Learn The Photography Fundamentals
From Scratch
online course
Learn a wide variety of core photography principles, from camera control to composition and creativity, giving you a solid basis for growth in creating images you'll be proud to share. From scratch to basics.
ESTIMATED TIME
Start date
ALL YOU NEED
3 months & 1 week
5-10 hrs/week
5-10 hrs/week
Minimal investment in your first camera and lens, some lighting equipment, backdrops and props. Learn more.
Join the first class as soon as you enroll
Prerequisites you needed
You need nothing to start the course, but it will be a huge advantage having a DSLR camera or planning to get it. You will get step-to-step instructions about lens you need, lighting equipment, props etc. If you also need help to choose your first camera, feel free to ask your instructor during your first online lesson.
What is your goal?
You will go beyond the automatic mode on your DSLR camera to create unique stories as you dream about. You will get the essential skills needed to take stunning photos for art or social projects. You will use your basic knowledge to learn more specific skills about any type of photography business to start a career as a commercial performer. You will be well on your way toward becoming a great photographer.
Photography Beginners
By getting the lowdown on photography basics you will get a better understanding of the photographic process. From camera and lens structures to Photoshop and Lightroom step-by-step guides — you will learn everything you need to know as a professional photographer.
Bloggers
You will add high-quality photos to your content to get better blog engagement and grow your audience. With excellent photoshoots, you will get more clients, ad offers, and PR collaborations.
Social Media Managers
You will learn how to take professional photography and provide better service for your clients with any type of business — from restaurants to real estate. You will expand your skills, get more offers and increase your income as a freelance photographer.
Who is this Course for?
Photography enthusiasts
Fullfil your passion for photography, making the most of your camera. Get a foundational understanding of camera settings, composition, exposure triangle, color, light, and retouching to create distinctive images for your personal portfolio.
Primeclass helps you reach your goals faster!
Learn from the best photographers, photography coaches, and image editors. You get only expert, up-to-date instruction – all you need in the real world. Our experts continually review and update the lessons to keep them current and relevant for you.
Learn from top-rated photographers
Real-world projects give you experience. It makes you stand out to prospective clients so that you hit the ground running and enter the market fast.
Hands-on Projects
Your talent is unique. Get professional reviews, personal guidance, and technical assistance on your projects. Our respectful experts dig deep to provide targeted feedback that results in your perfectly polished portfolio.
Personalized, expert feedback
Get a portfolio as you finish the course. We build your curriculum around portfolio design so that you build your first portfolio as you go. By the end of the course, you have created a complete collection of projects that showcase your new skills.
Job-Ready Portfolio
Our online classes are MORE than just lessons and tests. It is more importantly about collaborative learning and practices through creative assignments and real-world projects. Giving you all the skills you need to start a freelance career in a global market.
Take a Peek Inside Our Highly-Vetted Course
CURRICULUM
Lessons
30%
Collaborative Learning Process
20%
4 months
Practice
50%
Here is what you will learn:
Start with basic theory to understand the structure of photography. You will learn how to analyze the image and improve your visual experience, creative thinking and criticism skills.
As a the next step, you will get the list of the best equipment kit for beginners and all the real-life hacks from the expert. Learn, which camera brands are the best for you and which lens you need for your photography goals.
Learn the secret of understanding the photography basics — the exposure triangle. Get the instructions on how to put the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO in balance to capture a correctly exposed image. Learn the concepts of depth of field, focal length, focus, and sharpness, and use them to create your own unique settings for high-quality shots.
Discover the fundamentals of how lighting works. Learn the instructions to take shots using natural light and different focal lengths. Practice with composition assignments on a simple photoshoot. Explore the use of slow shutter speed with natural light.
Know the rules of composition. Learn how to frame your subject or scene and capture your creative vision, perfectly. Discover various standard composition techniques, as well as composition guidelines for more experienced photographers who want to experiment a little more: rule of thirds, centering, symmetry, lines and geometric shapes, negative space, simplicity, framing, isolating, patterns etc.
Get a quick introduction to psychology: discover the theory of visual perception principles such as proximity, continuity, similarity, closure, common fate, figure-ground, and focal point. Understand why people always love certain types of photography and use that hint in your color, light, and composition schemes.
Learn the greatest gift for every photographer — the color wheel. Know how to use monochromatic, complementary, split-complementary, tetradic, analogous, and triadic colors to create perfectly balanced and eye-catching images.
Master photo editing and retouching skills with the basic and the most popular applications in the world – Adobe Photoshop & Lightroom. Get easy-to-follow instructions on how the key tools work. Learn the principles of working with color change, light settings, sharpness, noise, smoothing, etc.
Understand how man-made lighting works in photography. Know the advantages and disadvantages of working in natural versus artificial light. Get the lighting schemes with step-to-step guides on how to use the main light, background light, fill light, reflectors, etc. Learn the vocabulary of professional lighting sources you need to work with a home studio or with a rented photography studio.
