Learning photography can be a long process, but don’t let that stop you from starting. Photography is rewarding. Whether your student becomes a professional photographer or simply uses what they learn to document family life, the photographs taken will surely become family treasures. The following post is a round-up of free resources for learning photography.
Photography Basics
- Deciphering Photo Jargon – “Learn to Speak Photographer” – A great place to start to learn common photography terms. Aperture, exposure, lighting terms, f-stop, shutter speed, and many more are covered.
- Should You Buy a DSLR or Point and Shoot Digital Camera? – There are two types of digital cameras on the market, this article walks you through the pros and cons of both types to help you choose the one that is right for you and your student.
- How to Choose a Point and Shoot Camera – If you want to go with a point and shoot camera, this article will help you to know what to look for.
- How to Choose a DSLR Camera – This thorough article will help you choose the right DSLR camera, if you’ve chosen to start with a DSLR to learn photography.
- Choosing Your Lens – A (non technical) look at how different lenses produce different effects.
- Why You Should Read Your Camera’s Manual – Don’t overlook the most important free source of information about your camera. Learn what features your camera has so you know what you are working with.
- Camera Modes 101: Understanding the Different Modes on Your Digital Camera – Did you wonder what “aperture priority mode” meant in your manual? This post explains those. Below you will find more info on basic photography elements like aperture and shutter speed.
Learning Basic Photography Elements
- Composition – 10 Top Photography Composition Rules
- Lighting – 10 Natural Light Photography Tips & this post has good photos that demonstrate the difference lighting makes
- Aperture – This post is a tutorial that includes more than aperture, but the infographic included for aperture is a great visual.
- Shutter Speed – Back to Basics – Shutter Speed
- ISO – Photography Tip- Understanding Auto ISO and its Limits
- Exposure – The Exposure Triangle – This post explains how to use aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to get good exposure in your photography.
- White Balance – Tips for Winter Food Blog Photography – Lots of information here, but the white balance information is wonderfully illustrated.
- Depth of Field – Depth of Field – It’s More Than Just Aperture
Taking Good Photographs
- How to Capture Great Photos in Low Light
- 20 Things I Wish I Knew About Photography Posing
- 20 Things I Wish I Knew About Photography Posing, part 2
- Tuesday’s Tip: Eyes
- 8 Effects Every Photographer Should Know About
- 13 Things Your Camera Wishes You Knew
- How to Photograph and Create the Perfect Christmas Card
- 6 Elements of Design for Striking Photographs
Free Photograph Editing Software
Editing Photographs Tutorials
- GIMP – Tutorials
- Photoshop Tutorials
- {Before & After} How To Achieve a Clean, Bright Edit
- 12 Beginner Tutorials for Getting Started with Photoshop
DIY Photography Props and Tools
- How-To: DIY Light Reflector
- Building a Homemade Photo Light Box
- DIY Photo Tent From Clear Plastic Tote
- DIY Photo and Photobooth Props
Free Resources for Learning Photography in Your Homeschool
More Free Resources to Learn Photography
- 31 Days to a Better Photo – A photography series from My 3 Boybarians
- 31 Days of Photo Tips – A follow-up series from My 3 Boybarians
- Digital Photography School – This site is a wealth of knowledge for photographers. Equipment reviews, tutorials, and a forum to ask questions.
- Clickin Moms – The Clickin Moms blog has tutorials, interviews with professional photographers, and is loaded with visual inspiration for photography.
- I Heart Faces :: Free Photography Tutorials
- Everyday Elements :: Tutorials
Once you learn the basics, the best way to learn photography is to practice, practice, practice. There are many projects you can do with your digital photos, prints are just the beginning. As you become comfortable with your editing software’s basics, you can explore brushes, presets, frames, and actions. Learning photography is a journey, enjoy it and take lots of pictures!
Vicki Arnold is a happy wife to one, busy homeschooling mama to four, and blogger. You can find her blogging at the Vicki Arnold blog – where P31 & Titus 2 meet Colossians 3:23. If she’s not there, you can probably find her on Pinterest.
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What a super list with many great links ~ thank you!
Perfect timing! I’m working on lesson plans. 🙂
This is sooooo totally awesome. You’ve taken all these great sites and combined them on one page!!! I’ve been working on becoming a professional photographer for a couple of months now. My granddaughter, whom I home school, has said she wants to learn how to be a photographer. This will enable me to find lessons to teach her – that are age apropriate when so many are geared towards adults – and I’ll learn some tricks of the trade along the way! Thank you so much!!!
Jamerrill, what a fantastic post! That is such a detailed article; I can`t wait to dig deep and start utilizing the resource you have given me. I decided to start a blog and posting quality pictures is very important.