Lenspiration Course
Foundations of Photography
A beginner's course that's more than the basics!
In-depth, sequential training for understanding the fundamentals of photography.
Learn to buy gear that's right for you
Understand your camera’s controls
Organize, edit & share your photos
“I highly recommend the Foundations course! It is loaded with information. It has been great to refresh what I already know and start working on what I don’t know. Just last week I was outside with my camera and applied a couple things I’d been learning. It was pretty exciting to ‘see’ the difference!”
“Even for someone who has been doing photography for a while, I would absolutely recommend it!”
“If you’re just getting into photography, this course is going to teach you more than you’ll be able to process at once, that’s for sure!”
Testimonials
Here’s what people are saying about it:
“I’m planning on going through and reading it again soon. There’s so much information in there that I’m sure I can learn HEAPS going through it again.
The main thing that really makes me choose this course over all the hundreds of other photography courses out there is that it teaches photography from a Christ-centered perspective. So would I recommend it; absolutely!!”
Course Overview
The 5 Sections of the Foundations Course
1. Buy only the gear that's right for you
You need a camera before you can start taking pictures, right? In Section 1 of this course, we will discuss principles that will make buying your first camera as easy and practical as possible. Regardless of how much you already know about photography, you should have a pretty good idea of what photography gear to buy—and where to buy it—by the end of this section.
2. Understand your camera's controls
When using a camera for the first time, all of the buttons and features may seem quite daunting! And what about those strange terms, like metering, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation, focus points, white balance and drive modes--to mention a few? In Section 2, we'll take a look at each one and learn what they mean.
3. See how the controls affect your photos
Once you are familiar with the basic controls on your camera, Section 3 will focus on observing the effects that those controls have on your pictures! All the controls work together to influence exposure, depth of field, image sharpness, image quality and many other things we'll talk about in this Section!
4. Start implementing tools of composition
Moving beyond of the technical side of photography, we will start exploring the artistic side in Section 4! Looking at composition as a set of tools instead of a list of rules is where we will start!
5. Organize, edit, and share your photos
What do you do with all the pictures you take? Is your computer a disorganized mess? How efficient is your editing and sharing processes? An easy workflow in place will save tons of time in the long run, and Section 5 will get you started on getting one set up!
Conclusion: Jumpstart your future in photography
Having a solid foundation of the basics will make it easy to grow rapidly in any genre of photography you decide to pursue. The completion of this course is only the beginning of your future!
Here’s how it works:
Unlock access to the course
Through the Membership
This course is available (100% off) to all Lenspiration Members.
Once you've unlocked access to the Course and you’ve logged into your account, just click on the My Courses link on the top menu to do anything related to the Course.
– OR –
A One-Time Purchase
If you’re not a member but want immediate access, the course is available for purchase on the Lenspiration store.
Consider the Recommended Schedule
This course is designed to be taken in 3 months. Feel free to take it at your own pace, however, whether it's shorter or faster than the recommended 3-month period. It is recommended that you do only a few lessons every week, and emails will be sent to you to inform you of which lessons to do each week.
Email Prompts to Help You Stay on Track
For each week of the recommended 3-month schedule, you'll be sent an email recommending which lessons to study that week. If you keep an eye on your email and follow these recommendations, you'll be sure to complete the course in plenty of time and at a leisurely pace.
Test Your Knowledge
Take full advantage of the Course by fulfilling the every Assignment and taking every Quiz.
Get Help Along the Way
Post your coursework on the Lenspiration Forums for feedback, interaction and general accountability.
Get Results
Record your time to put toward a Photography elective, and print everything off to show for your work!
Course Syllabus
The Foundations of Photography Course in a Nutshell
Section 1: Choosing a Camera that’s Right for You
- First Things First
- 10 Steps to Buying Anything
- Factors to Look for in a Camera
- Factors to Look for in a Lens
- Choosing the Right Accessories
- How and Where to Purchase Equipment
- Scenario: Buying a Camera
- Scenario: Buying a Lens
- Scenario: Buying Accessories and Other Equipment
Section 2: Understanding the Camera’s Controls
- An Overview of Camera Controls
- Understanding Metering Modes
- Understanding Aperture
- Understanding Shutter Speed
- Understanding ISO
- How to Utilize Exposure Compensation
- Taking Control of Focusing
- Understanding White Balance
- Understanding Drive Modes
- The Controls on Your Lens
Section 3: How the Controls Affect Your Photos
- On Metering and Exposure
- On Depth of Field
- On Focal Length
- When Pictures Are Not Sharp
- On Image Quality
- Talking About Light
Section 4: Pillars of Composition
- Seeing Things from God’s Perspective
- Tools of Composition
- Three Elements of a Great Picture
- Two More Elements That Affect Composition
Section 5: How to Organize, Edit, and Share Your Photos
- If You Want to Start with Free Stuff
- Benefits of Adobe Lightroom
- Lightroom vs. Photoshop & Bridge
- Getting Started in Lightroom
- Secrets to Organizing Photos
- What to Know Before Sharing Photos
- The End of the Matter
here's how to get it
Jumpstart your future in photography!
Course Only
Take the Course without being a Lenspiration member- Complete access to the entire Foundation of Photography Course: 36 Lessons with assignments, quizzes, schedule recommendation emails and access to the Lenspiration Forums.
100% Off!
Take the Course as a Lenspiration Member- Complete access to the entire Foundation of Photography Course: 36 Lessons with assignments, quizzes, schedule recommendation emails and access to the Lenspiration Forums.
- Lenspiration Members receive free access.