We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Take this course
William "Cal" Hyslop, MBA, University Instructor

Welcome to Fantastic iPhone Photography where you can develop the abilities to produce professional-level photos without professional-level equipment. All you need is your iPhone for this comprehensive course on photography principles, iPhone settings, camera functions, and editing techniques.

By the end of this course, you will have come to understand and use the foundational principles of photography and will have realized the mistakes you’re probably making right now with the photos you take.

Read more

Welcome to Fantastic iPhone Photography where you can develop the abilities to produce professional-level photos without professional-level equipment. All you need is your iPhone for this comprehensive course on photography principles, iPhone settings, camera functions, and editing techniques.

By the end of this course, you will have come to understand and use the foundational principles of photography and will have realized the mistakes you’re probably making right now with the photos you take.

  • You will understand the iPhone camera’s functions far better than the average person.

  • You will know how to edit the images you take to get amazing results.

  • And you will leave this course with a skill set that will last a lifetime.

This course is divided into four major sections, including 23 separate videos, for about 2 hours of instruction with a bonus lesson at the end.

And this course is for you if you want to better capture moments in time, feed your creativeness, further appreciate the world around you, and add a valuable skillset to your toolbelt.

If you have never studied photography and don’t feel like you are much of an expert with your iPhone, I believe that this course will be truly transformative for you.

So, why not get started now? Click the first video and I’ll see you for our first real lesson.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Iphone photography
  • Principles of photography
  • The importance of having a subject
  • How to shoot from better angles
  • Framing and composition
  • Better lighting
  • Best iphone setting for photography
  • Camera app tutorial and use
  • Iphone camera features tips and tricks
  • How to enhance photos with free editing software

Syllabus

Introduction and Principles of Photography
Introduction to Fantastic iPhone Photography
Primary Principles of Pictures
Having a Subject
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers fundamental photography principles, such as composition and lighting, which are essential for creating visually appealing images
Explores iPhone-specific camera features like Burst Mode, HDR, Panoramas, Live Photos, and Portrait Mode, which can greatly enhance photographic capabilities
Teaches how to use free editing software to enhance photos, providing accessible tools for improving image quality
Focuses on using the iPhone as the primary camera, making it accessible to anyone with an iPhone without needing professional equipment
Includes a bonus lesson on lens distortions, which may require additional software or apps not readily available on all iPhones
Emphasizes techniques for enhancing photos of specific subjects like people and food, catering to popular photography interests

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Simple guide to iphone photography

According to learners, this course offers a clear and simple introduction to iPhone photography basics. Students appreciate the practical tips on composition, lighting, and using iPhone camera features like Portrait mode and HDR. Many found the sections on editing techniques particularly helpful, allowing them to significantly improve their photos using free tools. While the course is widely praised as excellent for beginners looking to understand fundamental photography principles and apply them specifically to the iPhone, some more experienced users noted it might be too basic for intermediate photographers. Overall, it's seen as a solid foundation for anyone wanting to take better pictures with their phone.
Instructor is clear and easy to understand.
"The instructor is very clear and knowledgeable. Made learning enjoyable."
"His explanations are straightforward and easy to digest."
"Liked the pace and how well the instructor explained each concept."
"Instructor's voice and delivery were pleasant and easy to listen to."
"He did a great job breaking down the information."
Editing section is a major highlight.
"The editing lessons are fantastic! I had no idea I could do so much with free apps."
"Learning how to enhance my photos after taking them was a game changer thanks to this course."
"The step-by-step editing demos were easy to follow and yielded great results."
"Found the editing techniques for different subjects (people, food) particularly useful."
"This part alone was worth the price of the course for me."
Provides useful, actionable advice.
"I learned so many practical tips for composition and lighting that I can use right away."
"The section on using the camera features effectively was very helpful and provided actionable advice."
"Really liked the demonstrations on angles and framing. Made a big difference in my photos."
"Helped me understand simple ways to improve my shots without needing extra gear."
"The techniques taught for everyday situations are highly practical."
Course is easy to follow, great for newcomers.
"This course was exactly what I needed to start understanding how to take better photos with my iPhone."
"As someone completely new to photography, this made everything simple and easy to grasp."
"Great for absolute beginners! The instructor explains complex ideas in a very simple way."
"Found it very accessible and not overwhelming at all for a newbie."
"I recommend this to anyone just starting out with phone photography."
May be too basic for some users.
"While great for beginners, I was hoping for a bit more depth on advanced techniques."
"If you already know the basics of photography or iPhone use, this might feel repetitive."
"It covers the fundamentals well, but doesn't go into advanced modes or third-party apps much."
"Good starting point, but leaves you wanting more if you're past the absolute novice stage."
"Felt a little short on content for someone with some prior experience."

