21 Best Online Photography Courses in 2023 (For All Levels)

Whether you’re stuck in a rut or hungry to take your photography to the next step, the best online photography courses are an incredible resource. There are basic courses for absolute beginners. And we’ve reviewed materials on subjects such as photography lighting and Lightroom editing.

After a thorough review, Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge is the best online photography course. This is a specialist lighting course for photographers. But don’t worry if that’s not what you’re looking for. There are 19 other fantastic photography courses in our article.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Online Photography Courses

Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge

Mastering Lightroom by SLR Lounge

Photographing the World 1 by Fstoppers

What Are the Best Online Photography Courses?

If you’re a member of the online photography community, some of the course creators will be familiar to you. SLR Lounge, Fstoppers, and Photzy all have media to help you improve as a photographer.

Reviewing 20 online courses fairly isn’t easy. But we were scientific in our approach and judged all courses on the same criteria. This included value for money, accuracy, and production value.

We’ve used, scored, and reviewed 20 of the best online photography courses. And every entry was given a final score out of 100. Read more details about our scoring system at the end of the article.

Here’s a quick overview of all 20 online courses in order. You might see something that jumps out at you. But if you need more info, we wrote about each course in more detail in the section after.

Our Top Choice

Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge

Specialist video course for off-camera flash lighting
Over 8 hours of video content
Brilliant product value on all videos
Led by a trusted and experienced photography educator

Best Course for Lightroom Editing

Mastering Lightroom by SLR Lounge

Extensive course for anyone from beginners to professionals
Over 10 hours of in-depth tutorial content
Updated for the latest version of Lightroom
Content is well-cataloged for easy navigation

Best Advanced Lighting Course

Lighting 4 by SLR Lounge

Video course helping you achieve natural-looking light
Over 6 hours of video tutorials
Extremely high production value
Even experienced photographers will learn new techniques

Best for Landscape Photography

Photographing the World 1 by Fstoppers

13 hours of video tutorials
Covers photography and post-processing
Led by famous landscape photographer, Elia Locardi
Uses breathtaking locations

Best eBook Course on Photography

The Photo eBook by Picture Correct

Covers the basics and more advanced techniques
274 pages of in-depth and detailed explanation
Full of beautiful example images
Non-gear-centric approach

Best for Beginners

Photography 101 by SLR Lounge

Detailed 6.5-hour video course for beginners
Comprehensive catalog of tutorials
Led by two knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers
Fantastic production values

Best Introduction to Lightroom

Introduction to Lightroom by Fstoppers

Excellent place to start if you're new to Adobe Lightroom
36 chapter-specific Lightroom tutorials
7 hours of video classes
Classes led by an experienced and knowledgeable teacher

Best for iPhone Photography

iPhone Photo Academy by iPhone Photography School

20 hours of iPhone photography tutorials
All videos shot with 4K quality
Well-taught and detailed tutorials
Plenty example images to learn from

Best for Wedding Photographers

The LIT Book by Shotkit

Comprehensive yet affordable ebook on photography lighting
Fantastic tutorials for lighting weddings and portraits
Includes 52 different lighting setups
Illustrated with beautiful example images

Best for Digital Camera Users

Photography 101 by Fstoppers

7.5-hour video course
Teaches you about all the settings and modes on your digital camera
Practical advice with real-world examples
More advanced modules on lighting and editing

Best for Visual Storytelling

Guide to Powerful Imagery by Photzy

Authored by renowned photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich
20,000 word eBook
15 case studies with breathtaking example images
Fascinating section on creative decision making

Best for Flower Photography

Photographing Fabulous Flowers by Photzy

156-page ebook on the art of flower photography
Authored by still-life photographer Leanne Cleaveley
Well-structured with gorgeous illustrations
Excellent-value learning resource

Best for Casual Photo Editors

Decoding Lightroom by Contrastly

5-hour video course
Helps you learn the basics and more
Plenty of downloadable course materials
Well-structured and well-taught course

Best Info Cards

Snap Cards by Photzy

Info cards with specific camera settings and modes
Pack contains a total of 44 info cards
Accurate and specific information
Topics range from camera basics to advanced exposure techniques

Best for Beginner Street Photographers

Digital Camera Mastery by Photography Pro

Well-structured video course
Takes you through the basics
Emphasis on the effect of light in photography
Bonus modules thrown in for free

Best for Astrophotography

Photographing the Milky Way by SLR Lounge

The perfect resource for beginner astrophotographers
2 hours of video content
Detailed and well-explained equipment summaries
Incredible example images for inspiration

