storytelling through Portrait Photography – MasterClass

Tyler Mitchell (visit website) made history by being the first black photographer to land an American Vogue cover shoot. His work is now part of the Smithsonian’s permanent collection. His online photography course offers a series of eleven lectures that teach learners the ins and outs of storytelling through portraiture.

He usually focuses on working with natural light and shadows within photos, even when your phone is your best equipment. Tyler will teach you how to capture “seemingly mundane” pictures and turn them into stunning, relatable stories. Aspiring photographers will also learn to suppress self-doubt and focus on what inspires and excites their sensibilities.

Upon enrolling, you will begin by understanding lighting and composition, shooting indoors with natural light, photo editing, using a camera to capture your voice, art-directing your shoots and photos, and locating the audience to share your content with. This is among the best online classes for ambitious portrait photography.

Instructor: Tyler Mitchell | Level: All levels | Review: ★★★★★
Price: from $10/month. Access to all 200+ online courses. Try for free.
Info: View course page. Compare pricing plans and browse all their classes + topics.

11. The Fundamentals of Photography – CreativeLive

The Fundamentals of Photography is an online photography class for beginners to help build a solid foundation of photography skills. Seasoned and award-winning outdoor photographer John Greengo is here to teach you to do justice to every moment you capture on camera.

Whether you’re a novice or need a refresher, this course helps you (re-)grasp the essential concepts and camera mechanics. Breathe life into your creative vision by learning to understand and choose the right gear for each shoot.

With John’s experiential approach to learning, students learn to combine the elements of manual mode, such as shutter speed, aperture, and composition, to create an evocative image. You can also expect to develop a key photographic skill: learning to spot and take advantage of good natural light.

In addition to learning to craft stunning images, this is among the best photography classes online for engaging in critical thinking about your motivations, process, and ultimate goals for your photography project. This is crucial for finding a deeper meaning to your photographic pursuits and communicating that passion through your camera lens.

Provider: CreativeLive | Instructor: John Greengo | Level: All levels
Time: 4-6 weeks | Rating: 95% ★★★★★ | Plans: Access to all classes.
Info: from $149/year.

12. Street Photography: Capture the Life of Your City – Skillshare

Street photography is incredibly dynamic and diverse. It lets you explore different ideas and bring out your subject’s candid emotions or unique perspective of the cityscape.

However, you will need certain tricks and techniques to make your photography look alive. Street Photography (view class) is among the best online photography courses for beginners and intermediates who are enthusiastic about this genre.

The 16-lesson course is delivered clearly using helpful tips and practical examples. It covers four major aspects of street photography and teaches about authentic candids, motion shots, angles for look-up shots, and night photography. The assignments and discussions with other students make this course all the more engaging.

Mastering street photography can add diversity to your portfolio and help you commission gigs from brands. You can also pursue photojournalism after refining your skills.

Instructor: trashhand, VSCO | Level: All levels | Video Lectures: 16
Class Projects: 371 | User Review: ★★★★☆
Info: View class. From $15/month. Get 30% off annual Premium plan.

13. Documentary Photography: Capturing Places and People – Skillshare

Documentary Photography (view class) is about celebrating and capturing people’s everyday lives. It helps you connect with your subject and revel in the surreal beauty they offer. This course delivered by photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale, focuses on the best practices of documentary photography.

From observation and patience to equipment and perspective, Ami touches on all the technical aspects that help you master this challenging art form. Her online photography class provides a solid learning experience for aspiring photojournalists and photographers looking for inspiration to document the world around them.

Instructor: Ami Vital, National Geographic| Level: All levels | Video Lectures: 7
Class Projects: 88 | User Review: ★★★★★
Info: View class page. Get 30% off annual Premium plan. Try all classes.

Tip: Combine photography skills with graphic design and post-production skills. Browse our round-ups of the best Photoshop courses, Illustrator courses, and graphic design courses.

14. Night Photography: Shoot Stunning Night Photos – Udemy

Night Photography (visit website) offers a unique perspective and colors that can’t be captured in the daylight but can be tricky, particularly for beginners.

This course will help you manage the challenges you face when shooting at night. Experts explain everything that makes your photos shine, including the right photography gear, camera settings, composition, and editing.

By the end of this online photography class, you will understand how to balance the exposure triangle when shooting at night and use bulb mode with shutter release to get long exposure. Capturing motion and shooting trail light photos are also taught.

Overall, the class will broaden your portfolio and give you the proper techniques to establish yourself as a photojournalist.

Instructor: Phil Ebiner, William Carnahan
Level: All levels | Video: 2 hours | User Rating: ★★★★★
Price: View course. From $11.99. Up to 95% off. Browse category on Udemy.

15. Become a Photographer – LinkedIn Learning

Become a Photographer is a learning path that teaches you the fundamental concepts and techniques needed in the post-production process. The courses cover everything from shutter speed, aperture, ISO setting, composition, shooting modes, focus, motion, lighting, Photoshop, and Lightroom to focus, motion, lighting, and more.

The best thing about this class is that it has everything in one place, and you can choose any class or a combination of classes to take your skills to the next level. Each course addresses a specific subject. The experts give creative instructions in real environments, making the photography classes more realistic and beneficial.

If you’re an aspiring photographer, this class might be the right fit and help you transition into a professional one. Photojournalism, portrait photography, and freelance photography are some career avenues this path can open for you.

Instructors: Jum Heid, Ben Long, Natalie Fobes, Erin Manning
Level: Beginner, Intermediates | Info: From $26.99/month annually.

16. Professional Photography Course – New York Institute of Photography

The Renowned New York Institute of Photography offers some of the most interesting resources for studying the art of photography. The Professional Photography Course is a solid and comprehensive class for amateur photographers who seek formal instruction or are interested in turning their hobby into a full—or part-time career.

