THE Photography Masterclass: Complete Course on Photography from Udemy

This photography course changed this photographer's life...

"After more than 20 years of taking photos as a hobby, I decided that I wanted to know more about photography and finally leave "Auto-mode" behind me.

Should have done this much sooner: Chris explains everything in a simple manner but very thoroughly, and now; finally, all the puzzle pieces fall into place.

Great course, highly recommended."

Martijn Tilgenkamp

Highlights...

Master Photography | 28Hr Complete Guide Includes 209 Page Companion PDF

28 hours of photography video tutorials

200+ Photography E-book w/150+ images to use with this Photography Masterclass

Have you ever found yourself thinking or even telling someone close to you...

"The struggle is real. I look at other photos and think, mine will never be that good?"

It doesn’t have to stay that way. Your photos can drastically improve once you understand the 4 core ingredients for creating amazing images.

So, what are these 4 ingredients? They’re equipment, light, composition, and editing.

How can this photography masterclass help you master these ingredients and, most importantly, transform your photos into something incredible?

First, let me introduce myself. I’m Chris Parker, and I have 35 years of experience as a professional photographer, along with 15 years of teaching others how to elevate their photography skills.
In this masterclass, I’ll guide you through each ingredient step by step, breaking down every concept so you’ll fully understand how to apply it. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll learn for each of these game-changing elements.

Jeff D. Jones

"Chris Parker is amazing. He explains everything, so it's crystal clear the first time, so you don't have to keep replaying the lessons to figure out what he was talking about. I've been a photographer myself for over twenty years, and I feel that to stay fresh, it's a good idea to take these "refresher" courses like Chris.

I highly recommend this course to anyone and everyone who is interested in photography."

If you master Lighting and Composition, you’ll be able to create spectacular images whether you have a smartphone, a $

But before you can master Lighting and Composition, you need to understand how your camera AND lenses work, their limitations, and more.

Desislava Toteva Garcia

"This course is extremely helpful. I love the way you explain everything, + I love your vibe. 100 % recommended. "

With that knowledge, you’ll elevate your photographic knowledge beyond 90% of photographers in the world.

When you complete this section, you’ll understand…

How to read a Histogram for perfect exposures every time
You’ll know the difference between Dynamic and Tonal range and how that affects your exposure and…
How your camera's Tonal range limitation can affect what you want to create… and how to overcome it
The first lens you should buy and why
Why your camera gets exposure wrong and how to fix it
How to take full creative control over your camera and shoot in Manual mode (easy… step-by-step instructions)
Why I don’t recommend Manual Mode for beginners and I’ll reveal a better alternative.
How to get sharp images every time
Why lenses aren’t always perfect and how to avoid imperfections
You’ll discover the difference between Focal length and Field of View and their purpose in creating amazing images
Why you should consider the Crop Factor before buying a lens
How lens Aberrations can negatively affect your photos and how to overcome them

Shelly Woesthoff

"I really liked the interactive camera demonstration indoors and outdoors. Makes it much easier to wrap your mind around the different settings when you can see it in real-time."

Start by mastering the camera gear you have. Then, move on to mastering…

.. it's actually the number one ingredient to master. Why should it be number one?

Well, without it, you wouldn’t be able to create an image. It’s like trying to create a photo with your lens cap on. How do you think that will work out?

With Light, you can tell a story by shaping the light based on your creative vision. Light can be soft or hard, and can even be of different colors.

Harnessing light is essential for creating amazing images. Once you complete the Light mastery section, you’ll understand…

The difference between soft and hard light and why you may want to use one over another
Where light comes from and why it’s important to your photography
How your camera sees light and its limitations
The 3 behaviors of light and how they can alter what you capture
How contrast can change the mood of your image
The 4 characteristics of light and how they can affect the quality of your images
And more

Ryan Lehoullier

"Phenomenal course. Clearly, a lot of time and effort went into it. The course is informative, with quality content and valuable information. Thank you for this."

This section is in the process of being re-recorded and will also include new content. See (below) the last section for more information.