Best Aid for Composition

Advanced Composition by Photzy

239-page eBook on photography composition
Lessons on technical and artistic methods
Well-structured learning resource
Informative diagrams bring lessons to life

Best for Off-Camera Flash

Advanced Off-Camera Flash by Phil Steele

Specific course on off-camera flash photography
5 hours of video tutorials with Phil Steele
Excellent production value
Practical examples and walk-throughs

Best for New Techniques

Photo Shortcuts by Photography Pro

Interesting video course with new camera techniques
Mark Hemmings is a great photography educator
Includes 4 bonus modules
Fun module on trick photography

Fun Resource for Beginners

Action Cards by Photzy

Set of 65 action cards
Over 200 assignments to help your creativity
Accessible language for beginners
Covers 31 different genres

Best for Long-Exposure Photography

Complete Guide to Long Exposure by Photzy

eBook on long-exposure photography
100 pages of detailed guidance
Decent composition and gear advice
Illustrated with beautiful examples

21 Best Online Photography Courses

Now we look at all the photography courses in more detail. We’ve tried to provide all the information you need before you buy.

Here are the brief, score-based summaries of each product. But you can read our full reviews of each course by clicking the link we provide at the end of the text.

1. Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge

Brand	Brand SLR Lounge
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Lighting, including off-camera flash
User Level	User Level Intermediate to advanced
Audience	Audience Photographers who want to take their game to the next level with eye-catching light patterns
Media Type	Media Type Video course
Content Length	Content Length 8 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 93 / 100

The best photography course I’ve reviewed is SLR Lounge’s Lighting 3: Advanced Off-Camera Flash. It’s flawless in its production, quality of content, images, style, and wow factor.

There are no accuracy issues or mistakes whatsoever. It’s both fun and entertaining. And it’s full of valuable information. But it’s also quite long, at 8 hours.

This course teaches you many ways to creatively light your (mainly portrait) subjects. Your photos will catch the viewers’ eye from afar and keep them amazed when watched close-up.

These lighting setups are key for professional-looking and feeling images. But there’s more to this course than just its core content. It teaches taste, creative vision, and critical thinking in photography.

It’s presented by Pye Jirsa, a photographer, and educator whom I much respect. And you can read our full review of Lighting 3 by SLR Lounge for more info.

2. Mastering Lightroom by SLR Lounge

Brand	Brand SLR Lounge
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photo editing with Adobe Lightroom
User Level	User Level Beginner to advanced
Audience	Audience Photographers who want to be as proficient as they possibly can with Adobe Lightroom
Media Type	Media Type Literature and videos
Content Length	Content Length 10+ hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 91 / 100

Mastering Lightroom claims to be the “complete A to Z Adobe Lightroom tutorial.” And this statement is very close to reality. No matter how much you know about Lightroom, you can learn a lot from it.

It starts at a beginner level. And the course quickly carries on to advanced techniques and options, reaching a firm pro user level.

It’s a true gem because of its extensive coverage, flawless precision, and outstanding production. And it has a fun, logical, and to-the-point presentation.

There are great, cheaper alternatives. But this is it if you want the best you can get, especially if you’re a professional or aiming to be one.

Read our full review of Mastering Lightroom by SLR Lounge. But be aware that the original Mastering Lightroom course is no longer available.

SLR Lounge is now linking to their updated Lightroom course. We haven’t had a chance to review this one yet. But judging by their other video content, we trust it’s just as good.

3. Lighting 4 by SLR Lounge

Brand	Brand SLR Lounge
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Creating natural-looking light
User Level	User Level Intermediate to advanced
Audience	Audience Photographers who want to be independent of natural light and simulate it anytime
Media Type	Media Type Video Course
Content Length	Content Length 6 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 89 / 100

This is a sequel to Lighting 3. And Lighting 4 teaches you to emulate natural light environments with flashes, strobes, and modifiers.

It has all the great aspects of its prequel. The quality of content, the imagery, the production, and the teaching style are all fantastic.

It’s rare to come across such well-produced courses in this industry. If you want to learn lighting as an amateur or a professional, there’s no better way to do it than these two courses.

You might have noticed that all three courses at the top of our podium come from the same provider. This is not a result of partiality towards SLR Lounge. These courses really do stand out.

SLR Lounge’s lighting courses are all gems. And if you’d like to start from the basics, pick up the entire lighting series. Read our full review of Lighting 4 by SLR Lounge.

