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#1 in PhotographyUdemyBestseller on UdemyPhotographyPaid courseAll LevelsCertificate

Photography Masterclass: Your Complete Guide to Photography (Udemy.com)

The Best Online Professional Photography Class: How to Take Amazing Photos for Beginners and Advanced Photographers

Created by: Phil Ebiner

Last updated September 2026

Our take

Based on the ratings of 78,808 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in September 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.

Phil Ebiner and William Carnahan's photography course is the big general-purpose option in this category. It runs about 121 hours across 702 lectures and 34 sections, starting with exposure, composition, focus, white balance and flash, then moving through gear and a long list of genres, from portraits and landscapes to real estate, travel and drone work. It ends with Lightroom Classic editing. The requirements page says it is geared for absolute beginners and that a smartphone is enough to start.

Students mostly like the two presenters. Several reviews say it feels like friends talking rather than a lecture, and that the explanations of settings finally made their own camera make sense. The printable 276-page guidebook and the student community each get a thank-you in the reviews. The complaints are real, though. Roughly 43 of those 121 hours are student photo critiques, and low-star reviewers call that too much, or want more technical depth instead. One reviewer found the critique sessions oddly placed near the start. Others mention distracting background music, typos in the articles, and an assignment upload that would not accept their photos.

Updated in September 2026 and still adding lessons, it is far larger than the one-hour crash course or the Ditch Auto manual mode course sitting beside it, and that size cuts both ways. Treat the critique section as optional viewing and the core lessons are a solid, friendly introduction with 4.6 stars from nearly 79,000 reviews. If you only want camera settings explained quickly, a shorter neighbor will do it in a fraction of the time.

Best forAbsolute beginners with any camera, even a phone, who want one course that covers settings, gear, a dozen genres and Lightroom.
Skip it ifYou want a fast, technical run through manual mode, or have no patience for 40-plus hours of student photo critiques.

Pros

  • Presenters feel like friends explaining things, and reviewers say their camera settings finally made sense.
  • Free 276-page printable guidebook, Lightroom presets and a student community come with it.
  • Still being updated as of September 2026, with new lessons and weekly photo challenges.
  • Covers real estate, travel, drone, product and wedding work, not just the basics.

Cons

  • About 43 of the 121 hours are student photo critiques, which some reviewers found padding.
  • Background music, typos in articles and a buggy assignment uploader come up in reviews.
  • Editing is taught in Lightroom only, so it is not a fit if you use Affinity Photo.
The presenters are real and personable. The explanations are easy to understand and detailed enough that it is easy to equate what the presenter is talking about to my camera and photo taking.
Jon Thompson, a student

Labeled All Levels, but the requirements say no prior knowledge; one low-star reviewer wanted more technical depth than the lessons give.

Featured in our guide: The Best Photography Courses on Udemy in 2026

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What you will learn

  • You will know how to take amazing photos that impress your family and friends
  • You will know how the camera truly works, so you can take better photos using manual settings
  • You will know how to photograph in different scenarios like family portraits, landscapes, aerial, product, wildlife, and much more
  • You will know how to compose images beautifully with basic photography rules
  • You will know how to light your subjects with flash and natural lighting
  • You will know how to edit your photos like a professional
  • You will know how to make money with photography
  • You will know how to take better photos with your smart phones

Course content

34 sections · 702 lectures · 121 hours of video 19 assignments, 76 articles

  1. 1Photography Masterclass Introduction & Course Downloads 5 free previews6 lectures · 8 min
  2. 2PhotoDash: Photography Education + Entertainment for You5 lectures · 2.3 hours
  3. 3Student Photography Challenge Critiques34 lectures · 43 hours
  4. 4Exposure in Photography 6 free previews21 lectures · 1 quiz · 1 hour
  5. 5Composition in Photography14 lectures · 1 quiz · 36 min
  6. 6Focus and Depth of Field in Photography14 lectures · 1 quiz · 46 min
  7. 7Camera Anatomy & Settings in Photography11 lectures · 31 min
  8. 8White Balance and Color in Photography13 lectures · 1 quiz · 27 min
  9. 9Lighting & Flash Photography15 lectures · 1 quiz · 54 min
  10. 10Mobile Photography10 lectures · 35 min

Who it is for

The instructor says it suits

  • Anyone who wants to take better photos
  • Absolute beginners who want to become skilled photographers
  • Moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and anyone else who wants to document their lives in a beautiful way
  • Amateur photographers wanting to improve their skills
  • Photographers looking to make money with their skills

What you need before you start

  • You should be excited to learn photography, and ready to take action!
  • No fancy camera is required, having camera (even a smartphone) will help you learn as we prompt you with practice activities.
  • No prior knowledge of photography is required - this course is geared for absolute beginners.