This will include…

A true understanding of what composition is and how it can make your images better
10 composition rules that will improve your images instantly

This section is in the process of being re-recorded and will also include new content. See (below) the last section for more information.

Kris Chartrand

"I purchased my canon rebel nearly 10 years ago, and I had never attempted to play with the manual settings, this course truly helped me understand, and the images he actually uses and does as a walk-through truly helped the understanding quite a bit. I can't wait to start playing around and testing what I have learned. Thank you. "

Photo Editing, in and of itself, is an art form. Master editing, and you’ll leave your mark on the world for generations to come. Yes, editing is that powerful.

Half the goal of editing is developing your own editing style. It won’t be easy… and will take some time.

I’ll guide you on your editing journey with several image manipulation apps that can help you achieve your creative vision. This will include introductory’s to…

Lightroom
Photoshop
GIMP
Darktable
And more

Plus, I’ve included a 4 step process for “developing” your editing style.

Robert Turner

Using plain simple language, Chris manages to make what is seemingly complicated understandable - I've been playing around with cameras for years and mostly been flying by the seat of my pants, I'm now starting to understand how I managed to jag those couple of really great shots, and now hopefully will be able to create even more 'great shots'.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn how to take back creative control from your camera
Learn the 4 easy steps to mastering exposure
Learn my secret weapon for nailing the exposure in camera
Learn an often overlooked camera setting and see light in a, well, different light
Learn my creative decision process for choosing specific camera settings
How to read a histogram for perfect exposures every time
Understand the 4 key secrets to successful photos

Know how to use composition for better photos
How your camera's tonal range limitation can affect what you want to create… and how to overcome it
The first lens you should buy and why
The difference between soft and hard light, and why you may want to use one over another
Show more
Show less

Learn how to take back creative control from your camera
Learn the 4 easy steps to mastering exposure
Learn my secret weapon for nailing the exposure in camera
Learn an often overlooked camera setting and see light in a, well, different light
Learn my creative decision process for choosing specific camera settings
How to read a histogram for perfect exposures every time
Understand the 4 key secrets to successful photos
Know how to use composition for better photos
How your camera's tonal range limitation can affect what you want to create… and how to overcome it
The first lens you should buy and why
The difference between soft and hard light, and why you may want to use one over another
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Photography Essentials Quick Start Guide

This Photography Masterclass PDF E-book includes 130 pages and over 150 images!

The link to download is in the text file attached to this article (right column).

How about another Exposure Mode? This one will ensure you NEVER miss the correct exposure, ever again.

If photography wasn’t hard enough you practically have to be a detective to figure out all those numbers, letters, abbreviations, and other markings on a lens.

Seriously, you need an in-depth instruction guide to decipher all that information.

Where can you get an instructional guide like that? Hmmm, well, how about right here, right now.

You’re about to discover 15 different markings and what they mean. Plus, I have a bonus, which I believe is the most important of them all, that I’ll save for last.

Now, the question is, why is this information important?

Well, once you know what these markings mean you’ll know things like the quality of your lens, possibly its age, special features, which lenses to avoid, and more.

So, if you’re ready let’s get started.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Breaks down complex concepts like exposure and composition into easy-to-understand steps, which helps beginners grasp essential photography techniques

Includes a 200+ page e-book with over 150 images, which serves as a valuable companion resource for visual learners and those seeking inspiration

Explores various image manipulation apps like Lightroom, Photoshop, GIMP, and Darktable, which provides a comprehensive overview of editing options

Covers topics such as lens aberrations, optical distortions, and lens coatings, which helps learners understand the technical aspects of lenses

Features a section on vintage versus modern lenses, which may be useful for learners interested in exploring different photographic styles and equipment

Reviews summary

Comprehensive photography fundamentals masterclass

According to learners, this course provides a largely positive experience, particularly for those new to photography or looking to move beyond auto mode. Many students praise the instructor, Chris Parker, for his clear explanations and ability to simplify complex topics like the exposure triangle and manual mode. The practical demonstrations are highlighted as particularly helpful. While students appreciate the comprehensive coverage of fundamental photography concepts, some more experienced learners find the course lacks depth for advanced techniques, and the editing section is often criticized as being too basic. Recent reviews note that the instructor is actively updating content, indicating ongoing improvement.

