Kick-Start Your Career Today!

The Certificate in Professional Photography, is a comprehensive online instructional course, perfect for new and amateur photographers who want to learn how to take outstanding photos or make a career out of photography.

You will learn everything from the basic controls of using your camera up to advanced techniques to capture professional looking photos.

Developed by professional photographers this course is delivered online and consists of 24 online video based instructional units that are easy to follow and understand, making learning fun and enjoyable!

The average time required to complete the course is 8 weeks part time. however you can study at your own pace!

The iLearn Photography Difference

You'll learn to master your camera and develop your skills to take breathtaking photos.
Discover your talent and interest in various genres from landscape to fashion photography.
Explore the possibilities of image manipulation to enhance your pictures.
Discover how to turn your photography passion into a successful commercial business.
Learn quickly with simple instructions, videos and demonstrations.
Detailed reference materials on exposure, composition and working with shadows.
Resorce materials to help you find inspiration.
A quiz to practice your technical understanding
Enhance your skills by completing some interesting and experiential photography assignments.
A leading photography course developed by leading international photographers.
iLearn Online Photography Course Certificate awarded with a passing score for the assessment.
Learn at your own pace, 24/7 from any computer or smart device - even use the course as reference in the field.

iLearn Online Photography Course Enrolment

On enrolment an automated email will be sent to you to register your username and password (please check your junk email inbox if not received as this is an automated email), in order for you to access our online instructional video learning platform, which is Available 24/7 on any computer or smart mobile device. The course is easy to follow and understand as we teach you step by step, while you watch a professional instructor demonstrate tips and techniques to master the art of photography. We cover many genres of photography from landscape to fashion so you can start to specialise in your areas of interest. You'll also have access to resource material on understanding exposure, composition, working with shadows and colour and photoshop to open your creative horizons. In addition you'll have access to great reference material to inspire inspiration and an online quiz to evaluate your technical knowledge. The course also contains a number of inspiring assignments to help you practice your skills. All students who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion, which is automatically generated on achieveing an online multiple choice exam grade over 50%. If you can point and shoot a camera you are ready to graduate to creating professional quality pictures!

Video Tutorials:

Module 1: Digital Photography Masterclass

Unit 1: Introduction to Photography

Understand the professional camera settings
Setting your dioptre
Adjusting your burst mode
Adjusting your white balance settings
Metering settings
Exposure compensation mode
What is histogram and how to use it
How you camera is focusing
Adjusting the focal points
Setting your file capture
Raw & jpeg explained in detail
Using bracketing to enhance your photo’s
Types of cameras
Multi exposures
Setting colour and tone
Sharpness settings
ISO explained
Camera bags and cases
Tripod options and squeeze grips
Different types of Flashes
How to choose a good camera
Types of lenses

Unit 2: Understanding Exposure

Manual settings
ISO settings
Pixels
F-Stops
Camera Speed
White balance
Putting the settings into practise
Understanding aperture
Settings for different camera makes

Unit 3: Landscape Photography

Equipment
Proper planning
How to capture the best shots
Ideas for your shots
Picking the best scenery
Technical settings
What makes a good landscape photo

Unit 4: Night Photography

Equipment
Settings
Different types of shoots
Tios and Tricks

Unit 5: Travel Photography

Planning
Equipment
Types of shoots
Tips and Techniques

Unit 6: Cruise Ship Photography

Travel Tips
Types of lenses
Photos with different lenses
How to get interesting photos
Settings to get the best shoots

Unit 7: Studio Photography

Setting up for a studio shoot
Equipment requirements
Studio shoots

Unit 8: Fine Art Photography

How to see great shots
Setting up
Techniques and settings

Unit 9: Portrait Photography

Planning your shoots
Techniques
Pro settings
Tips and tricks
Types of portraits
Black & white

Unit 10: SLV Video Photography

How to use your SLR camera to shoot a movie
High definition video

Unit 11: Aerial Photography

Equipment required
Types of lenses
How to get the best shoots
Use of a helicam
Photos with different lenses
How to get interesting photos
Settings to get the best shoots

Unit 12: Fashion Photography

Importance of research and resources
Location and logistics
Borrow what you need
Get your team together
Importance of planning
Organisation of photography gear
Stick to schedule
Model release
Shooting in raw
Portfolio of your work
Best tips

Module 2: Professional Photography

Unit 13: Different types of Photography explained

Wildlife photography
Fine art photography
Business photography
Commercial product photography
Stock photography
Photojournalism photography
Event photography
Food photography
Sports photography
Underwater photography
Landscape photography
Interior design photography
Paparazzi photography
Wedding photography
Aeriel photography
Portrait photography
Real-estate photography
Travel photography
Fashion photography
Glamour / model / dance photography

Unit 14: How to set up your Photography business

Setting up at home
Developing an outdoor studio
Interview with a new photographer
Developing portfolios
Setting up freelance
Knowing your camera
Developing your style
How do you charge for your work
How much can you charge?
Understanding lenses
Picture framing

