If you're a creative person, grasping the technical side of taking pictures can seem a little daunting, as if you need another college degree just to get through your camera's user manual. Although I'm a professional photographer now, I can remember when I first began to really get into photography many years ago, and feeling utterly confused at the mere sight of f-stops. As somebody who's always been very good at art but very bad at math, I was baffled with trying to figure out the fractions of a second for a "perfect" exposure.
But here's the thing: I learned the "tech-y" stuff, and you can, too.
Here's the other thing: It takes some dedicated time and practice, practice, practice!
I've put together a 7-lesson online course that will teach you all of the basics you need to know to get out of Auto Mode and start taking more creative control of your shots. It will also give you "that little nudge" you might need to practice what you learn, with an online classroom of students from around the world.
If you've taken other photography courses with me, then you already know one of my mantras to my students: "Be an artist, not just a witness." Well, learning to move off Auto Mode will give you many more tools and options to create art with your camera. Whether you're a professional blogger who would like to add more attractive photographs to your posts, or you just want to take better pictures on your next vacation, this course will help you move forward.
How does this online course work?
- This is a self-paced course. Shortly after you submit your payment, you will receive the 7 lessons via email. (I send them out personally, so if it's the middle of the night in the eastern United States at the time when you purchase the course, then you would receive the lessons when it's morning here. Please keep in mind that there's a real person on the other end of the transaction, not just an automated button, so I'll deliver the lessons as quickly as my schedule allows, usually within a couple of hours.) After you receive the lessons, you can pace yourself by reading one lesson each day (which I highly recommend to give yourself time to absorb the material and work through it), or you can set aside a block of time (such as a weekend) to read through a few lessons at a time, or all of them at once. It's really up to you and your schedule!
- All enrolled students will have the opportunity to share their photos, comments, and creative thoughts in my private Facebook group, Writing with Light Photography Club. You'll also be able to ask me any of your photography questions there.
- You'll receive a beautiful, downloadable book (PDF file format) of all lessons, for your personal reference, to keep forever.
Course Overview
Lesson 1: Let's Get Started
- The nitty-gritty technical things you need to know (and the tech stuff you can skip!)
- The Photographic Triangle
- Which lenses are best for the subjects you want to shoot?
- White Balance
- Histograms
- Shooting in RAW versus jpeg
- Tripods and Image Stabilizers
- Good resources for further study
- Practice: Shooting in Program (P) Mode
Lesson 2: ISO in Detail
- Defining ISO
- Different scenarios, different ISOs
- Practice: Shooting with different ISO settings
Lesson 3: Aperture and Depth of Field
- Defining Aperture
- Shallow versus deep depth of field
- Figuring out f-stops once and for all
- The Photography Greats: Aperture Heroes
- Practice: Shooting with different aperture settings (f-stops) in Aperture Priority Mode (A/Av)
Lesson 4: Shutter Speed and Movement
- Defining Shutter Speed
- Blurring or freezing action
- Figuring out your shutter speed fractions once and for all
- The Photography Greats: Shutter Speed Heroes
- Practice: Shooting with different shutter speeds in Shutter Priority Mode (S/T/Tv)
Lesson 5: Trouble-shooting the Tough Shots
- Action (from sports to toddlers!)
- Different speeds within one shot
- Low light and night shots
- Bright light
- Practice: Pick a trouble shot and work it!
Lesson 6: True Manual Mode
Let's take it beyond Aperture Mode and Shutter Priority Mode and dabble in Manual Mode (M)
- What are the key points to remember when shooting in Manual Mode?
- Practice: Getting more experimental and taking the most control of your shots.
Lesson 7: Review and Self-Testing
Let's make sure you're crystal clear on how to work the Photographic Triangle and troubleshoot your shots. Review the past week's lessons and take the comprehensive quiz to track your progress.
What You'll Need for This Course
- A DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera or a mirrorless digital camera that lets you switch off Auto Mode and control the shots yourself.
- Access to a computer where you can upload your photographs and study them.
- Optional: A Facebook account, so you can join our private photography group on Facebook, share your photos, and meet fellow photographers from around the world. I highly recommend this option so you can ask me any questions about your photographs as you work through the lessons.
In addition, an inexpensive tripod is highly recommended, but not mandatory.
Before you begin, you should know how to upload photographs from your computer (or smart phone) to an online page (if you're planning to join the Facebook group). Never done that before? This link explains how to upload photos to Facebook with step-by-step visual directions and a YouTube tutorial.
Please note: If you do not currently have a Facebook account and do not want one, you can open an account just for this course and close it right after you finish the course, if you wish. You can even set it up with a pseudonym (let me know what it is!) so the general public cannot find you on Facebook (but remember, the Facebook group is private and nobody outside of the group will see what you share in it).
Frequently Asked Questions
What level photographer is this course intended for?
This course would be perfect for anybody who owns a DSLR camera and is not confident using it off Auto Mode. Even if you're amazingly creative with your DSLR camera on Auto Mode, this course will help you get more comfortable with the technical side of digital photography as you learn how and why to adjust aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and a few other important settings on your camera -- instead of letting the camera make those decisions for you.
If you are a true beginner to DSLR photography and feel completely overwhelmed by your particular camera's buttons and functions (for example, you're unsure how to take a picture with your camera on Auto Mode), I would recommend that you take a one-on-one course at a photography store in your area so you can go over your camera in-person, in-detail. If you're unsure, please feel free to email me at [email protected] before you purchase this course, and we can discuss whether this course might be a good fit for you.
Will this course cover ALL of the buttons and functions on my particular camera?
