I began my journey into serious photography back in the late 1970s.  There was no YouTube, I never took a photography class in school, but I learned everything I could from library books and magazines about photography.  I also spent countless hours practicing and experimenting.  I know a lot of people from my generation that did the same thing.  We didn’t have the advantages of online courses back then.  Yet many of us ended up becoming pretty damn good photographers.

I’m proof that you don’t need to buy photography courses to learn photography.  The question is:  should you?

You can absolutely learn photography by watching tutorials on YouTube, reading blog posts, and enduring good old-fashioned trial and error.  I think it’s entirely possible to learn photography without a structured learning path. Lots of people take this route.  I did.

But I don’t think I would do it that way again.  Not these days.  Here’s why:

The Long Road of Self-Learning

See, the path of self-learning often looks like this: You watch a bunch of videos, read articles, and maybe even get some opinionated advice about gear and techniques. You try to absorb as much as you can, hoping that the people offering their advice actually know what they’re talking about.  But eventually, you hit a wall. You get frustrated because you have no roadmap, no sequence of learning, and no way to gauge your progress. Trying to learn this way is extremely inefficient given the alternative.

The Shortcut to Mastery

This is where a structured course with a good teacher can make a huge difference. I wish I had the option of online learning when I was coming up.  It took so much longer to develop skills on your own.  Now, it’s possible to acquire those skills very quickly with a good course.

And a good instructor will offer a streamlined process that takes you from point A to point B in the shortest time possible. We’re talking about compressing years of trial and error into just a few days of focused learning in some cases. For most people, that’s an investment worth making.

But here’s the part where a lot of people get stuck.  They might know that a course could be helpful, but they’re not sure about the instructor, or if the course is worth the price tag, or if there will be some other problem.  So they avoid it altogether and continue trying to learn in a kind of haphazard way.

Trust: The Ultimate Factor

Ultimately, it boils down to trust. The following questions, I’ll admit, are leading, but I’m trying to make an important point.  

• Do you trust the random YouTuber who may or may not be an expert, or do you trust someone with proven expertise and experience? 
• Would you benefit from learning from someone who genuinely wants you to learn, and who will be responsive to your questions? 

I mean, of course I’m suggesting you go the smart and efficient route. You’ll get so many benefits and advantages when you enroll in a well-structured course with a good instructor.

But how do you know the instructor and course are right for you?  That’s a good question.

There are so many people at all different skill levels offering to sell you their photography business course, or posing guide, or portrait photography techniques.  But just because someone’s selling a course or a guide, doesn’t mean they’re actually an expert.  They might even be a great photographer, but a lousy instructor.

All I can tell you is to use your best judgment.  Get familiar with the instructor’s other teaching. 

• Do they provide quality tutorials on YouTube?  
• And does their teaching style work with you?  
• Can they explain complex concepts in a way that makes it easy for you to understand?

Take the Leap

Again, you can definitely take the DIY learning path.  It’s got its advantages.  Some people just learn better on their own, creating their own curriculum. It might not be the fastest way, or the cheapest way (there are opportunity costs), but it works for many of us.

But if you’re ready to fast-track your learning, I encourage you to enroll in a good course. I have several eBooks and courses that have helped advance my students’ careers. I often feature some free mini-courses in my store.   But also take a look at the premium courses like my Flash Photography for Portraits Course. 

My advice when taking a course:  whether you binge-watch all the lessons in one sitting or spread them out over a few weeks, the important thing is to get started. Once you do, you’ll immediately realize the advantage of focused, structured learning.  It’s a great feeling knowing you’re learning the right things in the right sequence.  It makes all the difference.

Learn more about lighting with the Flash Photography for Portraits Course.