If you want to learn more about photography, gain insights into more advanced techniques, and learn the skills you need to be an improved photographer, you don’t necessarily have to take courses at a traditional brick-and-mortar school. There are many excellent online photography schools that will help you take your photography to the next level, but which among them is the best? Check out our list of four high-quality, trustworthy online programs!
New York Institute of Photography
The New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) is one of the most well-respected online photography schools, and for good reason. NYIP currently offers nine online courses that you can tackle at your own pace. Course materials are written by professional photographers that have first-hand experience in making photography a successful career. All the work that you do for your courses is reviewed by pros, and their feedback to you on your images will prove to be an invaluable resource as you learn and grow as a photographer. From portraiture to Photoshop to photojournalism, NYIP has courses for a wide range of interests.
Learn more about the New York Institute of Photography.
The Photography Institute
The Photography Institute (TPI) offers students a comprehensive, in-depth photography course that includes 12 modules. The course is typically completed in 24 weeks, although TPI allows students up to a full year to complete the course. Although it offers just one class, don’t be fooled into thinking that the learning opportunities are limited. Each lesson module builds off the one before it, resulting in a highly detailed learning experience that takes you from the very basics of cameras and lenses to compositional techniques to creating a professional photography portfolio. Course instructors have been hand-picked for their knowledge and experience, and students have access to a 24/7 student support center which makes success more likely.
Learn more about The Photography Institute.
Brian Peterson School of Photography
The Brian Peterson School of Photography (BPSOP) has a faculty of world-renown photographers as its instructors. With so much experience and insight to offer their students, these photography teachers have highly in-depth lessons that will help a novice photographer gain the skills they need to tackle even the most advanced photography techniques. What’s more, the courses offer students the opportunity to ask instructors questions and receive feedback on the photographs they submit. Courses include highly specific topics, like working with Canon or Nikon products, as well as in-depth studies of street photography, pet photography, Lightroom, and other popular subjects.
Learn more about the Brian Peterson School of Photography.
Photo School
Founded by professional photographers Michael Muller and Patrick Hoelck, Photo School is a little different than the other online photography schools we’ve listed here. Photo School has a collection of dozens of video-based lessons that have in-depth discussions of photography concepts, as well as demonstrations of the concepts for improved understanding. Although Photo School’s founders have made a name for themselves in the celebrity photography world, the lessons they provide take a more global approach, covering the fundamentals of photography, lighting concepts, and Photoshop. Each lesson is led by a professional photographer with globally-recognized images to his or her name, so you’re sure to get instruction from someone at the top of the industry.
Learn more about Photo School.
Are you a hands-on photographer? If so, you’ll also want to take a look at PT On Demand where you can access over 600 premium photography lessons. Just like the high-quality schools we’ve outlined above, PT On Demand has content that covers a wide array of photography topics. Learn about landscapes and abstract photography, exposure, composition, and much more. Give PT On Demand a free trial run to see all it has to offer!