4. Photographing the World 1 by Fstoppers

Brand	Brand Fstoppers
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Landscape photography and editing
User Level	User Level Intermediate
Audience	Audience Dedicated and determined landscape photographers
Media Type	Media Type Video course
Content Length	Content Length 13 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 88 / 100

Photographing the World is a massive, 13-hour video course on landscape photography and post-processing. It’s mesmerizing in all aspects.

It’s the first result of a collaboration between Fstoppers and Elia Locardi. Locardi is a well-known landscape photographer.

Their plan from the start was to create the most complete and most ambitious video course ever shot on this genre. I believe they have achieved this.

This course is the first part in a series of four successively released since 2015. The other parts focus on cityscapes, astrophotography, and more advanced landscapes.

In the first half, we’re immersed in Iceland’s vast winter mountains, waterfalls, and caves. Most of the second half is shot on the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, famous for its breathtaking scenery.

You will learn many rare techniques for both capturing and post-processing breathtaking sceneries. We also get to know Elia’s workflow from start to finish.

Photographing the World wears, by far, the heftiest price tag on our list. Thus, we didn’t reward it with a high score in terms of value for money.

But its awesomeness level in other respects is still high enough to propel it into fourth place. Read our full review of Photographing the World 1 for more info.

5. The Photo eBook by Picture Correct

Brand	Brand Picture Correct
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography basics and techniques
User Level	User Level Intermediate to advanced
Audience	Audience photographers who want to dive deep into cityscapes and landscapes
Media Type	Media Type eBook and literature
Content Length	Content Length 274 pages
Overall Score	Overall Score 86 / 100

A bit of an easter egg here. The Photo eBook is one of the best cityscape and landscape photography guides. It features impressive techniques, resulting in amazing images.

While some parts are not fully up-to-date, its core content is extensive and elaborate, with great attention to detail. There is also a new edition in the works.

There is a section for complete beginners, but it’s better to read this book with some basic knowledge. The amount of new information will quickly overwhelm you otherwise.

Be advised that learning all the tricks and tips might take a while. There are some hard-to-master techniques in there.

But you’ll be equipped with everything you need to know to succeed in the city and landscape niches. Read our full review of The Photo eBook by Picture Correct.

6. Photography 101 by SLR Lounge

Brand	Brand SLR Lounge
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography basics
User Level	User Level Beginner
Audience	Audience Those looking for a well-rounded course on photography, with a focus on portraits and controlling light
Media Type	Media Type Video Course
Content Length	Content Length 6.5 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 86 / 100

Beginner photography courses are everywhere. But they rarely reach the level of awesomeness Photography 101 by SLR Lounge does.

This course is very detailed. It shows you all the little pieces of successful photography that many others miss out on.

It focuses on understanding and manipulating light, which is vital. It also introduces you to many photography genres, most importantly, portraits.

It also has little to no inaccuracies, technical mistakes, and tongue slips. This is something that lifts it out from the crowd.

Like the Lighting courses, this course is also presented by Pye Jirsa. Read our full review of Photography 101 by SLR Lounge.

7. Introduction to Lightroom by Fstoppers

Brand	Brand Fstoppers
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Editing with Adobe Lightroom
User Level	User Level Beginner
Audience	Audience Those in need for well-rounded education on Lightroom software
Media Type	Media Type Video Course
Content Length	Content Length 7 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 85 / 100

To fully understand and appreciate what Lightroom can do, it’s not enough to move around some sliders. Introduction to Lightroom by Fstoppers offers not only the basic set of tools. It also gives you the right approach and philosophy for editing.

This course strongly focuses on showing Lightroom’s image editing capabilities. You can read our full review of Fstoppers’ Introduction to Lightroom.

8. iPhone Photo Academy by iPhone Photography School

Brand	Brand iPhone Photography School
Photography Niche	Photography Niche iPhone photography
User Level	User Level Beginner to intermediate
Audience	Audience iPhone users who want the fundamentals of digital photography
Media Type	Media Type Video Course
Content Length	Content Length 20 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 84 / 100

iPhone Photo Academy by iPhone Photography School is the most comprehensive course on iPhone photography. You’ll be a genuine iPhone master after 20 hours of lessons.

In this course, you’ll get to know your iPhone’s camera. You’ll learn its advanced features and options and how to get the most out of it.

You’ll also learn many techniques, tips, and compositional rules that professionals use. Many of them work perfectly with the iPhone.

This tutorial stands out with its unique approach, easy-to-understand style, and beautiful production. It also has a vast, worldwide community. You can read our full review of the iPhone Photo Academy.