Instructor actively updating content.

"A very comprehensive course... though I noticed some parts felt a bit dated or were explicitly mentioned as being updated."

"Audio quality was a bit inconsistent in older sections."

"Excited for the updated sections on Composition."

"Some modules are excellent, others are slow or mention future updates frequently."

Practical demos aid understanding of settings.

"The practical demonstrations were incredibly helpful."

"I really liked the interactive camera demonstration indoors and outdoors. Makes it much easier to wrap your mind around the different settings when you can see it in real-time."

"I learned so much about manual settings, and the images he actually uses and does as a walk-through truly helped..."

"The real-world examples and demos are fantastic."

Excellent for learning camera basics & manual mode.

"I finally understand the exposure triangle and histograms. I feel so much more confident using my camera off Auto mode."

"Should have done this much sooner: Chris explains everything in a simple manner but very thoroughly, and now; finally, all the puzzle pieces fall into place."

"The content is solid for absolute beginners, but if you already know the basics, you might find parts repetitive."

"I struggled with manual mode for ages, and Chris made it so easy to understand. The demonstrations are key."

"This course is incredibly comprehensive and perfect for moving beyond auto mode."

Chris Parker explains complex topics clearly.

"Chris explains everything with such clarity and passion. I finally understand the exposure triangle and histograms."

"Chris is a fantastic teacher. His explanations are clear and engaging. I learned so much about camera settings and lenses."

"Using plain simple language, Chris manages to make what is seemingly complicated understandable..."

"Chris is simply the best photography instructor I've encountered online. His explanations of technical concepts... finally clicked for me."

"Chris is a brilliant teacher, simplifying complex ideas. The real-world examples and demos are fantastic."

Editing section is too brief/general.

"The editing section gave good intros but didn't go deep enough into specific software for my taste."

"Too much time spent on basic concepts, and the editing section is just a surface-level introduction to multiple programs rather than depth in one."

"The editing section is useless if you want to learn actual editing skills."

"Some sections, like editing, could be more detailed. Overall positive experience."

Not detailed enough for intermediate/advanced users.

"As someone with a bit of experience, I was hoping for more advanced techniques, especially in composition and editing."

"While the instructor is knowledgeable... Expected more "masterclass" level content. Disappointed."

"This is NOT a masterclass. It's a very basic introduction to photography... Disappointed with the depth, or lack thereof."

"Good value, covers a lot of material... Best for beginners or those needing a solid refresher."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in THE Photography Masterclass: Complete Course on Photography with these activities:

Review Exposure Triangle

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of the fundamental relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO before diving into more advanced concepts.

Browse courses on Exposure Triangle

Show steps

Read articles or watch videos explaining the exposure triangle.
Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in a camera simulator.
Take practice shots in different lighting conditions, focusing on achieving proper exposure.

Read 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of exposure and how it affects the final image.

View Understanding Street Photography: An... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book chapter by chapter.
Try out the techniques described in the book with your camera.
Reflect on how the book's teachings can improve your photography.

Practice shooting in Aperture Priority mode

Show steps

Develop your skills in controlling depth of field by practicing in Aperture Priority mode.

Show steps

Set your camera to Aperture Priority (Av or A) mode.
Choose a subject and experiment with different aperture settings.
Observe how the depth of field changes with each aperture setting.
Analyze your results and identify the best aperture for different scenarios.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Read 'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman

Show steps

Improve your understanding of composition and visual design to create more impactful photographs.

View The Photographer's Eye - Definitive Edition:... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book, paying close attention to the examples provided.
Analyze the composition of your own photos and identify areas for improvement.
Experiment with different compositional techniques in your photography.

Create a photo series on a specific theme

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of composition, lighting, and exposure to create a cohesive and visually appealing photo series.