Participants gain skills and knowledge about composition, equipment, different genres and disciplines, and the business of photography. They also learn how to see like a photographer, use light, and create a visually appealing photograph.

Students will also explore different genres and disciplines of photographs. This includes wedding photography, landscapes, portraiture, wildlife, studio, still life, photojournalism, and architectural photography. This popular online course will also teach you to build a portfolio, market, brand yourself, and develop a pricing model.

A unique feature of this class is that you are paired with a professional mentor who will work with you one-on-one to improve your skills. You also become part of a student forum where you can share your work with other learners at different learning levels.

Publisher: New York Institute of Photography | Level: Beginners, intermediates
Topics: Various online courses and classes are available.

17. Online Photography Courses – School of Photography

The School of Photography’s online courses offer beginner-level to advanced instruction in self-paced classes that dive deep into specific photography techniques and tools. These include specialized courses in Photoshop, Lightroom, macro photography, long exposure photography, studio lighting, or portrait retouching, for example.

The Complete Guide to Lightroom is suitable for beginners and intermediate users who may feel that they are not using Lightroom to its full potential. You will learn the Lightroom workflow, features such as masking and histograms, lens and perspective correction, how to create panorama images, metadata settings, and more. You also receive over 100 Lightroom presets and over a dozen raw files.

In the Macro Photography Course, instructor Oliver Wright teaches the secrets of high-magnification stacking techniques. This includes the physics of macro photography, high-magnification techniques, home macro projects, macro on a budget, and how to turn your hobby into a career.

Provider: School of Photography | Level: Beginners, Intermediates, Advanced
Genres: Various classes are available.

18. Magnum Photography Online Courses

Magnum Photos offers in-depth, nuanced courses led by master photographers to photographers at any stage of their careers. Using in-depth interviews, on-location shoots, and offline workbooks, their online courses offer students an intimate look at the professional photographic processes experienced photographers use.

Topics include visual storytelling, long-term documentary projects, portraiture, street photography, and editing workflows. Gregory Halpern’s Documentary Sur/Realism class, for example, explores his approach to portraiture and how he edits and sequences to build powerful visual narratives. He also shares insights into his most celebrated projects.

In Bieke Depoorter’s Chance Encounters course, she offers insight into her philosophy of working with people to create intimate photographs of people she’s only just met. You will learn how to develop and maintain relationships to achieve long-term projects.

The Art of Street Photography follows seven Magnum photographers and three industry leaders as they share their unique insights and experiences with the art of street photography.

Provider: Magnum Photography | Level: Beginners, Intermediates
Topics: Various online photography classes and courses are available.

19. KelbyOne Photography Classes

KelbyOne offers many photography classes online but ‘Beginners Start Here’ or ‘How to make money with travel photography or ‘Travel Photography’ are some of the best online photography classes on KelbyOne that are worth your time and money.

Beginners Start Here offers tips about camera settings, exposure, f-stops, and the best lenses for different types of photography. It teaches beginners how to control their camera more by adjusting the exposure triangle and using their gear effectively.

The Travel Photography course is all about the tools and techniques required to capture a city’s story. Location scouting, architecture, interiors and exteriors, vantage points, and perspective are some of the topics covered.

How to make money with travel photography focuses on what sells and what doesn’t. It discusses all the ins and outs of making travel photography a source of income, including planning and marketing techniques. Stock photography opportunities, captions and keywords, influence on Instagram, direct marketing, and networking are also explored.

Depending on your skills, these online courses can help you establish your business and open up career options such as working with tourism organizations.

Levels: Beginners to Advanced
Categories: Techniques, Design, Post Processing, All photography genres
Price: from $9.99 monthly or $96 annually| User Rating: ★★★★★

How to Choose the Right Photography Course?

Choosing the right photography course depends on various factors, including learning goals, motivation, and time constraints. Before you commit, keep the following things in mind.

Determine your learning goal – What do you want to learn? Do you want to study the fundamentals or sharpen your intermediate knowledge? Are you interested in the photography process or post-production skills as well? Is there a particular genre that intrigues you the most? Ask yourself and decide accordingly.

Research and review – Once you have determined the goals, search and review various courses that match that goal. We’ve listed above some of the best ones you can look further into. Some of the platforms, such as MasterClass, Skillshare, Domestika and Udemy, also feature student reviews to give you an idea of whether the course is worth it.

Consider cost and time constraints – If you’re a beginner, investing in a cost-effective class is best. The duration of an online course should also be considered. A 20-hour+ class might not be ideal for everyone.

Photography Courses Online 2025 – Summary

Instead of sifting through countless web pages to no avail, consider taking one or more of these best photography classes online. They offer in-depth knowledge of specific areas and additional resource material to hone your craft.

Start with the fundamentals and gradually progress to more advanced courses to eventually transform your passion for photography into a promising career.

What are the best photography courses online in 2025? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below.

Other Online courses worth mentioning

• Nikon Photography Online School
• Canon Photography Online School
• MIT Photography Online Class
• Karl Taylor Online Photography Course
• Fundamentals of Photography – CreativeLive
• Marc Levoy Lectures on Digital Photography
• New York Film Academy Photography Classes and Courses
• Photography Foundations – Lenses – LinkedIn Learning
• Basics of Photography – Mobile Photography or Instagram Success – Skillshare
• Portrait Photography Course: Working with Natural Light – Skillshare
• The History of Photography – Skillshare, MasterClass
• Diploma in Digital Photography – Alison
• Basics of Photography and Beyond: Become a Smartphone Photographer, Coursera
• Seeing Through Photographs – Coursera
• Online Photography Classes – Michigan State University
• Photography School – Stanford University
• Jerad Hill – Principles of Photography

Terminology: Wikipedia Post-production | Exposure Triangle

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