Please email suki@8weekstobetterphotos.com for more information.Read about the course below.
Photography 101 - foundation course (online)
The Photography 101 - foundation course is less about your camera and more about what you do when you take photos. It is to make you see with new eyes and get a feel for what makes a good photo, while enabling you to take better images, every time you pick up a camera.
The course is perfect for people who have bought a camera beyond pure point and shoot (like a DSLR or bridge camera that has changeable settings e.g. Av, S or Tv), but you find yourself always using auto, because it is a bit overwhelming. Or maybe you would like to upgrade to a more feature rich camera in the near future, and you want to be ready.
It is not technical course (although we do look at a few more techie stuff in week 5), it is about taking better photos, and if you put in some time during the 8 weeks the course runs – you will be taking better photos at the end of it.
Thank you Suki for a great 8 weeks! I have learned a lot and will keep on taking photos - Marinda
How it works
This online course is 8 weeks long with 3 lessons per week. At the start of each week you will receive the videos and notes for the week, with emails to support you along the way. The videos are in easy digestible parts, so that you can do a bit each day, or if you prefer, put in a slightly longer session once a week. At the end of the week you will get a challenge: practical projects to build your photography skills.
During the 8 weeks of the course you will have email support. You will also have access to a private Facebook group where we can chat throughout the course, share photos and look at ways of improving specific shots. Your access to the group will continue after the 8 weeks, and you can keep in touch with past (and future) students, share your images and get community support.
The important thing to remember is that the only real way to improve your photos is to actually take photos, so you must be willing to take pictures 3-5 times per week, or every day if you can. It doesn’t have to take more than 5 minutes, but getting into the habit of practicing your new skills will make a big difference in what you will get out of the course.
Course outline
Week 1: What is photography – to you?
We are looking at why you take photos, what you love to photograph and how to start building your genre.
Week 2: Learning to see
We are going to look at the first camera you ever owned – your eyes – and how using them will improve your photography.
Week 3: Finding the photo: Composition
Looking at your subject, we will work on finding the right place for them.
Week 4: The basic (most important) ingredient: Light
We will cover why light is so important in creating your photos, how to use it and we bring our focus and exposure into focus.
Week 5: Techie Stuff: Aperture, shutter speed and why it matters
We look at what aperture and shutter speed are, and how they influence your photography.
Week 6: Tips and tricks
We look at a few “good to know” tips for improving your shots and a bit of “out of the box” ideas to give your creativity a push.
Week 7: Cull, crop and display
Choosing what photos to keep, deciding if you should give it a trim and getting that photo off your camera and onto your walls.
Week 8: Q&A
We look at frequently asked questions regarding photography and plan some projects to keep you shooting.
To me the best part was learning about aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Not taking pictures on Auto anymore, but playing around, and getting to learn my camera and all its features - Elizbe
Cost
The cost of the complete course is $149 (living outside South Africa) and R1490 (living in South Africa) per household (yes, you and your family can study together for 1 price) and this includes access to the videos and course notes, guided email lessons and support during the 8 weeks of the course, as well as access to the private Facebook group, even after the 8 weeks have been completed.
The notes are in PDF format, so you will be able to keep it on hand and refer back to it when you need to brush up.
During the 8 weeks you will be able to ask questions and get feedback via email and in the Facebook group, with continued community support in the Facebook group even when the 8 weeks are over.
FAQ
A lot of the course is about how to "see" your photos and improving your images by paying attention to light and composition, and those aspects you can implement with any camera.
There are some weeks (especially week 5 and 6) that looks at specific camera settings, which a cell phone or point and shoot are less likely to have, so to get the most out of the course a DSLR or bridge camera is recommended.
However, if you are considering upgrading in the near future, doing the course will aid you in knowing what (and how) you like to photograph and therefore help you with the decision-making process of buying a new camera.
You will continue to have access to the course materials, so you can complete it at your own pace.
If you find within the first 3 weeks that you will not be able to continue for the rest of the course and you want to do it at the guided pace, simply send me an email and you can start again when it suits you better.
Any further questions? Email me: suki@8weekstobetterphotos.com
That was a lot of fun! Thank you - Hila