No, it would be impossible to cover the specific buttons and functions of every single camera for every single student (and my goodness, that would be boring, wading through pages and pages of instructions to find your particular camera). We'll be covering the main technical aspects common to all DSLR cameras (which you can see in the Course Outline above for Lessons 1 through 7).
Will there be any assignments?
Each lesson will have a practice assignment at the end, but you're under no obligation or schedule to complete it. The assignments are merely suggestions to improve your experience in the course. Do as much as you wish, but please keep in mind that the more you follow the lessons and their practice assignments, the more you will get out of the course.
How do I pay for this course?
You can securely pay with PayPal (which accepts credit cards) at the bottom of this page. If you don't have a PayPal account, it's free to open one and easy to sign up.
What if I'm not located in the United States?
I'm happy to welcome students from around the world, and since it's an online course, there is no specific time for you to be "in class." Previous sessions of my photography e-courses have included students from the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.
PayPal will convert any foreign currency to U.S. dollars.
Do I need to buy anything?
No. Suggested texts will be recommended to you, but you can find them at the library (which I fully recommend) or preview their contents online when available through Amazon.
What is your refund policy?
(I'm including this answer just for legal purposes; nobody has ever requested a refund. In fact, quite the opposite: I've been told by several students that my courses were worth more than the prices they paid!) Due to the digital nature of this course, I cannot offer refunds, so please ask me any questions or let me know any of your concerns before you register, by emailing me at [email protected]. Depending on your own background and personal experience with photography, there may be certain days when you might already know some of the information being shared in the lesson. However, you still will be able to practice the content and connect to the optional Facebook group to share your work. (Please make sure to read the whole answer to the first question, "What level photographer is this course intended for?")
Any other questions? Just let me know at [email protected].
My Background & Qualifications
- In 2015, I was one of seven Honorees worldwide for the Photo of the Year from BlogHer Voices of the Year. Here's the story: Nervous, Honored, Grateful!
- In 2016, I was an Honoree for the BlogHer Voices of the Year, for a post I'd written about my son. You can read more about that here: The Opposite of Crickets.
- In December 2016, I was selected as a Judge for the 2017 Voices of the Year from BlogHer (Photography/Short Video/Eye Candy categories).
- My photographs and written work have been published five times in national magazines. In Spring 2017, Artful Blogging magazine contacted me to write an article for them about my creative process. Here's the announcement about its publication: The Heart-Warming Thrill of Getting Published. Bella Grace magazine published a full-length article about my work in Fall 2017.
- Since July 2012, I've been the sole photographer at the blog JoyfullyGreen.com. If you are unfamiliar with my blog, I encourage you to take a look through the archives at my photographs, as well as the collection of my favorites available for purchase at society6.com/JoyfullyGreen. Although I started my blog in July 2012 as an eco-blog, I quickly realized that the part of blogging which gave me the most joy (no pun intended) was finding the "perfect" picture to accompany my posts.
- In March 2014, I introduced my first online photography course, How to Take Better Photos of Nature and the World Around You. Since then, I've added several online photography courses to my teaching roster, including Beyond Auto Mode: How to Really Work Your DSLR Camera; Soul Focus: Finding Peace Through Photography; Soul Focus 2: Delving Deeper into Mindful Photography; and Pocket Photography: Making Art with Your Phone.
- I've been taking photos for over four decades, ever since I was a little girl and received my first Kodak Instamatic camera for a Christmas present at the age of 7. Before my senior year at Vassar College (where I majored in Art History), I was a photography counselor at Wesleyan University's Center for Creative Youth in Middletown, CT, where I helped instruct high school students in photography (including darkroom development--anybody remember those days?). I have taken traditional courses in Black and White Photography, Landscape Photography, and Digital Photography in Philadelphia, as well as Visual Art and Design courses at Parsons School of Design in New York.
I'm ready to guide you on your photographic journey, so let's get started!
Kind words from students about my online courses
"I love your teaching style and the way you put together your courses." -- Tracy from California
"I have taken two of Joy's photography courses and learned SO much. I highly recommend her courses--you can see how beautiful the results are." -- Eliza from Australia
"I have so thoroughly enjoyed your online classes. Each lesson is so well presented with wonderful photos as a reference and links to additional information and inspiration. I have grown as a photographer--both in my ability to 'see' a photo and my technical skill to bring what I see in my mind’s eye to life. I love how you led us from photography as a witness to photography as a true work of art. What a gift. I know it will be a life-long learning process and I thank you for providing a wealth of information and visual inspiration through your own photos, good feedback for improving our shots, and lots of positive encouragement." -- Nancy from Oregon
"I am sure to take another course with you. You inspire your students, as well as teach." -- Penny from Scotland
"Thank you so much for the fabulous course, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m also enjoying the continuing conversations in the online classroom. You’ve created a wonderfully supportive environment for conversations about the art of photography—thank you for teaching, encouraging, and inspiring us." -- Sarah from Nova Scotia
The fee for this course is $59 (U.S.) and includes all of the following components:
- Seven days of in-depth lessons.
- Access to our private photographers' group on Facebook where you can post your photographs and discuss them with your fellow students and with me. Any questions on the lessons? I'll be there to help!
- A beautiful downloadable book (PDF file format) of all lessons for your personal reference, to keep and refer back to whenever you like.
- Ongoing advice and guidance from me about your photographs during your coursework and beyond. Just because you finish the course doesn't mean your development as a photographer ends, so I regularly check in with my previous students in our Facebook group.
Ready? Let's get started!
To purchase Beyond Auto Mode: How to Really Work Your DSLR Camera, click the "Buy Now" button below: