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Photography Education
TOOLS + PRODUCTS I LOVE
My Favorite Brands
My Photography Education Picks
Subscriptions
In my opinion, access to CreativeLive courses is a must have if you want to improve your photography. CreativeLive has their own phone app, so I am never without this online learning resource. The best part is that you can learn from the best in the business, all in one place. Courses are reasonably priced if you decide to purchase them individually, or you can purchase a Creator Pass (billed annually or monthly), and watch any and all of the courses that you wish. Some of the instructors that I have learned from on CreativeLive include Joel Grimes, Chris Knight, Lisa Carney, Art Wolfe, Lindsay Adler, Brooke Shaden, Kathleen Clemons, Sue Bryce, Mark Wallace, and Don Giannatti. I encourage photographers of any skill level to learn from many different artists, and to keep learning. CreativeLive is an excellent resource to do just this.
PHLEARN was one of the first resources I used to learn Photoshop, and I can’t say enough about their courses. Aaron Nace has a way of explaining things clearly, and in a really fun way. Several free courses available on their website too if you want to check those out before purchasing a pro subscription.
If you own a Sony Camera, I highly recommend subscribing to Mark’s YouTube channel and joining his Patreon Page. Mark explains the ins and outs of Sony cameras, lenses, and features better than anyone I have come across so far, and the information Mark provides in his ebooks allowed me to transition to the Sony Alpha system in a couple of days. “Generous and affordable” is an understatement when it comes to Mark’s astoundingly vast Sony educational resources.
Blake is the go-to person for all things color when it comes to photography post-processing. He is a classically-trained artist and an extremely creative thinker. Blake has an extensive library of courses that you can purchase individually and download, or access via a monthly membership.
Courses and Workshops
Greg developed the Lumenzia and Web Sharp Pro Photoshop plugins listed on our Software and Computer Peripherals page. He is an incredible photographer, and he has very generously helped me sort through complex Lumenzia/Websharp Pro/Photoshop issues several times. In addition to his Photoshop plugins, Greg offers several online courses, which provide incredible value for money, and his YouTube channel is an indispensable resource. Any product or course that Greg has to offer is highly recommended. The photography community is lucky to have him.
Joel is a true artist and a wonderful teacher as well. He has been a commercial photographer for years, and I still take his online classes. I learn something new every single time. Joel’s courses are especially good for photographers who want to up their lighting and creativity game. He has some of the most creative ideas and approaches to photography that I have ever come across, and he explains things in a very practical and easy-to-understand way. Joel has a “Strobing Nature” online course that is especially fascinating.
If you are interested in high fashion photography, and the lighting wizardry that goes along with this art form, then go – right now! – to Lindsay Adler’s website and get started. I don’t need to say more, and you’ll see why.
Matt is a sports/rodeo photographer extraordinaire, but he teaches concepts that can be applied to any genre. He is also the person you want to learn from if you really want to understand how to work with challenging light, and banish “snapshot-itis.”
John has several online courses available and I can recommend all of them. His Astro Photography course is especially good. John is also the creator of The ProPanel plugin, which I can also recommend. Check his website because he sometimes runs specials that include both the plugin and courses at an excellent price.
Additional Inspiration
I have learned so much from all of these photographers. Their work is beautiful and inspiring, and they generously share their knowledge through workshops, online courses, and via their YouTube channels.