Sony A7IV Crash Course Training Tutorial from Udemy

In this course, award winning instructor, camera tester & professional wedding photographer Michael Andrew takes us on a step-by-step tour of the amazing Sony A7IV camera. This course is designed to take any photographer of any level, including pure beginners and get them up to speed as quickly as possible, and then push forward to high-level, advanced techniques. (And this particular course is absolutely loaded)

When Michael started in 2003, before the youtube age, he learned by trial and error. It took him 2 years to fully master his camera. In 2008, after many years of shooting weddings, Michael was convinced he could develop a teaching system to help new students learn their cameras over a weekend. He's been teaching new photographers ever since. Michael's unique approach focuses on simplicity, clarity, and synthesis, which has helped thousands of beginning students learn their cameras in just a few hours.

If you own a Sony A7IV and are looking to improve your photographic skills or aren’t exactly sure how everything works….this is the tutorial for you. Over 7 hours of New Streaming Content and adding.

Included Lessons:

The Basics of Digital Photography Crash Course, including:

Exposure Lesson
Shutter Speed Lessons
Aperture Lessons
Depth of Field Lessons
ISO
Complete Composition Lessons- 11 in all
Digital Greenhouse
Compression
Encryption
Histograms
Lens Crash Course
What to do if not enough light
Lighting Crash Course.
Portrait Crash course
Sensor Cleaning
Basic Controls & Operation of the Camera
Advanced Shooting Techniques, including:
Wildlife Video Shooting
HDR Tools
AEB - Exposure Bracketing
Portrait Crash Course, Lighting, Lenses, Lens Selection, Demonstrations
Focus Stacking
Multiple Exposure Mode
Sports Shooting
Sunset Shooting Techniques, Stills and Video, Filters,
Time lapse Shooting
Focus Trouble Shooting
Introduction to Flash & Strobes
Flash Settings
3 Rules of Lighting
Film History, & Terms
Film Like Look
Pro Audio Tips
Pro Lighting Recommendations
Pulling Focus Using the Touch Screen
Manual Focus In Empty Spots
Gimbals, Slow Motion and Examples
Fluid Heads
Shooting for Documentaries
Removing Background Noise
Sliders
Video Workflow
Storytelling / Commercial Hollywood Scene Example, Final Examples
Customizations & Deep Menu Systems
Michael will continue to add new lessons as students new questions arise.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Learn how to operate the sony a7iv
Learn how to shoot portraits with the sony a7iv

Learn how to shoot sports with the sony a7iv
Learn how to shoot sunsets with the sony a7iv

Learn how to operate the sony a7iv
Learn how to shoot portraits with the sony a7iv
Learn how to shoot sports with the sony a7iv
Learn how to shoot sunsets with the sony a7iv

Syllabus

Introduction

Previsualize

What Is Exposure

Shutter Speed

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Breaks down complex camera functions into simple, easy-to-understand steps, which is helpful for photographers of all levels to quickly grasp the essentials

Covers a wide range of photography genres, including portrait, sports, and sunset photography, which allows learners to explore different creative avenues

Includes lessons on both photography and videography, which broadens the skillset of learners interested in multimedia content creation

Features a section on basic digital photography principles, such as exposure, shutter speed, and aperture, which builds a strong foundation for beginners

Explores advanced shooting techniques like focus stacking, multiple exposure mode, and time-lapse shooting, which challenges intermediate learners to expand their skills

Features lessons on external flashes and strobes, which may require learners to purchase additional equipment to fully utilize these techniques

Reviews summary

Comprehensive sony a7iv camera guide

According to learners, this course is a fantastic resource for mastering the Sony A7IV camera. Students praise the instructor, Michael Andrew, for his clear explanations and engaging teaching style, particularly for demystifying the camera's complex menu system. It's widely described as a lifesaver for beginners, effectively covering core photography and video concepts alongside camera-specific features to help users get up and running quickly. The course provides practical examples and covers both photo and video capabilities. While the vast majority found it incredibly helpful and worth the investment, a few more experienced users felt it could benefit from more depth on highly advanced topics or niche professional workflows.

Comprehensive coverage of stills and video.

"Explores the camera's versatility for different media."

"Appreciated that it covered both photo and video features."

"Great overview of the video capabilities."

"Not just photography, but solid video instruction too."

Lessons provide immediately applicable skills.

"I feel so much more confident using my camera now. The lessons on video settings were particularly helpful."

"I learned more in a few hours here than I did reading the manual for days."

"The practical examples for things like focus stacking and bracketing were invaluable."

"Provides actionable tips and demonstrations."

Gets new A7IV users up to speed quickly.

"As a total beginner to mirrorless cameras, this course was a lifesaver."

"Perfect for someone new to the A7IV. Got me up to speed very quickly."

"Even as a beginner, I found it easy to follow."

"This crash course truly lives up to its name. It gets you up and running with the A7IV incredibly fast."

Excellent deep dive into the camera's menus.

"The depth of coverage on the A7IV's menu system is incredible. Michael breaks it down step-by-step."