Learn how to take a mindful effort, and get a keen eye for storytelling, to create images that force the viewer to stop and take notice. Get the instructions on how to create a unique idea from scratch. Know how to include emotion in your photos as the best way to get your audience emotionally invested in your photographs.
You will have 2 weeks for practice only. Use all the new knowledge you got to complete the assignments and create your own creative shoots based on unique ideas and skills of creative thinking, storytelling, and retouching. You will get 1-to-1 feedback for every single project and add your results to the final portfolio.
Design your first photography portfolio, get feedback from the expert and earn an official certificate of completion in the Photography Fundamentals Course.
We use real-world projects to improve your talent
Our curriculum is based on real-life projects that reproduce the conditions of real work in the real world with real clients. You’ll shoot everything from basic and trendy to advanced photos. At the end of the course, you’ll have a perfectly polished, personalized portfolio.
Patisserie & Sweets
Learn to make desserts look as delicious as it is in any product shoot. Your audience will almost "taste" the food through your photos.
Juicy Steak
Learn how to work with meat on the fire and create hot charcoal special effects. Let them feel the heat!
Hot Mulled Wine
Discover the secrets of telling a story using classic images of winter drinks and spices.
Glass of Lemonade
Learn how to make icy drinks and cold glasses look tantalizing.
Fruits & Berries
Learn how to keep fruits, berries, and greens juicy and fresh for photo shoots.
Comfort Food
Learn to craft creative compositions of chips, snacks, hotdogs, sweets, and popcorn.
Every online class is a thrilling experience with thorough instructions and a new project. Plus, you get practical assignments in every unit. It results in an extensive, rich portfolio for your UpWork, Fiverr, or Behance profile.
Our mentoring feedback is the key to your perfection
Every step of your learning journey is filled with consistent, detailed feedback to ensure you learn rapidly and progress brilliantly. We give you personalized feedback and advice. Our mentors are always there for you with professional reviews, emotional support, and encouragement — everything you need to succeed.
projects reviewed
hours of feedback given
photography advice given
1,000+
10,000+
∞
Student Advisor Review
- One-on-one feedback
- Meet-ups and brainstorming sessions
- Unlimited feedback loop
- Additional resources for growth
Get highly-qualified feedback on your projects:
Technical Support Service
- Support for every technical question about the tools and the platform
- Fast answers and clear instructions
Get a user-friendly, full support experience when you use the Primeclass platform:
+
+
1-on-1 with a Mentor
- Personalized mentoring sessions
- Project reviews and practical tips
- Career insights and job overview
Live support from a community of TOP industry experts:
Program Offerings
Course content
- Workshops created with experienced photographers
- Real-world projects
- Project reviews
- Personalized feedback from professional advisors
Student Services
- Student advisor support
- Technical advisor support
- Study Buddy and Small Group support
- Student community
EARN
At the end of your training, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion of the program. Primeclass Course operates under the laws of the state of Delaware, USA. This is one more reason you’ll successfully enter the global job market immediately after training.
A Certificate of Completion
Kseniya Shkurko
Meet Your TUTOR
Author of articles and other publications in world-famous international and domestic publications:
5+
10+
Photography reporter for European Parliament and European Commission
Years experience in teaching and coaching aspiring photographers like you
Years experience in professional photography
Hello, guys! I am Kseniya. For more than 10 years my life has been an exciting photography adventure. It all started as a hobby. Step by step I got fascinated by reportage photography. I got my first experience in that field with the EU-Ukraine Business Council in Brussels. For almost 5 years in a row, I had a chance to learn from the best reporters at the European Parliament and European Commission. They taught me to foresee the best shots and take them at the right moment as most of the time there was no second chance. I was lucky to take pictures of such prominent politicians as the back-then President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the founder of Médecins Sans Frontières — Bernard Kouchner as well as many others.
But in 2014 I discovered a new photography field — the world of niche perfumery. And that switched my profile completely! I got endless resources for creativity. Since that moment I have made thousands of photography projects. A couple of my artworks were published in Le Soir and other well-known European magazines. But it is never enough for me — and every day I keep learning to get perfect shots of the perfume magic. By the way, once I was a student at Alexander Slyadnev`s school — and gained unique skills in creating magical effects. Since then, I set ambitious goals every day and work hard towards achieving them.
But in 2014 I discovered a new photography field — the world of niche perfumery. And that switched my profile completely! I got endless resources for creativity. Since that moment I have made thousands of photography projects. A couple of my artworks were published in Le Soir and other well-known European magazines. But it is never enough for me — and every day I keep learning to get perfect shots of the perfume magic. By the way, once I was a student at Alexander Slyadnev`s school — and gained unique skills in creating magical effects. Since then, I set ambitious goals every day and work hard towards achieving them.
has a three-month waiting list of clients in Europe
Why did I choose food photography? It provides endless opportunities to play with light, angle, and staging. And this is one very important factor if you want to stay creative and inventive in this line of business.
I try to absorb as much knowledge as possible from different professionals. Alexander has his unique style and his natural way of teaching, which really interested me.
While studying, I simplified the knowledge that I had and also learned a lot of things that I didn’t know.