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 iPhone Photography Made Simple with these activities:
Review Basic Photography Principles
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental photography concepts like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and composition to better grasp the iPhone-specific applications taught in the course.
Browse courses on Aperture
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos explaining the exposure triangle.
  • Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in a manual camera (if available) or a photography simulator.
  • Study examples of good and bad composition in photography.
Read 'Understanding Exposure' by Bryan Peterson
Deepen your understanding of exposure by reading Bryan Peterson's 'Understanding Exposure,' which provides a solid foundation for mastering iPhone photography settings.
Show steps
  • Read a chapter each week.
  • Practice the techniques described in the book with your iPhone.
  • Take notes on key concepts and ideas.
Practice Framing and Composition
Improve your eye for composition by practicing framing techniques using your iPhone in different environments.
Show steps
  • Go to a park or other scenic location.
  • Take at least 20 photos, focusing on applying the rule of thirds.
  • Experiment with leading lines and symmetry.
  • Review your photos and identify areas for improvement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read 'The iPhone Photography Book' by Scott Kelby
Expand your knowledge of iPhone-specific photography techniques by reading Scott Kelby's 'The iPhone Photography Book,' which offers practical tips and tricks for taking better photos with your device.
Show steps
  • Read a chapter each week.
  • Try out the techniques described in the book with your iPhone.
  • Share your photos online or with friends and family.
Photo a Day Challenge
Improve your photography skills by committing to taking and editing a photo every day for a month, focusing on different themes and techniques learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a theme for each week (e.g., portraits, landscapes, street photography).
  • Take a photo each day that fits the theme.
  • Edit your photo using the techniques learned in the course.
  • Share your photos online or with friends and family.
Create a Photo Editing Tutorial
Solidify your understanding of photo editing techniques by creating a short tutorial demonstrating how to enhance photos using a specific iPhone editing app.
Show steps
  • Choose a photo editing app (e.g., Snapseed, VSCO).
  • Select a photo to edit.
  • Record a video or write a step-by-step guide explaining your editing process.
  • Share your tutorial with others and gather feedback.
Create a Photography Portfolio
Showcase your best iPhone photos by creating a digital portfolio, demonstrating your mastery of photography principles and editing techniques learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Select your best 10-15 photos.
  • Edit your photos to perfection.
  • Create a website or use a portfolio platform (e.g., Behance, Instagram).
  • Write descriptions for each photo, explaining the techniques you used.
  • Share your portfolio with others and gather feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete iPhone Photography Made Simple will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Blogger
A blogger who incorporates images into their posts can benefit from this course, as it teaches a variety of photographic skills. This course's focus on the fundamentals of photography, editing, and using only the equipment most people carry every day makes taking photos for any blogger very simple. The topics of composition, lighting, and editing that the course covers will greatly improve the quality of the photos, and thus the blog, for any aspiring blogger. This course helps build a strong foundation in the use of cameras.
Social Media Content Creator
A social media content creator produces engaging posts for various platforms, and this course is directly relevant to that role. Social media often relies on striking visuals, and the focus on composition, lighting, and editing within this course can help social media content creators develop compelling photos. The course particularly helps with making the most of the camera one already has, since content creators are always looking for ways to maximize the power of their tools. The techniques taught in this course can help content creators produce high quality material quickly and for little to no cost.
Online Retailer
An online retailer needs good product photos, and the skills learned in this course can help an online retailer develop those skills. This course emphasizes using the existing camera available on an iPhone to take great photos. The course's focus on foundational principles such as better lighting, which is integral to taking good product photos, and on editing, will help an online retailer produce images that will help convert customers. The emphasis on using the iPhone as a camera will save new online retailers the expense of buying expensive camera equipment.
Travel Writer
A travel writer often needs to take their own photos to accompany their work. The focus of this course on foundational photography principles and editing is helpful for any travel writer. The course's focus on photography with an iPhone means that any travel writer, who values travelling light, can still produce professional-level photos for their work. The course emphasizes how to get the best shots, and this is exactly what any travel writer needs to produce effective content.
Marketing Associate
A marketing associate often works on campaigns that require strong visual components, and this course helps develop the skills necessary to handle some of that work. The course's focus on foundational principles of photography, and how they can be realized in an iPhone, can be beneficial to a marketing associate who wishes to create marketing material. The course can help a marketing associate understand how to take better photos for marketing campaigns and produce high-quality images without the need for professional equipment. This course helps build a solid foundation of skills.
Visual Merchandiser