Show steps

Choose a theme for your photo series (e.g., portraits, landscapes, street photography).
Plan your shots, considering composition, lighting, and exposure.
Take a series of photos that explore your chosen theme.
Edit your photos to create a consistent look and feel.
Share your photo series online or in a print portfolio.

Help Beginners in Online Photography Forums

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of photography concepts by explaining them to others and answering their questions.

Show steps

Find online photography forums or communities.
Look for questions from beginners and offer helpful advice.
Explain concepts in a clear and concise manner.
Provide constructive feedback on their photos.

Develop a Photography Portfolio

Show steps

Showcase your best work and demonstrate your skills to potential clients or employers.

Show steps

Select your best photos from the course and your personal projects.
Organize your photos into a cohesive portfolio.
Design a website or print portfolio to showcase your work.
Write descriptions for each photo, highlighting your creative process and technical skills.
Share your portfolio with others and solicit feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete THE Photography Masterclass: Complete Course on Photography will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Photographer

A photographer uses their creative and technical skills to capture images across many fields. This photography course emphasizes the mastery of equipment, light, composition, and editing, which are fundamental for any photographer. The course provides a step by step guide, introducing all essential concepts for a photographer to elevate their skills. This course also covers how to use various editing software and techniques, essential for a modern photographer. By taking this course, an aspiring photographer can learn from an instructor with 35 years of experience, accelerating their learning process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Photo Editor

A photo editor manipulates photos with software to enhance their visual appeal, correct flaws, and create specific moods. This course offers a direct path to photo editing proficiency by introducing various software including Lightroom, Photoshop, GIMP, and Darktable. It also includes a four-step process for developing a unique editing style. For a photo editor, understanding how to manipulate light, tone, and color is crucial, and this course provides comprehensive instruction in these areas. This course would be extremely beneficial for those who want to refine their photo editing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photo Editor

Commercial Photographer

A Commercial photographer creates images for advertising, marketing, or other promotional use. Commercial photographers require a strong technical grasp of their equipment and the ability to use light and composition. This course will assist them by providing a thorough understanding of camera settings, lens choices, and how to control lighting to tell a story. It helps one master the four core ingredients of photography, which are essential in commercial work. Commercial photographers will benefit from the practical approach of this course, including in-studio and outdoor demonstrations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commercial Photographer

Freelance Photographer

A freelance photographer works independently, taking on diverse projects and clients. They need a comprehensive understanding of photography principles. This course will help a freelance photographer to gain the necessary skills in camera operation, lighting techniques, composition, and editing. This course allows for mastery of essential photographic concepts, which is vital for a freelance photographer. This course covers many topics, from manual camera settings to software editing, providing a strong foundation for anyone entering the field of freelance photography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Freelance Photographer

Wedding Photographer

A wedding photographer captures the special moments of a wedding day. This role requires a good understanding of composition, light, and the ability to work in varied conditions. This course discusses lighting in detail, which is essential for weddings which sometimes take place indoors or outdoors. The course's focus on mastering camera settings and editing skills can assist a wedding photographer in enhancing the images they create. Aspiring wedding photographers will learn how to take full creative control over their camera and shoot in manual mode, which will help them develop a unique style.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wedding Photographer

Portrait Photographer

A portrait photographer specializes in photographing individuals or groups. This course equips a portrait photographer by teaching skills related to lighting, composition, and how to capture the best images of their subjects. The course emphasizes understanding light's behavior, which is important in portraiture to create specific moods. Portrait photographers can also benefit from the editing techniques taught in the course, which help finalize the images. Aspiring portrait photographers can learn how to work with diverse subjects by understanding the course's discussions of equipment, light, composition, and editing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portrait Photographer

Fashion Photographer

A fashion photographer creates images for the fashion industry, often working with models, designers, and magazines. This role demands a strong awareness of composition, light, and the ability to convey a mood or brand identity. This course would assist a fashion photographer by providing a detailed understanding of how to use lighting for storytelling. The course’s coverage of editing software is important for fashion photography, which often involves retouching and stylization. This course may be helpful for those looking to develop their skills in fashion photography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fashion Photographer

