The Best Online Courses I’ve Ever Taken
PLUS: New October contest for a $200 Moment Gift Card
I have this wildly curious mind that’s always seeking new information. It doesn’t just inform my photography, it shapes my entire existence. One of the byproducts of this is my hunger for fresh ideas. One of the ways I’ll satiate this hunger is through online workshops.
Over the years, I’ve taken so many workshops and courses. I’ve learned from pros. I’ve learned from novices. I’ve learned from people that have no business teaching. Hell, I even took a course where the instructor ripped off a living legend and thought they could get away with it. Oops.
This week, I wanna share with you a quick list of the online courses that have had the biggest impact on my journey. And for those of you wondering, none of the links are affiliated and none of the mentioned courses are sponsored. This is a genuine list of what I’ve benefited from most.
Photography Courses
1. Masters of Photography - Joel Meyerowitz
There are so many people that have cited Joel as an inspiration, or have liberally borrowed his teachings, that I told myself if I ever have the chance to study from him, I had to do it. Lucky for me, he produced this masterclass that would be available to me at anytime. This course is not cheap but if you love photography as much as I do, it’s a product that pays for itself multiple times over.
If you feel like you’ve reached a plateau in your street photography and somewhat early in your journey, I highly recommend adding this course to your list.
2. Cinematic Lighting - Chris Knight
Lighting is everything in photography. And when I wanted to elevate my understanding of off-camera lighting, I went to someone who’s proven himself time and time again. Chris is a modern maestro and delivers a jam-packed course that helps photographers feel confident about lighting. At $50, it’s also a course that feels like a steal.
If you expand your command of lighting, or just wanna stop calling yourself a natural light photographer, check out Cinematic Lighting from Chris Knight.
3. Photojournalism Survival Kit - Ron Haviv
I’m no photojournalist. But I know I can learn so much from how they navigate the world. Their ability to move through the toughest environments and create a story is unrivalled. That’s something I aspire to do.
I’ve taken a few courses from different photojournalists and the one that seems to inform me the most is the one that Ron Haviv published several years ago. It’s succinct, holistic, and considers a lot of things outside of photography. If you’re getting serious about documentary work, I’d highly recommend this course from Ron.
Filmmaking Courses
1. Cinematic Masterclass - Philip Bloom
If you’re a photographer that wants to get serious about video but not sure where to start, then you should take a look at this masterclass from Philip Bloom. So many individuals ping-pong between YouTube videos trying to get an understanding of video production instead of just investing in a curriculum from a seasoned pro.
Philip delivers a rich and meaty course that will turn a novice into a confident videographer. I took this course very early in my YouTube journey and it significantly changed my workflow for the better. If you’re looking to broaden your arsenal of creative skills, take a serious look at this course from Philip Bloom.
2. James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking
Where the previous course is more technical, this one is all about the creative. I cannot overstate how incredible this Masterclass from James Cameron is. He brings you into his mind as a filmmaker and gives you a constant flow of gems that genuinely feel like secrets of the trade. This is also a course that’s shot incredibly well. It’s just great to look at!
If you’re serious about levelling up your storytelling through editing, check out the Masterclass from James Cameron.
3. The Art of the Documentary - Documentary Foundations
I can’t think of a better way to prepare someone that wants to create a documentary than this foundational course from The Art of the Documentary. Once I took this course, I felt like I had all the information I needed to go and create my first documentary. And well, that’s what I did.
Last month, I spent 9 days in Sri Lanka filming a very special story. And throughout many points of that trip, I reflected on the lessons and experience from this course. This is another product that sits on the pricier end but if you are serious about creating documentary work, this course will be invaluable to your journey. Honestly, it feels like the creators took years of film school and just condensed into the most effective program possible.
Previous Favourites
October Gift Card Contest
Each month, I’ll be giving away a $200 gift card to the Moment Shop where the winner can save big on their next camera, lens, bag, or courses. Moment has so many creative products to choose from and $200 can absolutely make for a better deal.
How am I picking the winner? All you have to do is be a free member of this community and leave a comment on this post. As with every contest, I’ll be randomly picking one person, confirming they meet the requirements and contacting them directly before announcing the winner publicly.
Once again, this contest is void where prohibited by law. Good luck!
My thanks to the team at Moment! Not only for this contest but for being the longest supporter of my work online. They’re a lean team of passionate creators that truly believe in supporting other creatives on their journey. Whether it’s a new camera, lens, workshop, or just some great articles, visit ShopMoment.com today.
What’s Next?
While my schedule fills up quick, I’ll always make time every month to further my knowledge through intentional learning. It’s something that has benefited me so greatly that I’ll never find a reason to stop. I know all of these courses aren’t for you. But I’d bet that at least one of them has an inflection point that’ll shift your creative journey for the better. The hard part? Knowing which one.
That being said, some of you may have taken a few courses of your own. If you have any suggestions for courses or workshops that I might find interesting, let me know in the comment below.
Anyway, that’s enough for this week. See ya next time!
GB
Amazing List, I haven't seen the Joel Meyerowitz one but I love his work and I've seen some documentaries about his work as well.
I can recommend the BBC show "BBC Master Photographers". It's available on YouTube and it's amazing.
Have you ever used The Darkroom Rumour? Is this streaming service dedicated to photography and art films, I was thinking about signing up.
Great list! I've wondered about Masterclass as a platform. I'm also constantly feeding my need to learn. I'm not always so good at putting things into practice, incorporating new concepts. It's the small steps in the "right" order that I'm curious about.