9. The LIT Book by Shotkit

Brand	Brand ShotKit
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography lighting
User Level	User Level Beginner to intermediate
Audience	Audience Amateurs and wedding photographers pursuing even better and more creative lighting
Media Type	Media Type eBook
Content Length	Content Length 24,000 words
Overall Score	Overall Score 83 / 100

The LIT Book is similar in idea to the top performer on our list. The difference is its format.

This eBook aims to further develop your skills with off-camera flashes and other lighting accessories. It contains 52 lighting patterns by 52 pro wedding photographers from all around the globe.

You will get countless ideas and massive inspiration from this eBook. Read our full review of ShotKit’s LIT Book.

10. Photography 101 by Fstoppers

Brand	Brand Fstoppers
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography basics
User Level	User Level Beginners
Audience	Audience Amateur photographers wanting more out of their images
Media Type	Media Type Video course
Content Length	Content Length 7.5 hours
Overall Score	Overall Score 82 / 100

Photography 101 by Fstoppers is a beginner course that promises to teach you how to take control of all the manual settings on your digital camera.

It walks you through a basic understanding of lighting and using flash. Then it takes you along on a shoot to put everything into practice.

It also includes extensive sections on Photoshop retouching and Lightroom editing. Read our full review of Photography 101 by Fstoppers.

11. Powerful Imagery by Photzy

Brand	Brand Photzy
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography storytelling
User Level	User Level Intermediate to advanced
Audience	Audience Photographers who want to learn how to tell compelling stories
Media Type	Media Type eBook
Content Length	Content Length 20,000 words
Overall Score	Overall Score 80 / 100

Renowned photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich wrote Powerful Imagery. It promises to teach you how to tell strong stories and make an impact with your images.

If this skill isn’t in your blood, it’s probably the hardest lesson. But it’s the most rewarding skill you can master in photography. Read our full review of Powerful Imagery.

12. Photographing Fabulous Flowers by Photzy

Brand	Brand Photzy
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Flower photography
User Level	User Level Beginner to intermediate
Audience	Audience Photographers who want detailed education on flower photography
Media Type	Media Type eBook
Content Length	Content Length 156 pages
Overall Score	Overall Score 76 / 100

Flower photography is a specific niche. So you might be surprised that Photzy’s Photographing Fabulous Flowers eBook has made it onto this list. But here’s why.

It’s very well put together, teaches you everything it promises to, and really makes you a better photographer. Not just in flower photography.

Along with Powerful Imagery, this is one of Photzy’s best ebooks. Writing and general style are both outstanding. The images shown throughout won’t disappoint you – and neither will your own photos, once you learn the ins and outs of flower photography.

The ebook also comes at a very friendly price, especially compared to the courses in our Top 5. Read the full review of Photographing Fabulous Flowers.

13. Decoding Lightroom by Contrastly

Brand	Brand Contrastly
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Editing with Adobe Lightroom
User Level	User Level Beginner to intermediate
Audience	Audience New users who want to understand Lightroom
Media Type	Media Type Video Course
Content Length	Content Length 5 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 75 / 100

Decoding Lightroom is a less expensive but comparable alternative to number two on our list. It is a great choice for the hobbyist photographer who wants to learn Lightroom’s ins and outs.

You don’t need to have any former knowledge to take this course. But it can perhaps take you to a level where you will intuitively use even the more hidden features of the application.

Proper editing, after all, is a core part of a successful photo. Read the full review of Decoding Lightroom.

14. Snap Cards by Photzy

Brand	Brand Photzy
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography basics
User Level	User Level Intermediate
Audience	Audience Photographers in search of an in-the-field, quick-and-easy guide
Media Type	Media Type Digital info cards
Content Length	Content Length 44 info cards
Overall Score	Overall Score 73 / 100

Snap Cards are designed to help you out in the field. They are quick summaries of the key things you need to know, like cheat sheets.

The Snap Cards are ideal for the intermediate amateur looking to get more out of their work. You can use them as go-to guides for specific topics.

I wouldn’t recommend them for fully beginner photographers. You need some fundamentals. But the cards are there as a reminder. Read our full review of Photzy’s Snap Cards.

15. Digital Camera Mastery by Photography Pro

Brand	Brand Photography Pro
Photography Niche	Photography Niche Photography basics
User Level	User Level Beginner
Audience	Audience Those looking for a comprehensive beginner course with a focus on travel and street photography
Media Type	Media Type Video course
Content Length	Content Length 7 hours of video
Overall Score	Overall Score 71 / 100