"Finally understand the dreaded Sony menus!"

"It covers the complex menu structure effectively."

"The section on the custom menu settings was invaluable."

Instructor explains complex topics clearly.

"Michael is a brilliant instructor, explaining complex concepts... in a way that's easy to understand."

"Michael Andrew makes complex concepts easy to understand."

"The instructor is knowledgeable and clear."

"The instructor is excellent and easy to follow."

May be too basic for experienced users.

"If you're already familiar with mirrorless cameras, parts might be too basic."

"For someone looking to do serious video work, it's a bit light."

"Expected a deeper dive into advanced settings and customization for professionals."

"Hoped for more in-depth coverage of specific video profiles (S-Log, etc.)"

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 Sony A7IV Crash Course Training Tutorial with these activities:

Review Exposure Basics

Show steps

Reinforce your understanding of the exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed, ISO) to prepare for the course's detailed lessons on these fundamental concepts.

Browse courses on Exposure Triangle

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Read articles or watch videos explaining the relationship between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Practice adjusting these settings on your camera in manual mode.
Take photos in different lighting conditions and analyze the results.

Read The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of composition by reading Michael Freeman's 'The Photographer's Eye,' which provides insights into visual design principles and how to apply them to create impactful photographs.

View The Photographer's Eye Digitally Remastered... on Amazon

Show steps

Read each chapter carefully, paying attention to the examples and explanations.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book using your Sony A7IV.
Take notes on key concepts and refer back to them as needed.

Read Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of exposure by reading Bryan Peterson's 'Understanding Exposure,' which provides practical advice and visual examples to master this crucial photographic element.

View Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to... on Amazon

Show steps

Read each chapter carefully, paying attention to the examples and explanations.
Experiment with the techniques described in the book using your Sony A7IV.
Take notes on key concepts and refer back to them as needed.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Practice Composition Techniques

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Sharpen your compositional skills by actively practicing the rules and guidelines discussed in the course, such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and symmetry.

Show steps

Choose a specific composition technique to focus on.
Go out and take at least 20 photos specifically applying that technique.
Review your photos and identify what worked well and what could be improved.

Explore Advanced Sony A7IV Tutorials on YouTube

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Expand your knowledge of the Sony A7IV by watching advanced tutorials on YouTube, focusing on specific features or techniques that interest you.

Show steps

Search for tutorials on topics such as focus stacking, HDR photography, or video settings.
Watch the tutorials carefully and take notes on key steps and settings.
Practice the techniques demonstrated in the tutorials using your own camera.

Document a Day in Your Life

Show steps

Apply the skills learned in the course by documenting a typical day in your life through photography, focusing on storytelling and capturing authentic moments.

Show steps

Plan the shots you want to capture throughout the day.
Use different lenses and settings to create a variety of images.
Edit your photos and arrange them in a chronological order to tell a story.

Create a Photography Portfolio

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Showcase your best work and demonstrate your understanding of the concepts learned in the course by creating a curated photography portfolio.

Show steps

Select your best photos from the course and your personal projects.
Organize your photos into a cohesive portfolio with a clear theme or style.
Write brief descriptions for each photo, explaining the techniques used and the story behind the image.
Share your portfolio online or in print.

Career center

Learners who complete Sony A7IV Crash Course Training Tutorial will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Wedding Photographer

A wedding photographer captures precious moments during wedding ceremonies and receptions. This course focusing on the Sony A7IV camera is particularly relevant, as it is taught by an award-winning professional wedding photographer. The instructor's hands-on experience and teaching system, designed to quickly master camera operation, directly translates to the fast-paced environment of wedding photography. You will develop skills in exposure, composition, and lighting, all essential for delivering stunning wedding photos. The course goes over lenses and portraiture, which are especially relevant for wedding photography. Hone your skills and start your journey to becoming a wedding photographer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wedding Photographer

Portrait Photographer

Portrait photographers specialize in capturing individuals or groups in posed or candid settings. This course helps you master the Sony A7IV, a camera well-suited for portrait work, especially in regards to lighting. The course includes a dedicated portrait crash course covering lighting, lenses, and lens selection. You'll understand how to utilize depth of field, control exposure, and compose compelling images. With a strong foundation in camera settings and creative techniques, you can confidently pursue a career as a portrait photographer. The insights into lens selection and lighting techniques can directly enhance your portraiture skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portrait Photographer

Sports Photographer

A sports photographer captures dynamic action shots at sporting events. The Sony A7IV is a great camera for sports photography due to its fast autofocus and burst shooting capabilities, both of which you will master in this course. The 'Sports Shooting' section specifically addresses the techniques needed to capture fast-paced action. Lessons on shutter speed, focusing modes, and drive modes become essential as you learn to freeze moments. With a grasp on these advanced techniques, you can confidently capture thrilling sports moments and pursue a career as a sports photographer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sports Photographer

Landscape Photographer

Landscape photographers capture the beauty of the natural world. Mastering the Sony A7IV through this course is beneficial for landscape photography, especially when using the techniques described for sunset photography. The included lessons on composition, depth of field, and exposure provide a foundation for stunning landscape images. The course’s detailed exploration of lenses will help you choose the appropriate gear, while knowledge of filters, and the techniques for shooting sunsets expands your ability to capture breathtaking scenes. Improve your skills and start taking pictures of the natural world.