How it compares

Against the other 275 rated Udemy courses in Photography on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.7 out of 5higher than 80% of them
  • Reviews78,808#1 of 276 by number of reviews
  • Length121.3 hourslonger than 100% of them
  • Last updatedSeptember 2026more recently than 90% of them

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Quality Score

Content Quality
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Overall Score : 94 / 100

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Course Description

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Photography Awards Most Popular

ALWAYS UPDATED WITH NEW LESSONS

+ Free instant access to a 276-page guidebook

+ Free access to our exclusive member student photography community

+ $100+ worth of Lightroom Presets Added to the course

+ Inspirational Student Photos book with 52 weeks of Weekly Challenges


This online photography course will teach you how to take amazing images and even sell them, whether you use a smartphone, mirrorless or DSLR camera.

This photography course is designed to teach you the ins and outs of photography, even if you have little to no experience with it, to help create profitable images that help you stand out from the crowd and sell.

Master Photography Techniques to Create Extraordinary Images!

While there are plenty of digital photography courses that focus on specific styles or how to use gear, it's hard to find a comprehensive course like this one, which is for beginner to advanced photographers.

This course is designed for all levels of photographers who want to improve their skills, take stellar images, and make money with their photos - especially great for any DSLR or mirrorless camera user.

What will you learn:

  • Understand how cameras work and what gear you need

  • Master shooting in manual mode and understanding your camera

  • Know what equipment you should buy no matter what your budget is

  • Follow our practical demonstrations to see how we shoot in real-world scenarios

  • Use composition, lighting, and proper settings to take better photos

  • Edit photos professionally to make them look even better

  • Learn start a photography business and make money from your new skills

Styles of photography you will learn:

  • Portrait photography

  • Long exposure photography

  • Landscape photography

  • Product photography

  • Low light photography

  • Sports and action photography

  • Street photography

  • Architecture photography

  • Event and wedding photography

  • Aerial and drone photography

  • Wildlife photography

  • Night photography

  • DSLR photography

  • Mirrorless photography

  • Smartphone photography

  • and more!

Improve Your Photography Techniques, Acquire Clients, And Make More Money

Regardless of what your level of experience is or what type of camera you use, this in-depth course is designed to provide you with everything you need to take your photography skills to the next level.

Whether you prefer taking photos of nature, animals, or people, a great photographer knows how to compose a shot, light it, and edit it. By honing these skills, you can sell your photos so you can turn your passion into a career. This course shows you how.

Unlike other photography classes that are more limited in scope, this complete course teaches you how to take amazing photos and how to make money by selling them.

Contents and Overview

This course is aimed at teaching photographers what it takes to improve your techniques to earn more money.

You'll start with the basics and tackle how a camera operates, the types of cameras and lenses available, and equipment you'll need for accomplishing your goals. You'll then dive into the different styles of photography you can focus on.

You'll learn about your camera settings (DSLR, mirrorless, or other), including how to shoot in manual mode. You'll use stabilization tools and master how to properly compose and light a scene. You'll even learn how to take great photos with a smartphone or tablet and how to edit images.

So you can sell your photos, you'll learn how to brand yourself, create a portfolio and website, and find freelance work or a full-time position. Gain insight into licensing, fair use, and more. And if you want to get into wedding photography, you'll learn how to start your own business.

By the end of this master course, your confidence as a photographer will soar. You'll have a thorough understanding of your camera and gear so you can use them to their fullest potential to take unforgettable photos and start a profitable photography career.

What camera should you use?

A DSLR camera or mirrorless camera is a great option for taking this course. It doesn't have to be an expensive or fancy model. Any interchangeable lens camera like a DSLR or mirrorless is fine. You can even use a smartphone or point and shoot camera, although you may not have all the manual settings and options that we cover in this course.

Who are the Instructors?

Phil Ebiner, Sam Shimizu-Jones, and Will Carnahan - all professionals making a living from their photographic skills, have come together to create this amazing new course. 

