For free. Why not?
I love the idea of a free education. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan, but there are situations when a students can't afford to pay, at least not yet. And yet, they already see themselves as photographers. That's exactly the situation I was in when I decided to study photography. I was just a poor musician with a big dream. I didn't have an expensive camera or any lighting equipment; all I could afford was an old film camera from the 1970s with the only available mode - manual.
In my experience, free education provides a certain foundation, but doesn't teach you everything you need to know. What really helped me was not books or video courses, but rather one-on-one interactions with photographers, or education programs in a group of people like me who were eager to explore the unknown. But without the experience I gained from books, free video courses, random YouTube videos, and just my curiosity and constant practice with camera, I would not have been able to fully grasp what my mentors later taught me in their paid courses.
Here I want to highlight some opportunities for the beginners in photography, which are absolutely free.
Books in libraries. You can find almost anything in your library, especially if you have a digital access to it. Use this opportunity, find the books about composition, camera work, light techniques, it will help you to start.
LinkedIn Learning. Yes, for free. If you didn’t use this platform before, you have an option to try it for a month for free. There are a lot of good courses for the photographers, not only for beginners, so you will definitely find something that suits you.
Coursera. One of my favorite resources when I want to learn something. There are tons of photography courses at different levels, and most don't require purchase unless you want a certificate.
John Greengo photography courses. These are my favorite lessons. Some of them are available for free on YouTube, others can be purchased on his website. Back in the days I was watching it at CreativeLive platform. When I switched from film to digital, his lectures helped me understand how my camera works, and he answered a lot of questions I had at the time. I love the way he interacts with the audience; it helped me calm down and easily immerse myself in the process, absorbing a lot of information without the stress.
Free photography events. For example, in New York there are Adorama events, B&H events space that are available for everyone who is interested in upgrading their skills and technique. Also you can find a community of photographers and visit their events too. These are the great opportunities for photographers not only to learn something but to meet each other, to connect for future projects.
Your friends. Ask, practice, create together, enjoy photography in its full. In my experience, asking for help from a photographer friend I trust has been much easier and productive than asking for help from a photographer I barely know.
I hope these tips will help you achieve your photography goals.