See salaries and explore the career path for Landscape Photographer

Real Estate Photographer

Real estate photographers create images of properties for sale or rent. The Sony A7IV, with its image quality and dynamic range, is useful for showcasing homes. The course teaches you how to use the camera to its full potential. You'll learn about bracketing interiors, which can be useful for creating even lighting in rooms with lots of windows. Instruction in the principals of exposure, composition, and lens selection can help you create images that attract potential buyers. The lessons on lighting and exposure bracketing interiors help you capture the best possible images, enhancing the appeal of properties.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Photographer

Wildlife Videographer

A wildlife videographer captures footage of animals in their natural habitats. This course teaches you the basics of video production, including exposure, depth of field, and compression. The curriculum explores the best video recording settings for the Sony A7IV, which will allow you to capture the best possible quality footage. The course has a specific module on wildlife video shooting. Lessons on lenses can help you choose the best glass for working at long focal lengths. These lessons make sure that you are ready to capture incredible wildlife moments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wildlife Videographer

Commercial Photographer

Commercial photographers shoot images for advertising and marketing purposes. This course may be useful in learning how to operate the Sony A7IV, which has the kind of quality you want when shooting advertising. The course has a module on 'Maven Filter Commercial' which analyzes the construction of a particular commercial. Lessons on lenses, lighting, composition and more can help you craft eye-catching commercial images. The sections on lighting and composition may be good for creating impactful visuals that meet client briefs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Commercial Photographer

Photojournalist

Photojournalists capture images that tell stories and document events, often working for news organizations. This course may be useful in familiarizing yourself with the Sony A7IV, which will allow you to focus less on settings and more on getting the shot. The curriculum can help you to quickly adjust to changing lighting conditions, compose compelling images under pressure, and resolve focusing problems. The insights into exposure and compositional techniques that this course offers provide a solid foundation for capturing impactful images.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photojournalist

Product Photographer

Product photographers specialize in capturing images of products for online stores, catalogs, and advertising. This course may be useful, because it can help you understand how to work the Sony A7IV. This course covers basic things like exposure, but also advanced techniques like focus stacking. Mastering these techniques can allow you to create product images of the highest quality. The course provides insights into lighting and composition. These insights could be used to create visually appealing product photos that drive sales.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Photographer

Filmmaker

Filmmakers are responsible for the creative and technical aspects of creating films. This course may be useful in understanding the technical aspects of filmmaking, such as the use of lights, gimbals, and fluid heads. The lessons on video recording setup, picture profiles, and audio tips are also useful for the would-be filmmaker. The course discusses the creation of narrative film, which may be useful for building this specialized skillset. These diverse aspects may help in crafting compelling visual stories.

See salaries and explore the career path for Filmmaker

Camera Operator

Camera operators are responsible for operating cameras during film and television productions. This course may be useful to camera operators, as operating the Sony A7IV is a skill that would aid them. The advanced video settings found within this course may be helpful for camera operators to master. The course also goes over the best external monitors to use and how to set them up. The course goes over gimbals, which may be important for camera operators who use these.

See salaries and explore the career path for Camera Operator

Content Creator

Content creators produce various forms of digital content, including photos and videos, for online platforms. This course may be useful since it can help you master operation of the Sony A7IV camera, which can be used to create high quality content. Lessons on image composition, optimizing video settings, and audio recording best practices can allow you to make professional content. With a solid understanding of the camera's capabilities, you may be able to focus on crafting engaging stories and visuals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator

Social Media Manager

Social media managers oversee a company's online presence, including creating and curating content. This course may be useful for improving skills in photography and videography. A strong understanding of composition, lighting, and video settings, all covered in the course, may help you to create visually appealing content for social media platforms. This can help a social media manager achieve optimal engagement.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Digital Marketing Specialist

Digital marketing specialists develop and implement online marketing campaigns. This course may be useful for developing skills in visual content creation. Understanding image composition, video settings, and lighting, as taught in this course, can help you create compelling visuals for marketing campaigns. Understanding video workflows may improve the ability for digital marketing specialists to create marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Digital Marketing Specialist

Archival Photographer

An archival photographer creates and maintains collections of images that may be of historical significance. This course builds a foundation in the fundamentals in photography, but its more advanced lessons may be useful for archival photographers. The course teaches about cleaning the camera and making sure that it is properly maintained. Additionally, it teaches about compression so that the final images do not take up too much hard drive space. These advanced techniques might be useful for photographers in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archival Photographer

Sony A7IV Crash Course Training Tutorial

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive sony a7iv camera guide

Activities

Career center

Featured in The Course Notes

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