Are you looking for the best online DSLR photography courses? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of the best tutorials on the web. We’ve included free and paid ones to give you a variety of options.
But first, let’s answer the important question – what is DSLR photography? A DSLR camera is a ‘digital single-lensed reflex’ camera. Although mobile phone cameras are becoming increasingly more advanced and impressive, they still don’t quite compare to the DSRL camera.
DSRL cameras are popular because they have better sensitivity to light, a quick shutter speed, they can focus quickly, and you can use different lenses to get different images. As a result, these cameras produce first-class images with minimal effort.
Being able to use a DSLR camera properly is becoming an increasingly more useful skill. Many businesses are looking to cut costs. As a result, they are using in-house employees to take promotional images to be used for marketing.
There are hundreds of online classes available that will teach you how to use a DSLR camera. Some are free, some are quite costly. Some are suitable for those who have never even picked up a camera before. Whereas others are more suitable for advanced photographers. In this article, I have gathered the five-best online DSLR courses out there. Each of these tutorials cover the fundamental DSLR concepts and much, much more!
1. The Fundamentals of DSLR Photography (Skillshare)
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- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 1h 19 min
- Cost: 14-day free trial
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 89,244
- Course rating: N/A
Taught by Justin Bridge, a renowned fashion and portrait photographer, this Skillshare course teaches you all the fundamentals of DSLR photography. This quick introductory course is designed to get you up to speed with DSLR photography quickly. It is suitable for those with little photography experience who want to take breath-taking photos with minimal training.
During this short tutorial, you will learn about the three core elements of DSLR photography: 1) shutter speed; 2) aperture; and 3) ISO. You will discover how to get the right balance between all three of these core elements to take mind-blowing images.
You will also learn how to prepare for a photo shoot and some editing tips and tricks. As an added bonus, you also get professional advice, from Justin Bridges himself, on what DSLR cameras are the best to purchase on a budget.
2. Introduction to Digital Photography (Alison)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion Time: 3 to 5 hours
- Cost: Free
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: 201,951
- Course rating: 5/5
If you’re looking to enhance your skills for free, then look no further. Alison offers an excellent class for those with no previous DSLR camera experience.
This free online course introduces you to the most important functions and techniques of digital photography. You will learn how to operate the various features of your digital camera. After taking this course, you will also understand what all those buttons on your DSLR actually do. Using simple language, this course will guide you through different photography styles and techniques so that you have the skills to take the right shot of every occasion!
3. Digital Photography for Beginners with DSLR Cameras (Udemy)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion Time: 2h 19m
- Cost: $99.99
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 12,958
- Course rating: 5/5 (2,923 ratings)
Completed by over 12,000 people, Udemy’s digital photography for beginners is a best seller. Taught by Villiers Steyn, this short course teaches you how to master the most important settings on a DSLR camera. As a result of learning this, you will be able to take high-quality photos of all the wonderful things around you.
The course is divided into two broad components. First, you will cover all the technical components of DSLR photography. This section will explore what camera equipment you should invest in and how to use this equipment. You will also look at different DSLR camera settings (e.g., shooting modes, focus modes) and when these modes should be used.
Secondly, you will then take a look at the artistic components of DSLR photography. You will look at how light influences your photos and what the perfect photo composition is. To wrap the course up, you will be taught about how to become a more creative photographer. This final section explores how to use reflections in your photos, what a natural frame is (and how to find it), how to incorporate complimentary colors into images, how to use repetition effectively and how to tell a story.
4. Become a Better Photographer III: The Ultimate Guide to DSLR/Mirrorless Features and Settings (SkillShare)
- Level: All levels
- Completion time: 3h 30m
- Cost: 14-day free trial
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 1,301
- Course rating: N/A
Instructed by Bernie Raffe, an award winning portrait and wedding photographer, the ‘Become a Better Photographer’ course will take you over all the hidden gems of DSLR photography… in just three hours!
This course is suitable for photographers of all levels. Whether you’ve never even picked up a camera before, or whether you’ve got 10 different DSLR cameras at home, it’s bound to teach you something new!