Unit 15: Advanced Photography techniques

Understanding your histogram
Tips for using your flash
Tips for getting good shots
Colour management
Mirror up settings for landscape
How to choose a good digital camera
The importance of getting good highlights
Correctly using your ISO
Using exposure compensation
File rescue software
Keeping up technically
Sample of movie shot by an HD SLR camera

Unit 16: How to promote your business

Turning you into a marketable product
Building your own website
Photographers shared websites
Stock photography
Stock Libraries
Having a professional photography website made
Buying a pre-made template website

Unit 17: Making your business legal

Making your business legal
Registering your business name
Developing your logo
Sole Trader or company?
Photographers insurance
Develop your business to re-sell
Business policies
Developing goodwill
What rights does your customer have over your photos?
Storing your photos
What can you photograph legally
Holding accounts
Developing a code of practice
Investing in your portfolio

Unit 18: Marketing masterclass session 1

Developing your business mindset
Getting your image right
Your Business colours
Business stationary
Bullet proofing your customers
Customer loyalty programs
Customer mix
Unique selling position-how to sell your self
Emotional buying
Designing your customers experience
Customer profiling
Focus on marketing
Your hourly costs to run your business

Unit 19: Marketing masterclass session 2

How to write hypnotic sales copy. We also go over in great detail how to develop yellow pages ads that work.
We also show you how to write a detailed business plan.
How to set goals and achieve business success.

Unit 20: Marketing masterclass session 3

Developing photography products
Photographic albums
Video slide shows
Producing books
Canvas Prints
Gift Certificates
Oil Portraits
Story board prints
Photo collage
Family portrait packages
This video also includes an interview with David Oliver a Master Photographer (one of only 5 in the world) He shares his insights, experience and what it takes to be a successful photographer, this is one of the most interesting and important interviews in the whole course.

Module 3: Photoshop Techniques

Unit 21: Photoshop CS6 - Getting Started

Intial set up

How to change screen appearance
Photoshop modes
Adding tools
Common keyboard shortcuts
Other shortcuts

Selection Tools

Marquee tools
Lasso tools
How to add colours

Cropping Images

Tools to crop
Rule of thrids
Change modes
How to save images

Colour Balance

Which tools to use
Adjusting colour balance
Mid tones
Highlights
How to preview
How to save files

Black and White images

Tools to use
How to enhance images
Using tint
Adjusting saturation
Preview
Save as a secondary file

Desaturate colour

How to use the marquee toool
How to select over image
Which tools to use

Levels

How to improve images
Tools to use
Using levels window
Save a new image

Unit 22: Photoshop CS6 - Editing Images

Curves

How to adjust images with curves
Tools to use
How to lighten an image
How to use channels

Hue Saturation

How to lighten and darken images
How to enhance an image
Tools to use

Lasso and Darken

Adjusting images
Improving the image
Using the lasso tool

Photo Filter

How to alter photos
Using different filters
Using layers
Opacity
How to flatten image

Blur and Burn tools

How to blur off a background
How to darken background

Unit 23: Photoshop CS6 - Tips and Tricks

Copy and Pasting images

Which tools to use
Commands
How to move images
Saving images

Removing red eyes

Using tools and techniques

Replacing Colour

Tools to use
Selecting images

How to whiten teeth

Which tools to use
Setting tolerance levels

Fix droopy eye

How to fix a droopy eye
Tools to use
Lasso tools

Patch tools

How to fix up wrinkles
Remove blemishes
Using the patch tool
Using the liquify tool

Unit 24: Photoshop CS6 - Advanced Techniques

Magazine Look

How to turn a good image into a magazine look
8 steps to follow

Adding makeup

How to add
Steps to follow

Merging Images

Tools to use
Techniques
Applying gradients

Pen Tool

How to use
The importance of the pen tool
Pen tool selections

Resource Materials:

1: Understanding Exposure

The exposure triangle (aperture, shutter speed and ISO)
Aperture - depth of field
Shutter speed - movement & motion
ISO explained
Manual and auto exposure
Exposure guidelines

2: Composition & Perspective

Composition in brief
Format, balance, simplification, leading lines, diagonals, movement, colour, symmetry & patterns, perspective.

3: Light & Shade

Working with light & shadows for creative effect.
Revealing form, creating visual drama and directing the eye.

4: Photoshop Tutorial Notes

Assignments:

1: Portrait Photography

2: Light & Shade

3: Movement & Motion

4: Photoshop Portrait Manipulation

5: Photoshop Merged Images

Reference Materials:

1: Inspiring Reference Books

2: Stock Photography

3: The Photograhy Genre Masters

4: The Photoshop Masters

Entry requirements

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Minimum education

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet.

Minimum computer specifications

Windows:

Microsoft Windows XP, or later
Modern and up to date Browser (Internet Explorer 8 or later, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

Mac/iOS:

OSX/iOS 6 or later
Modern and up to date Browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

All Systems:

Internet bandwidth of 1Mb or faster
Flash player or a browser with HTML5 video capabilities (Currently Internet Explorer 9, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

Required applications

Adobe Acrobat Reader
Microsoft Word
Photoshop is required for photographic manipulation module.

Certificate in Professional Photography online