Phil & Sam, creators of the original Photography Masterclass, took the feedback left from students to make this course even better. Will has come on board to share his passion and in-depth knowledge of photography with you.

With 3 instructors, you'll get premium support and feedback to help you become a better photographer!

Our happiness guarantee...

We have a 30-day 100% money back guarantee, so if you aren't happy with your purchase, we will refund your course - no questions asked.

We can't wait to see you in the course!

Enroll now, and we'll help you take better photos than ever before!

Phil, Sam, & Will

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Instructor Details

Phil Ebiner

I’m Phil Ebiner, an educator, photographer, filmmaker, and founder of Video School and Photography & Friends. Through my online courses and creative community, I’ve helped millions of students around the world learn practical skills in photography, video production, design, and more. My goal is to make creative skills feel accessible, useful, and encouraging, whether you’re picking up a camera for the first time or looking to take your work to the next level.

My teaching style is clear, supportive, and hands-on. I break complex topics into simple steps, explain the “why” behind each technique, and share real-world examples you can immediately apply. As a photographer and filmmaker, I believe great creative work is not just about gear or settings, but about storytelling, intention, observation, and connection. My goal is to help you feel confident, inspired, and capable of bringing your own creative ideas to life.


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Reviews

4.7

78,808 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Johan Swart on 9/2/2026

The videos, presenters and content is very good, wat is a bit strange to me is the sequence. In the beginning there are photo challenges that in my opinion should come later when one has covered more of the course. I realize that they are optional but when you know more it will make more sense to introduce this

By Jon Thompson on 8/28/2026

The presenters are real and personable. The explanations are easy to understand and detailed enough that it is easy to equate what the presenter is talking about to my camera and photo taking. Top notch, one of the most valuable courses I have taken on Udemy.

By Kit Davis on 8/22/2026

They way this course is presented is easy to follow and put into action myself. So far I’ve enjoyed the presentations and learned a ton about my own camera. Makes me more confident to try different settings and I’m more able to understand the why of different settings and when to use them.

By Quinton Baart on 8/18/2026

I am very satisfied with this class and it has helped me not only improve my photography and editing but also be more confident in shooting. it always feels like talking with friends and it does'nt feel like im doing a class it just feels like a bunch of friends sitting together going out and giving advice. It was a very enjoyable and casual, friendly experience. Thanks so much i realy enjoyd this and learned ALOT.

By Anthony Dedins on 8/13/2026

Just starting this course and I am letting it play in order. Seeing the photo dash was a good insight to the different styles you can play with when taking photos. It's nice to see the guys adjust in real-time while up against the clock as well.

By Angela Bramhall on 8/11/2026

Never was able to understand basic photography. This course really has gone beyond my expectations in how the explanations and demonstrations are broken down to better understand this overwhelming stuff. I also like the AI one on ones that you explain in your own words you're understanding of the concepts. I'm a long time trainer in my field of work and I know from prior experience that this practice is very effective. I also love the (very long) guide you can print out. So far, there are no complaints. We'll done!

By Ieva Gruodytė on 8/1/2026

A truly comprehensive, well-structured, and practical online course. As a beginner, it was essential for me to not just absorb information, but to actually understand how everything works in practice. The self-paced format allowed me to really dive deep into the technical side-from exposure to composition-while learning to see light in a completely new way. I really appreciated the clear materials. Thank you for building such a solid foundation and inspiring me to keep creating!

By Paco Popodopolous on 7/30/2026

I am doing the Photography Masterclass and one of the assignments is to upload 3 photos. No matter how many times I attempt it, I just keep getting a alert telling me I can't save a draft of an empty assignment. The site is not very clear on explaining why something isn't working. Also, in a couple of the lectures, the site seems to freeze and I get a warning saying the page is unavailable so I have to refresh the browser. I like the idea and concept, but when I spend more time attempting to submit an answer than it took me to do the lecture, I don't see how this is helpful for a learning experience.

By Richard Wahl on 5/22/2026

Udemy, and these photography courses, have been the greatest thing I’ve discovered since I decided I wanted a career change. I’m currently a burned out first responder with a crazy schedule, and Udemy has made it possible for me to begin this journey towards a much healthier career with confidence.

By Andrea Smit on 12/14/2025

This has been the most insightful course I have ever taken! Thank you so much for giving me the tools needed to start my own photography business. I wouldn't have been able to do it so quickly without this course! Job well done!!!

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