Product Photographer

A product photographer takes photos of items for commercial purposes, often for e-commerce or advertising. Product photography needs mastery over composition, lighting, and precise camera settings to show products in detail. This course may be useful because it covers how to understand light and use it creatively to showcase objects. The detailed instruction on camera settings helps ensure sharp, well-exposed photos of products. The editing portion of the course is also critical for product photographers aiming for high quality output. This could be a good course to help refine product photography skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Photographer

Real Estate Photographer

A real estate photographer captures images of properties for sale or rent. These photographers require a solid grasp of composition, light, and how to present spaces in an attractive way using their camera. This course helps a real estate photographer by teaching the fundamentals of camera usage, lighting, and editing. This course covers topics that can assist the real estate photographer, such as how to understand dynamic and tonal range and how they affect exposure. The course may be helpful for those aiming to improve their skills in real estate photography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Photographer

Photojournalist

A photojournalist captures images that tell a news story or document events. These images are often for media outlets which include newspapers and magazines. Photojournalism requires strong technical skills, a good understanding of composition, and the ability to capture authentic moments. This course is useful for a photojournalist because of its broad coverage of photography fundamentals. There is a thorough discussion of how cameras work, as well as the various lens types. This may be helpful for those who wish to work as a photojournalist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photojournalist

Content Creator

A content creator produces media for social media and the web. They need a diverse skillset including photography. This course is helpful because it provides a foundation for creating visually engaging content through photography. The course also covers the editing of images, which is useful for making content that is ready for use on various digital platforms. The course may help a content creator understand how to use equipment, light, composition, and editing to produce high quality visual content. This course may be useful in helping content creators up their photography game.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Art Director

An art director provides creative direction for visual content, often working with photographers and designers. While they may not be taking photographs daily, understanding photography helps them guide a project from inception through post production. This course may be useful for an art director because it delves into the technical aspects of photography. It covers how cameras and lenses work, how light interacts with the camera, and how to use a variety of software for editing. The course may be useful to art directors who want to better understand photography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Graphic Designer

A graphic designer combines text and images to create visual communication pieces. This role needs some understanding of photography and image manipulation. This course may be helpful by providing a foundation in photography principles, including how to use cameras, lenses, and lighting. The course's focus on editing skills helps a graphic designer understand post-processing. While this course is not primarily focused on graphic design, understanding photography may help graphic designers more fully understand the interaction of photos and graphic elements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

Marketing Specialist

A marketing specialist develops and executes strategies to promote products or services. They often oversee the creation of visual content, including photos. This course might be useful for a marketing specialist who wants to ensure quality control over the visual content. Learning the principles of composition, light, and editing can be helpful when reviewing a photographer's work. This may provide a good basic understanding of photography, which may be valuable to marketing specialists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist

Social Media Manager

A social media manager is responsible for planning and creating content on social media platforms. They may benefit from understanding basic photography skills. While this course is not directly focused on social media management, it may help a social media manager create better quality visual content for their social media platforms. Learning about composition, light, and editing may give them increased skills in this area. This course may be useful to those social media managers who want a deeper understanding of photography.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in THE Photography Masterclass: Complete Course on Photography.

Understanding Street Photography

Save

Provides a comprehensive guide to mastering exposure in photography. It covers aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and how they interact to create well-exposed images. Peterson's clear explanations and illustrative examples make it an excellent resource for beginners and intermediate photographers alike. It is particularly helpful for understanding the creative possibilities of different exposure settings.

Understanding Street Photography: An Introduction...

Paperback

Understanding Street Photography: An Introduction...

Kindle Edition

The Photographer's Eye (Definitive Edition):...

Save

Delves into the art of composition in photography. It explores various compositional techniques and how they can be used to create visually compelling images. Freeman's insights into visual design and storytelling make it a valuable resource for photographers of all levels. It is best used as additional reading to expand on the course's composition lessons.

The Photographer's Eye - Definitive Edition:...

Paperback

THE Photography Masterclass

Complete Course on Photography

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Comprehensive photography fundamentals masterclass

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses