Free photography courses: find out what you can do!

Finding a free photography course can be a great way to learn the basics and improve your photography skills without spending a lot of money.

Especially for those who are already passionate about art and like taking photos, or want to specialize in the subject.

And although there are technology colleges, a free photography course with a certificate recognized by MEC It can be great to save on that investment and find out if you really enjoy this hobby.

What does a photographer need to know?

A photographer needs to acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills to be successful in his profession.

And one of the fundamental things is understanding how the camera works, including exposure settings, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and focus. This allows you to control the exposure and capture the image you want.

You also need to know the principles of composition, such as the rule of thirds, guidelines, balance, and framing, to help create visually appealing images.

Having knowledge in different photographic genres, such as portraits, landscapes, street photography, fashion, sports, etc., allows the photographer to diversify and specialize if desired.

Knowing how to choose and care for equipment, such as cameras, lenses, tripods and accessories, is essential. This includes proper maintenance and cleaning.

6 free photography course options

Now let's look at some websites that offer different options for free photography courses with a certificate at the end.

1 - Prime Courses

Well known for its vast range of courses and learning opportunities on the platform, Prime Cursos offers paid and free options to democratize access to study.

And it's no different with the photography course, in fact two different photography courses are offered:

• How to make money with photography - 25 hours;
• Digital Photography - 40 hours.

Let's talk specifically about the digital photography course, which has a 40-hour workload and complete content to prepare you to become a photographer.

2 - Bradesco Foundation

The Bradesco Foundation is known for its many courses that empower people every day. And with the free photography course it is no different, they have two options related to this area, see:

• Photographs with Mobile Devices;
• Photo and Video Editing with Windows 10.

With these two courses you will be more than prepared to take your photos directly from your cell phone and edit them quickly on your computer.

Start with the Mobile Photography course, which has an 8-hour workload and is aimed at beginners.

With it, you will learn about all the features of your cell phone, techniques and how to change the quality and resolution.

The Photo and Video Editing with Windows 10 course has a workload of 5 hours and is also aimed at beginners.

With it you will learn how to use the simplest Windows 10 software and improve your editing.

3 - Udemy

Udemy is a website where anyone with extensive knowledge on a subject can take a course. That's why they have more than 200 course options, from paid to free.

And for those who enjoy photography, there are thousands of options, see some of them:

• The essentials of photography - workload: 1h;
• Professional Photography for Beginners | Complete Guide - workload - 2h;
• Street Photography in Practice - workload: 1.5h.

Anyone who wants to venture into English courses can also find this type of option on Udemy.

4 - Unova Courses

Unova Cursos is an online course platform that offers several free and paid options in different areas.

It is based in Guarapuava, Paraná, but thanks to technology it allows people from all over Brazil to take the courses.

They have a Free Digital Photography course that has a workload of 50 hours, and is divided into 9 different classes.

In this course, the student will learn about photography concepts, light and colors, equipment, necessary care, image composition and much more.

And for those who want to issue the certificate, it is necessary to pay a fee of R$39.90 after passing the test at the end of the program content.

5 - MoMA

MoMa is the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and through the Coursera platform they offer a photography course, considered one of the best free ones available.

The course is called “Seeing Through Photographs”. And it is worth mentioning that it is all taught in English with the possibility of having subtitles in Brazilian Portuguese.

It was created for the basic level and can be done according to your own routine, with no deadline to be completed. In addition, it has a workload of 17 hours, with a lot of learning.

There are six tests and a final assessment throughout the course, and to obtain the certificate you must pay a fee in dollars.

6 - iPED

But if you want a more complete free photography course option, such as more than 10 courses in just one place, iPED, the Polytechnic Institute of Distance Learning, is ideal.

This platform offers more than 100 different courses in all possible areas with a focus on improving your skills.

In the photography area, you will learn everything from the basics to the most advanced areas, with thousands of courses that meet your expectations. Here are some examples:

• Introduction to Digital Photography - duration: 10 hours;
• Digital Photography - workload: 80 hours;
• Photojournalism - workload: 80 hours;
• Marketing for Photographers - workload: 80 hours;
• Photography of Pregnant Women, Babies and Newborns - workload: 80 hours;
• Introduction to Photojournalism - duration: 5 hours;
• Video Production with DSLR Cameras: Lens Accessories and Lighting - workload: 2 hours.

And at the end of each course you will have 10 objective questions and three reflective questions to answer, to find out whether or not you will receive your certificate, which is completely free.

This is one of the main benefits of iPED courses, the free certificate with no fees to pay.

Once you enroll in a course, you have up to 30 days to finish it, but considering that the activities and video classes are approximately 10 minutes long, you can organize your time or routine to finish within a month.

Remember that constant practice is essential to improve your photography skills. Try different styles and challenges to expand your knowledge and perfect your art.

6 free online courses recognized by the MEC