A visual merchandiser creates displays to attract customers and good photography skills help greatly, and this course directly relates to that role. The course provides a thorough overview of photography principles like composition, framing, and lighting by focusing on the camera available on an iPhone. This emphasis on foundational principles will help a visual merchandiser capture effective photos of their displays. This course can help a visual merchandiser create the photos needed for their job.
Personal Brand Consultant
A personal brand consultant helps clients build their image, and creating high-quality photos is often a component of this service, and this course directly relates to that role. The focus of this course on photography principles and editing will help a personal brand consultant develop their own photography skills, or offer that as a service to their clients. The course's focus on using an iPhone means that the personal brand consultant will be able to work on brand image in a convenient and affordable way. This course can help a personal brand consultant create a strong visual message.
Interior designer
An interior designer often curates images of their work for clients, and this course may be useful to help them develop this skill. The course focuses on foundational photographic elements like using the correct settings, understanding light, and editing. The course's coverage of both photography principles in general and setting for the iPhone means that the interior designer can create high-quality images of their projects. This course may help an interior designer produce high-quality images of their design work.
Real Estate Agent
Real estate agents often create their own promotional material, and this course may be useful in helping them develop this crucial skill. This course focuses on practical skills like using the correct camera settings, understanding light, and editing to create eye-catching images. The concepts of framing and composition taught are particularly important for a real estate agent, who must also develop an eye for what makes a good shot. This course may help a real estate agent take more professional pictures for their listings.
Restaurant Owner
A restaurant owner often needs to showcase their dishes online or in print, and this photography course may be useful for developing these skills. The foundational principles of photography, lighting, and editing are essential for capturing the appeal of food. The focus in this course on using an iPhone means that the restaurant owner can take high-quality pictures of their food at any time. It may be useful for helping a restaurant owner improve the presentation of their business.
Event Planner
An event planner often captures images of events for clients, and the skills taught in this course may be useful for this role. The course focuses on foundational photographic elements and techniques such as using the correct settings, understanding light, and editing. The knowledge in this course can help an event planner document events in an engaging way. This course may help an event planner create high-quality images for their portfolio and client presentations.
Freelance Photographer
A freelance photographer takes pictures for clients on a contract basis, and this course may be useful as a primer to jumpstart one's photography career. This course focuses on practical skills like using the correct camera settings, understanding light, and editing to create eye-catching images. The emphasis on foundational principles and techniques taught in this course can help a freelance photographer create high quality images, even when constrained to only using a cell phone. This course may be useful for developing core skills.
Art Director
An art director is responsible for the overall visual style and images used within a project, and this course may be useful to give the art director insight into these processes. The course covers principles of photography, composition, and editing techniques, which are all relevant to the work of an art director. Although an art director might not be shooting photos themselves, this course will help the art director understand how images are made from the moment of capture to the final stages of editing. This course may give an art director a stronger basis of understanding in the visual medium.
Graphic designer
A graphic designer works with images on a daily basis, and while this course does not teach software, it may help the graphic designer understand the fundamentals of the medium. The course covers principles of photography, composition, and editing techniques, which are all relevant to the work of a graphic designer. This course may be useful by giving a graphic designer a better understanding of the images they use, from the time of image capture through post processing.
Wedding Photographer
A wedding photographer is responsible for capturing memorable moments, and this course may be useful for developing some of those skills. The course focuses on foundational photographic elements like using the correct settings, understanding light, and editing. This course may be useful as a primer on these elements. Although a professional wedding photographer will use more advanced equipment, the skills that this course teaches is applicable to all photography.

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 iPhone Photography Made Simple.
Is specifically tailored to iPhone photography, offering practical tips and tricks for taking better photos with your iPhone. It covers a wide range of topics, including camera settings, composition, lighting, and editing. This book is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference. It great resource for learning how to maximize the potential of your iPhone camera.
Provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the exposure triangle and how it affects your photos. It valuable resource for understanding the fundamentals of photography, which are essential for mastering iPhone photography. The book explains aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in detail, helping you take control of your iPhone camera settings. It is commonly used by photography students and enthusiasts.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser