*See newly added online classes
Photographic Society of America (PSA)
PSA offers free educational opportunities which include online courses, webinars, mentors, consultants and study groups to members. Membership is $65/year.
For other membership options and more information visit: https://psa-photo.org/page/usa
Kelby One (run by Scott Kelby)
Kelby One is a vast online member-based instructional resource for all things photography, Lightroom and Photoshop. It is geared toward both the amateur and more experienced photographer. The Monthly Plus membership offers over 400 classes while the Pro Membership provides access to 900+ classes. Yearly subscriptions are offered at a discount and you can cancel at any time.
After you set up an account, free content is available on the website for Webcasts and Magazine Articles. KelbyOne also has a YouTube channel where you can also access the weekly webcasts, Lightroom tips and other material.
Kanopy
Kanopy is an on-demand streaming platform for public libraries offering movies, documentaries and instructional videos. It is free with your Montgomery County or DC library card. A search for Photography Instruction will reward you with about eighty 30 minute videos ranging from composition to underwater photography.
Linked-In Learning (formerly lynda.com)
Linked-In Learning is an online learning platform providing hundreds of photography courses among a multitude of other classes. Access is free with your Montgomery County or DC Public Library cards. Otherwise, a monthly subscription is available to non-library card holders.
Photography courses can be selected by skill level (amateur to advanced), topic, software programs and length of time (< 10 min. to > 3+ hours).
Initially, I found it a little tricky accessing the Linked In Learning site to where they would accept my library card. On the advice of a Montgomery County librarian, these are the steps I followed which logged me right in.
Go to: mcpl.link
- Click on Learn a Skill
- On the drop-down menu choose Computers and Technology
- Click on Linked-In Learning
- Click on Open Resource
- Click on Get Started
- Enter Library Card and Password
You can also go straight to Enter Library Card and Password via:
Coursera
Coursera is another online platform for courses taught by top instructors from leading universities and companies. The option of free courses and subscription based classes are available.
A search of free classes in photography yielded a sampling of the following courses. Some are 1-4 weeks in duration while specialization courses typically involve a 3-6 month commitment.
Coursera Free Photography Courses Sampling:
- Photography Basics and Beyond: Smartphone to DSLR Specialization (Michigan State University)
- Seeing Through Photographs (Museum of Modern Art)
- Film, Images & Historical Interpretation in the 20th Century:The Camera Never Lies (University of London)
- Principles of Photo Composition and Digital Post-Production (Michigan State University)
For more info: https://www.coursera.org/search?query=photography
Tim Grey Learning
Tim Grey is a professional photographer, author, and top digital photography and imaging educator. He offers hundreds of fee-based and free training courses to help optimize your photography workflow in Lightroom and Photoshop, post-processing tips, and webinars.
For more information: http://www.greylearning.com; www.asktimgrey.com and www.youtube.com/@TimGreyTV
Class Central
Class Central is an online search engine offering thousands of courses aggregated from Ivy League universities (Harvard, Stanford, Purdue, Duke…), institutions (Google, Microsoft, Amazon…), and providers (Coursera, Udemy, edX, FutureLearn…). Class Central focuses primarily on free or free-to-audit courses, while some classes offer a free trial. A search for “free photography courses” yields the following content: Photography 101:Master Manual Mode, Copywriting for Beginners and Pros, Photography Tips and Techniques, and Photography Capstone Project for starters.
For more information: www.classcentral.com
*Nature Photography Classes
Offers affordable nature and landscape photography online courses led by award-winning professional photographer, Nic Stover. There are close to 200 classes available with more being added. Speaker catalogs offer education by renowned landscape photographers. Subscription options are yearly, monthly, or by individual class. Purchased classes are kept in your library.
https://www.naturephotographyclasses.com/about
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