The course covers all a DSLR cameras basic settings, as well as taking a closer look at more advanced features and settings. The basics of DSLR section covers the exposure triangle (shutter speed, aperture and ISO), tips for getting tack sharp images of stationary subjects and about white balance and how to get better colors.
The class then goes over the advanced camera settings, which will take your learning one step further and give your images that ‘wow factor’. Bernie Raffe, who is a fantastic teacher, explains how to take sharp images of moving subjects, how to understand histograms, the difference between ‘full auto’ and the ‘P’ mode, the auto IS mode, the difference between RAW vs JPG and much, much more. As a bonus, you will also learn about which settings are best for real world photography (e.g., for landscapes, natural light photography or inside a church) and how and when to use a DSLR cameras flash!
5. Learning your Nikon DSLR Camera (LinkedIn Learning)
- Level: Intermediate
- Completion Time: 2h 52m
- Cost: $42.99
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: 3,130
- Course rating: N/A
Designed specifically for those who want to work with Nikon cameras, this course walks you through the most popular features to use when shooting on a Nikon DSLR camera.
Taught by Richard Harrington, a digital video expert, this tutorial will teach you all the essential skills needed to make the best choices when it comes to camera setting and how to shoot under a variety of conditions. You will learn basic DSLR skills such as shooting in live view, lens control, how to use autofocus, shutter-release modes and exposure control. You will also take a look beyond the basics and look at more advanced camera techniques such as panoramas, picture effects and customizing camera menus.
6. Beginner Nikon Digital SLR (DSLR) Photography (Udemy)
- Level: Beginner
- Completion time: 1h 10 min
- Cost: $29.99
- Certification: No
- Number of people who have completed the course: 26,898
- Course rating: 6/5 (from 5,573 ratings)
Designed specifically for using a Nikon DSLR camera, this course is suitable for beginner photographers who own, or can borrow, a Nikon DSLR camera. This course is taught by ‘JP Teaches Photo’, a company run by JP Pullos, Lydia Billings and their team of teachers, who have taught over 40,000 people how to use a camera.
This course is comprised of seven lectures. In a short space of time you will learn how to use your camera like a professional photographer. You will learn how to adjust your aperture, how all the modes (Auto, P, S, A and M) work and when to use each mode, how to use exposure and how to adjust your shutter speed. This course will also teach you to recognize the difference between depth-of-field blur and motion blur. After completing this class, you should be able to take a range of sophisticated and professional photographs on a Nikon DSLR camera.
7. Complete Guide to Photography Online (The School of Photography)
- Level: All levels
- Completion time: N/A
- Cost: $109
- Certification: Yes
- Number of people who have completed the course: N/A
- Course rating: 5/5
This course is suitable for photographers of all levels. The only key qualities you need to have is an enthusiasm to take photography seriously and a desire to make photography a profession.
Since 2002, the guys at The School of Photography have been on a mission to help people make a full-time career out of photography. Compared to some other tutorials online, theirs take longer to complete. But, they are far more in-depth and aim to give people accurate and thorough knowledge that they will retain forever.
During this course, you will learn all the essentials of photography. You will learn what camera equipment to invest in. You will explore how to focus cameras, good photo composition and the correct lens to use. In order to ensure you photos are of the highest quality, you will also explore (in great depth!) aperture, ISO, image resolution, focal length, shutter speed, exposure, how to use flash and light balances. The class also teaches you how to edit images postproduction.
Conclusion
So, there you have it… the seven best DSLR online classes.
There are a huge variety of online courses available. Some, such as the Skillshare class, are quick and low in cost. Others, such as The School of Photography class are more expensive and take more time – but they offer a more in-depth exploration of DSLR photography.
All of the above classes are excellent. They are the best of the best. Each is taught by an experienced and dedicated teacher and they all have lots of satisfied and happy customers.
So, which course you decide take depends on you experience, funds and spare time. Are you a complete photography newbie? Or have you been playing around with a DSLR camera for years? Do you have much money to spend on your skill development? Do you have much time to spend?
