Online photography course guide
The 6 Best Online Photography Courses
Pick a photographer who makes you want to shoot. These courses span street photography, portraits, wildlife and documentary storytelling.
You can also learn from photo books. Need more eyes on your own photography? Join Underexposed.
Magnum Photos
Alec Soth
A Magnum Photos course
Best for: Portraits, editing, sequencing and photo books
Format: Paid online course · 19 lessons, about 5 hours
Alec Soth, in collaboration with Magnum Photos, has created one of the most comprehensive photography courses available.
In 19 lessons totaling 5 hours of material, Alec teaches you about portrait photography, his early career, editing and sequencing, plus how to create photo books.
In Alec Soth’s photography course, you will see Alec Soth at work while thinking out loud for you to follow his train of thought as a photographer.
Alec Soth’s books include Songbook, NIAGARA, Sleeping by the Mississippi and I Know How Furiously Your Heart Is Beating. They offer context for the way he develops and sequences a project.
Magnum Photos
The Art of Street Photography
A Magnum Photos course
Best for: Street photography, confidence and visual storytelling
Format: Paid online course · 10 video lessons
If you are into street photography, this course is a must-watch.
It offers a curriculum comprising ten engaging video lessons that provide honest advice and insights from seven Magnum photographers and industry experts.
You’ll learn the necessary mindset and framework for success in street photography, observing their tutors in action as they capture moments in various locations, such as Bruce Gilden on the streets of New York and Martin Parr at a county fair.
This street photography course features seven Magnum photographers: Martin Parr, Richard Kalvar, Carolyn Drake, Susan Meiselas, Peter van Agtmael, Bruce Gilden, and Mark Power. Together, they reveal how to approach strangers, find visual stories, and refine your eye for timing and humor.
Masters of Photography
Joel Meyerowitz
A course in street photography
Best for: Street photography, color, timing and composition
Format: Paid online course · 34 episodes, more than 5 hours
As a street photographer myself, Joel’s course has taught me more about photography than any other course. The current course is listed as 34 episodes and more than five hours of material.
Joel has a career spanning over six decades; he has graced more than 350 museums and galleries across the globe with his exceptional body of work - it doesn't get better than this.
What sets Joel Meyerowitz apart is his unwavering commitment to the use of color, a bold choice during a time when black and white photography dominated. During the mid-60s, he championed color photography, playing a pivotal role in shifting the prevailing sentiment from resistance to widespread acceptance.
Joel has created best-selling photo books such as Cape Light and How I make photographs.
Masters of Photography
Steve McCurry
Learn street photography, natural light, and make it as a photographer
Best for: Portraits, natural light, street work and storytelling
Format: Paid online course · 25 episodes, more than 4 hours
Steve McCurry is famously known for his portrait of the green-eyed Afghan girl, but that doesn’t justify his extensive portfolio of work as one of the most renowned and successful photographers alive.
Steve McCurry boasts an impressive array of accolades and credits Henri Cartier Bresson as one of his greatest inspirations.
His career includes multiple World Press Photo Awards, the Magazine Photographer of the Year title, and recognition from the French Art Directors Association. Through this online photography course, Steve shares the principles that shaped his iconic images and explains how to apply them to your own work.
Steve has created photo books such as Instantes (Spanish edition) and The Unguarded Moment
Masters of Photography
Paul Nicklen
National Geographic photographer
Best for: Wildlife, landscapes and conservation stories
Format: Paid online course · 50 episodes
Paul Nicklen’s course covers wildlife, landscapes and conservation storytelling. The current course is listed as 50 episodes of material.
You'll gain insight into Paul's fundamental techniques, including his 20-60-20 rule, photo sketching, composition principles, goal-setting strategies, and essential checklists that you can incorporate into your own photography to enhance your skills and boost your self-assurance
Paul Nicklen has garnered more than 30 of the highest awards given to any photographer in his field, including the “BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year” and the prestigious World Press Photo for photojournalism.
If you search for a course in landscape and wildlife photography look no further.
Paul Nicklen has created one of the highest-rated photography books on Amazon called Born to Ice.
Masters of Photography
Nick Danziger
A course in photojournalism
Best for: Photojournalism, ethics and long-form visual stories
Format: Paid online course · 54 episodes, about 8 hours
In Nick Danziger's online Masterclass, you learn the art of storytelling through photography from one of the most accomplished photojournalists alive.
The course emphasizes creativity and the ethical considerations of working with vulnerable populations while offering practical insights into creating impactful visual narratives.
Nick Danziger's photo book Danziger’s Travels: Beyond Forbidden Frontiers became an instant bestseller.
How to choose online photography lessons
The best online photography lessons give you something specific to practise. Choose the course above that matches the photographs you want to make.
Looking for beginner photography courses? Start with street photography basics or the film photography guide if you need help with exposure and focusing.
Make the course useful
Pick one course and put it into practice
A structured course helps when it changes what you do with a camera. Take notes, finish the assignments and use the ideas in a real project.