Basic Photography Course
Understand Your Camera. Learn the Basics. Take Better Photos.
Buying a camera is one thing. Understanding how to use it is another. If you're still relying on Auto mode, struggling with camera settings, or wondering why your photos don't always turn out the way you expected, this beginner course will help you understand the fundamentals and put them into practice.
Discover how aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus, light and composition work together. Using your own camera, you'll put these principles into practice and gain a better understanding of how to make the right decisions when taking photos.
Learn the essential skills needed for photography and put them into practice.
FIG. 01 Camera dials and controls used to adjust your settings.
Learn the Fundamentals of Photography
You don’t need an expensive camera or years of experience to take better photos. You need to understand the equipment you already have and know better ways to use it.
This course introduces you to the essential principles of photography, from camera settings and exposure, to focusing, composition and working with different types of light.
It doesn’t matter what you enjoy photographing; these fundamentals give you a foundation to build on.
Each topic is explained in straightforward terms, so you can connect what you learn with what happens when you take the photo.
Is a Basic Course Right for You?
The beginner course is a good place to start, for whatever you would like to get out of photography.
You take photos, but the results don't always match what you had in mind. Sometimes it's hard to tell which settings to change or why one picture works better than another.
You may want to enjoy your photography hobby more, feel less uncertain when using your camera or find out whether photography is something you'd like to pursue further.
You enjoy photography as a hobby
You want to spend more time taking pictures you feel happy with and understand what makes a strong image.
Your camera still feels confusing
The menus, buttons and shooting modes can feel like a lot to take in. You want to know what matters and where to start.
You want to make your own decisions
Rather than guessing or relying on the camera to choose everything, you want to understand the choices available to you.
You are thinking about the next step
You may be considering a more serious interest in photography and want to know where to begin before moving further.
Whether photography is a hobby or something you’d like to take further, this is a good place to begin.
What You’ll Learn
Get familiar with your camera's main controls, shooting modes and settings. Learn what the different options do and when to use them, rather than relying on automatic settings to make every decision.
Exposure fundamentals
Aperture
Control the amount of light entering your camera and see how aperture affects background blur and depth of field.
Shutter Speed
Learn how shutter speed freezes movement, creates motion blur and helps reduce blur caused by camera shake.
ISO
Understand how ISO affects exposure and image quality, particularly when working in low light.
Understanding Your Camera
Get familiar with your camera’s main controls, shooting modes and settings. Understand what the different options do and when to use them, rather than relying on automatic settings to make every decision.
Manual Mode and Exposure
Learn how to use Manual Mode and balance aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Understand why a photo may be too bright or too dark, and how to adjust your settings to get the result you want.
Focus and Depth of Field
Understand how your camera focuses, how to select appropriate autofocus settings and how to control which parts of a photo appear sharp.
Light and White Balance
Learn how light affects the appearance of your photos. Learn about colour temperature and white balance, and how to adjust your settings when lighting conditions change.
Composition
Learn how to arrange elements within a photo to create stronger images. Explore techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, perspective, framing, balance and negative space.
Lenses and Focal Lengths
Understand the differences between wide-angle, standard and telephoto lenses. See how focal length affects the way a subject appears and how to choose a suitable lens for different situations.
RAW and JPEG
Understand the differences between RAW and JPEG image files, the advantages of each format and how your choice affects the way you work with your photos afterwards.
Putting It All Together
Bring these skills together through photography exercises. Consider your subject, the available light and the result you want before choosing your settings.
The aim is to help you move away from Auto mode, understand your camera settings and know why you’re using them, rather than guessing.
How the Course Works
The course follows a structured approach, taking you through the main camera controls and photographic principles in a clear order. Using your own camera, you'll work through each subject, practise the settings and see how they affect your photos.
Understand the Settings
Learn what your camera controls do and how they influence the final image.
Put Your Knowledge into Practice
Take photos as you learn, experiment with different settings and see the results for yourself.
Ask Questions
If something doesn’t make sense, we can go through it again. You can also bring up situations you find difficult when photographing.
Learn from Your Photos
Where appropriate, we can review your images and discuss what worked, what could be improved and why.
The course is available as one-on-one photography training.
One-on-One Photography Training
With individual training, the session focuses on you, your camera and what you want to learn.
If you understand aperture but struggle with shutter speed or focus, we can spend more time on those areas. You can ask questions, work at your own pace and discuss the types of photography that interest you.
What Camera Do You Need?
You need a DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual controls. Your existing kit lens is suitable, so there’s no need to buy expensive equipment before attending.
Please bring:
- Your camera and lens.
- A fully charged battery.
- An empty memory card.
Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, Olympus and other major camera brands are welcome.
Basic Photography Course Price
You’ll receive personal guidance throughout the course. It covers the essential skills and camera settings you need to take control of your photography.
Current special price
R3,999
R4,299
Save R300 on the regular price.
Get in touch to book the course and arrange a suitable date for your training session.
Course Details
- Level: Beginner
- Duration: Approximately 4-5 hours
- Format: One-on-one
- Availability: Weekdays and weekends, subject to arrangement
- Location: Pretoria and Johannesburg
The course is designed to give you a solid foundation in photography, with practical time to apply what you learn.
Book the Basic Course
Ready to get more from your camera? Send me your details and preferred training date, and we can discuss the next steps.
Let's plan your training
Tell me a little about yourself and the camera you use. Include your preferred date so we can discuss a suitable time for your training.
One-on-one instruction focused on helping you understand and use your own camera.
Include your camera brand and model in the form so I know which equipment you use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any previous photography experience?
No previous experience is required to do this course. The course is designed for beginners and teaches the fundamentals. You can attend even if you have never used Manual Mode before.
Will I learn how to use Manual Mode?
Yes, you will learn how to use Manual Mode. The aim is to understand how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together so that you can make your own decisions.
Where is the Basic Photography Course taught?
I teach in person in Pretoria, Johannesburg and surrounding areas. Sessions are arranged by appointment.
What happens if I need to reschedule?
Please give at least 48 hours’ notice and I’ll do my best to arrange another suitable date.
Is there support after the course?
If you have questions about something covered during the course, you can get in touch afterwards. If you need more training on a particular subject, a follow-up session can also be arranged.
What should I take after the Basic Photography Course?
If you want to improve your photos after shooting, the Photo Editing Course is a natural next step. It covers global and local adjustments to exposure, colour, details and much more.