Lenspiration Course
Foundations of Photography
A beginner's course that's more than the basics!
In-depth, progressive 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:
Access the Course
Log in to your account, click on “My Courses” at the top menu, and then select your course (first time, click “Take This Course”).
Do the Lesson
Take the Quiz
Fulfill the Assignment
Get Help Along the Way
Post your coursework on the Lenspiration Forums for feedback, interaction and general accountability.
Continue to the end
Do all the videos, quizzes and assignments in each lesson of the course.
Celebrate accomplishment!
When you have completed the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.
Preview the course: click below to view Lesson 1 of Foundations of Photography
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
Lessons
Topics
Epic Course
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 have free access for as long as their subscription is active.
This Course is Part of Lenspiration’s Photography Program
The three phases of the Lenspiration Photography Program are designed to help you systematically learn photography from a beginner to advanced level. They are designed to be used as part of a high school elective but can be utilized by any age. Follow the recommended schedule in each workbook or take it at your own pace.
Phase I
Walk through the Foundations of Photography course and get to know your camera through supplemental resources! Plus, join monthly live Photo Coaching Webinars and get hands-on experience with real-life Photo Assignments.
Phase II
Through training articles, videos and the Explore with Your Camera video series, you’ll learn how to push your camera to its limits and explore special effects like silky water, bokeh, sunburst and light trails. Continue joining monthly live Photo Coaching Webinars and participating in Photo Assignments.
Phase III
Gain hands-on experience in a variety of photography genres, step into advanced photography through the Mastering Composition course, learn the Secrets of Photo Editing, and streamline your post-processing workflows through the How to Share Your Photos With the World course.
Join the Lenspiration Membership to pay per month for unlimited access to all the training.