Introduction to Photography: A Free Beginner Course

A series of free lessons taking beginner photographers through all the basics of photography to improve skills, knowledge, and composition.

Digital Photography Course

Welcome to Introduction to Photography: A Free Beginner Course! Whether you're new to photography or looking to sharpen your skills, this series of 24 lessons will guide you through everything you need to know—from camera basics to advanced techniques like exposure, composition, and lens selection. Start your photography journey today and unlock your creative potential!

Getting Started

Begin your photography journey with these foundational lessons. Learn the basics of digital photography and start capturing stunning images right away!

  • Introduction to Photography

    This short lesson will inspire you to start learning more about digital photography! Whether you're using a smartphone or a DSLR, this guide will help you understand the basics and get started on your photography journey.

  • Developing Your Creativity as a Photographer

    Learn how to improve your creative vision by focusing on scene elements like light, color, and texture. Discover how to see the world through a photographer's eyes and capture stunning images.

Camera Basics

Understand your camera inside and out. These lessons cover everything from sensors and lenses to resolution and crop factors.

  • The Camera

    Ever wondered how digital cameras work? In this lesson, we'll break down the key components, including sensors, megapixels, and more. Perfect for beginners who want to understand their gear better.

  • Image Resolution

    What is resolution, and why does it matter? This lesson explains how image resolution affects the quality and size of your prints, helping you make informed decisions about your photography.

  • The Camera Lens

    Discover how lenses work and why they're essential for capturing sharp, high-quality images. Learn about focal length, aperture, and more.

  • Lens Specifications — Focal Length & Aperture

    Confused by terms like 16-35mm f/2.8? This lesson explains what those numbers mean and how they affect your photography.

  • Crop Factor

    Learn how crop sensors affect your field of view and why they're popular in entry-level cameras. This lesson makes a complex topic easy to understand.

Mastering Exposure

Take control of your camera's settings and learn how to create perfectly exposed photos every time.

  • Making Sense of Exposure

    Understand the exposure triangle and how aperture, ISO, and shutter speed work together to create perfectly exposed photos.

  • Aperture

    Learn how aperture controls the amount of light entering your camera and how it affects depth of field.

  • Understanding ISO Speed Settings

    Discover how ISO affects your camera's sensitivity to light and how to use it effectively in different lighting conditions.

  • Shutter Speed

    Learn how shutter speed freezes motion or creates motion blur, and how to choose the right setting for your photos.

  • Aperture and Depth of Field

    Explore how aperture affects depth of field and learn how to control what's in focus in your photos.

  • What is White Balance?

    Understand how white balance affects the colors in your photos and how to adjust it for accurate results.

  • The Histogram

    Learn how to read a histogram and use it to ensure your photos are properly exposed.

  • Metering Modes

    Discover how your camera measures light and how to choose the best metering mode for different situations.

  • PASM: Exposure Modes

    Learn about the different exposure modes (Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual) and when to use each one.

Advanced Techniques

Once you've mastered the basics, dive into these advanced techniques to take your photography to the next level.

  • Manual Focus

    Discover when and how to use manual focus for sharper, more precise photos.

  • Raw vs Jpeg

    Learn the differences between RAW and JPEG formats and why shooting in RAW can give you more flexibility in post-processing.

  • Prime vs Zoom Lenses

    Explore the pros and cons of prime and zoom lenses and decide which is best for your photography style.

  • Bokeh Explained

    Learn what bokeh is and how to create beautiful, blurred backgrounds in your photos.

Gear Guides

Find the right gear for your needs and learn how to make the most of your equipment.

Bonus Tips

Extra tips and tricks to help you protect your work and improve your photography workflow.

Ready to dive in? Start with Lesson 1: Introduction to Photography or explore our camera gear guides for more tips!