"Joy, you are an excellent teacher. Your classes are the perfect combination of education and inspiration, and your comments and nudges always come through a positive lens. Each lesson is so well-presented with wonderful photos as references, and links to additional information and inspiration. I have grown as a photographer, both in my ability to 'see' a photo and in my technical skill to bring what I see in my mind's eye to life. When not one of your students wants the class to end, that pretty much sums up what an outstanding experience we all had. Thank you so much." -- Nancy Thompson
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Once you know the basics of photography, you can become a true artist and not just a witness. You have a unique vision, and it's time to let it shine through your lens. Creative photography isn't just about what's directly in front of you. Everything you experience has a way of influencing your creative vision. As Ansel Adams said, "You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved... You don't take a photograph, you make it.”
- You're a blogger who wants to improve the photographs you share with your audience.
- You enjoy photography but need a little inspiration and prodding to get "out there" with your camera.
- You're in a creative rut. This course will help you break out of it, through daily lessons.
- You already know the basics of photography, but could use a boost in the creativity department.
- You LOVE photography, period.
"Joy, thanks. You must accept much credit for my success because yours was my first photography course, ever! Your examples and explanations were inspiring and clear. The encouragement and support was very helpful as well, to see if I was on the right track, and to spur me on." -- Mary O.
How does this online course work?
- This is a self-paced course. Shortly after you submit your payment, you will receive the 15 lessons via email, plus 4 bonus mini-lessons. (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 will have access to the group for as long as you remain a member in it, even after you've finished the lessons. (FYI: My students from previous courses are still sharing their work and kind comments there.)
- You'll receive a beautiful, downloadable book (PDF file format) of all lessons, for your personal reference, to keep forever.
"Thank you so much, Joy. This class was fantastic! It was challenging but super-fun, too, and I loved the way each lesson revealed another piece of the big picture. Your classes have been a huge influence on my artistic growth and on my confidence. Please keep teaching and blogging!" -- Kat Denton
Lesson 1: Minimalism
- How to strip back the composition for maximum impact
- Minimalist artists and photographers
- Where else to look for guidance and inspiration
Lesson 2: The Chaos Principle
- How to fill the frame without losing the balance
- Frame-filling artists and photographers who got the balance right
- Where to find the best current examples of organized chaos
Lesson 3: Color Exploration
- Working in monochrome without monotony
- Using chromatic blends, complementary colors, and neutral shades
- Color inspiration from the masters
- Where to explore colors today
Lesson 4: Shape-Seeking
- Creating a cohesive image with different shapes
- Artists through history who used shapes to create
- Where to stretch your shape-seeking abilities
Lesson 5: Intentional Blur
- How to create drama from softness
- Learning from the Impressionists and Expressionists with your camera
- Where you can find more examples today
Lesson 6: Line, Texture, and Depth
- How to create and emphasize the form and space within your images
- Masters through history
Lesson 7: The Art of the Pattern
- Seeking out patterns in nature
- Creating works of art with photographic patterns
- Professional "pattern-makers" through history
Lesson 8: Tell Me a Story
- Adding the element of storytelling to your photographs
- Masters of the form
- Where to look for further inspiration
Lesson 9: Self-Portraiture, Part 1
- The perfect "selfie": How to take beautiful, artful pictures of yourself
- Masters of self-portraiture through history
- Where to view current examples of excellent self-portraits
Lesson 10: Self-Portraiture, Part 2
- Portraying and defining yourself through objects of love and interest
- Masters of the form through history
- Further resources to check out today
Lesson 11: Still Lifes
- How to be your own photo stylist
- Setting up shots cleanly and creatively
- Still life masters through history
- Where to find inspiration today
Lesson 12: Food Styling
- Tips and tricks to make your food photographs look their most delicious
- Where to learn more and share more of your food photography
Lesson 13: Playing with Perspective
- How to create a Trompe L'Oeil
- Storytelling with perspective
- Masters of the form
Lesson 14: Frame It!
- Diptychs, triptychs, and other classic groupings
- Finding themes that work perfectly together
Lesson 15: Final Thoughts/Next Steps
- How can you continue to develop as a photographer?
Four Bonus Mini-Lessons:
- Movies
- Books
- Finding and Creating Symmetry
- Putting Your Stamp on an Apple
What You'll Need:
- A digital camera or a smart phone (it doesn't matter what type).
- Access to a computer where you can upload your photographs.
- A Facebook account, so you can join my private photography group, share your photos, and ask me any questions about them. (This is optional, but highly recommended.) If you do not currently have a Facebook account and do not want one, you could open an account just for this course and close it right after you complete the lessons. However, I think you'll find that sharing your work will greatly add to your enjoyment and understanding of the lessons, and you'll meet like-minded photography friends in the group to help you learn and grow. You can also share via Instagram if you choose.
Before you begin the lessons, you should know how to upload photographs from your computer (or smart phone) to an online page. Never done that before? This link explains how to upload photos to Facebook, with step-by-step visual directions and a YouTube tutorial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level photographer is this course intended for?
- This is an intermediate level course.
- If you've already taken my first course, How to Take Better Photos of Nature and the World Around You, this is the perfect follow-up course for you!
- If you haven't taken the first course, but already are very comfortable with the basics of photography (composition, lighting, focus, etc.) as well as post-processing your own images with online applications (such as PicMonkey or PhotoShop), then you will do just fine in this course.
Will there be any assignments?
There are 15 lessons, but you are under no obligation or schedule to complete them. The assignments are merely suggestions to improve your experience in the course and get constructive, positive feedback from me in our private Facebook group. Do as much as you wish, but please know that the more you participate, the more you will get out of the course.
What if I miss a daily lesson?
There is no set time for you to be "in class." You will be emailed the lessons within the password-protected site, and you can check the lessons at your leisure. If you miss a day or two of reviewing lessons and posting your photographs, no worries! Catch up and post to the online group when you can.
What if I have a full-time job?
That's fine, and it's one of the best parts of participating in an online course instead of a traditional course in a classroom. If you miss a day or two of lessons due to a heavy work schedule, just catch up when you can. This is basically a self-paced course, so you will get out of it what you can put into it.
Do I need to join the online Facebook group?
No, the online group is optional, but personally, I think it's a great part of the course experience. That's the place where you'll get creative and constructive feedback from me so you can really improve your photography. You'll also be able to learn alongside fellow photographers (and most likely make new friends in the process).
How do I pay for this course?
You can securely pay with PayPal 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.
Will refunds be offered?
(I'm including this just for legal reasons--nobody's ever requested a refund. In fact, quite the opposite: I've been told that the course was worth more than the price paid for it.) 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 times when you might already know some of the information being shared in the lesson. However, you still will be able to connect to the online group, and share your images and experiences with photography.
- 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!
The fee for this course is $115 (U.S.) and includes all of the following components:
- 15 comprehensive lessons.
- Lifetime 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 the 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 learning is over.)
Ready? Let's begin!
To purchase The Art of Photography: How to Take Your Pictures to the Next Level, click the "Buy Now" button below:
With gratitude,
Joy Sussman
P.S. Any other questions? Please don't hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. I'm here to help!