Review of Online Photography Courses from Reputable Schools

There are many online photography courses available to learn the skills and technical information you need to be a successful photographer. Many of these courses, I mentioned in my article about Non-Traditional Online Photography Courses. These course will give you the tools to be a enthusiastic hobbyist or develop a freelance career.

But, you may be interested in a degree or a certificate from a well-established school with a good reputation. You may want an elaborate program the gives you comprehensive information to help you obtain a career in photography. 

For people that are really serious about making a long-lasting career out of photography, they may want to consider a traditional school to earn a degree or a highly reputable certificate. 

The following three schools have been around for a long time (even before they offered online courses) and two out of the three offer full degrees in Photography.

The School of Photography at the Academy of Art University is one of the top photography schools in the United States. For those enthusiasts that want to go full force and obtain a degree in photography, this is the place to do it. This school will teach student all the finer details about photography.

Students of this school will learn all the technical, professional and creative necessary to succeed in this career.

The university is based out of San Francisco and was founded in 1929, but the online program allows students to obtain either a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Associate of Arts (AA), or an Online Award of Completion.

The instructors are active professional photographers chosen for their expertise and achievements, as well as their current knowledge of contemporary trends in the industry. The effective and innovated curriculum sets up students for a successful career in photography.

The photography courses include a combination of studio courses, seminars, and individual advisement.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh has been in existence since 1921 with the Online Division launching in 2000. This is a fully accredited school and the only program in Photography is a Bachelor’s Degree. The 180 required credit hours towards your degree will fully prepare you to be a professional photographer.

You will study the elements of image production and manipulation, lighting, camera and technical skills, a range of professional camera and lighting equipment, knowledge of composition, and a thorough understanding of the subject.

Upon graduation, you will have Bachelor of Science in Photography degree. You will also have built up a complete digital portfolio enabling you to interview for entry-level positions such as photojournalist, commercial or editorial photographer, photographic editor, or do you own freelance work.

The New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) is one of the oldest and most reputable institutes for photography school. The school was established in 1910 and now offers home-study courses that give access to New York professional photographers from anywhere in the world.

NYIP’s distance education courses include up-to-date, comprehensive lessons, audio and video training on CD and DVD’s. Each student will also receive his or her own professional photographer who acts as an advisor dedicated to be a guide through the course. This is worth the price of the course alone.

With the hands on skills required for courses in photography, some may be hesitant to take an online class. Although the experience you obtain from being in a classroom is better, online classes teach you what you need to know. There are also opportunities to practice your skills and get constructive feedback from assignments, quizzes, and tests. There are a variety of pros and cons to online courses as well as traditional learning. But, if online photography courses are for you, these three schools are worth examining.

You can also find more reputable and established schools or other photography programs through find you art school.

If you are looking to take courses and find a program that is less demanding in cost and time, check out Non-Traditional Online Photography Courses.