For example, how to create a book and find clients in the US and Europe. Thanks to the assignments on the course, I gained more experience and self-confidence.
I try to absorb as much knowledge as possible from different professionals. Alexander has his unique style and his natural way of teaching, which really interested me.
While studying, I simplified the knowledge that I had and also learned a lot of things that I didn’t know.
For example, how to create a book and find clients in the US and Europe. Thanks to the assignments on the course, I gained more experience and self-confidence.
Before
AFTER
Before
AFTER
Mary Sokor,
Dave Kim,
First, I got free workshops from Alexander Slyadnev on Instagram. I thought it could be a relaxing hobby for me. But I was so inspired that in a month, I switched to the full-fledged Course program to study 2-3 hours a day. Now I am a professional photographer, and my main income comes from food shoots.
I've come a long way from photography basics to specific portrait and food photography only. I put all my energy and free time into practicing and doing projects for my portfolio. That gave me a chance to get clients throughout the course.
Thanks to the Course, I have not only photography skills and a diversified portfolio, but also marketing and networking competency to promote myself on the market.
I've come a long way from photography basics to specific portrait and food photography only. I put all my energy and free time into practicing and doing projects for my portfolio. That gave me a chance to get clients throughout the course.
Thanks to the Course, I have not only photography skills and a diversified portfolio, but also marketing and networking competency to promote myself on the market.
Before
AFTER
Before
AFTER
after graduating from the course moved to the big city and started a career as a food photographer
Max Svyativoda,
The moment I first started a photography course with Alex, food photography was something unknown and distant to me. Because I'm a chef, working with food is so natural for me. But thanks to this Course, I discovered something more than just food photography! It opened my soul. I can now say I cannot choose between cooking and photography.
Besides, the Course experience and my new career saved me a lot of money. Now I can make shots for my cookbook by myself. There is no need to pay more than $3000 for a professional shoot! That sounds great, doesn't it?
Oh yes, it does!
Besides, the Course experience and my new career saved me a lot of money. Now I can make shots for my cookbook by myself. There is no need to pay more than $3000 for a professional shoot! That sounds great, doesn't it?
Oh yes, it does!
Before
AFTER
Before
AFTER
saves up to $3000 a month as a food photographer for his own recipes
Liana Ruchka,
I was already a professional photographer, but I wanted to grow and develop my income opportunities. I took the food photography Course to boost my skills and get new project ideas.
Each month of my studies at this Course was so encouraging: my shots improved with every new assignment. Great results motivate me to move on and reach higher goals! I have a waiting list of clients now, long-term contracts with food companies, a steady, regular income, and I travel a lot!
Each month of my studies at this Course was so encouraging: my shots improved with every new assignment. Great results motivate me to move on and reach higher goals! I have a waiting list of clients now, long-term contracts with food companies, a steady, regular income, and I travel a lot!
Before
AFTER
Before
AFTER
switched to $50 000 annual income thanks to food photography
Olga Kudryavtseva,
I have always been obsessed with photography and cooking. In 2018, I started sharing recipes on Instagram. I couldn't take pictures as I imagined, so I studied food photography. I chose Alex Slyadnev's course because I liked his style, his approach to learning, and the fact that he is also from Ukraine.
I got a good foundation in photography from the course (and not only food photography). I learned how to embody my ideas and make the shots that I wanted. I have also written and published my cookbook.
I got a good foundation in photography from the course (and not only food photography). I learned how to embody my ideas and make the shots that I wanted. I have also written and published my cookbook.
Before
AFTER
Before
AFTER
published a cookbook with her own recipes and food photos
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Feedback Time!
We always help our students surpass their goals. But don't just take our word for it. Here's what a few of our students had to say.
published a cookbook with her recipes and food photos
I have always been obsessed with photography and cooking. In 2018, I started sharing recipes on Instagram. I couldn't take pictures as I imagined, so I studied food photography. I chose Alex Slyadnev's course because I liked his style, his approach to learning, and the fact that he is also from Ukraine.
I got a good foundation in photography from the course (and not only food photography). I learned how to embody my ideas and make the shots that I wanted. I have also written and published my cookbook.
I got a good foundation in photography from the course (and not only food photography). I learned how to embody my ideas and make the shots that I wanted. I have also written and published my cookbook.
Before
AFTER
Before
AFTER
Why did I choose food photography? It provides endless opportunities to play with light, angle, and staging. And this is one very important factor if you want to stay creative and inventive in this line of business.
I try to absorb as much knowledge as possible from different professionals. Alexander has his unique style and his natural way of teaching, which really interested me.
While studying, I simplified the knowledge that I had and also learned a lot of things that I didn’t know.
For example, how to create a book and find clients in the US and Europe. Thanks to the assignments on the course, I gained more experience and self-confidence.
I try to absorb as much knowledge as possible from different professionals. Alexander has his unique style and his natural way of teaching, which really interested me.
While studying, I simplified the knowledge that I had and also learned a lot of things that I didn’t know.
For example, how to create a book and find clients in the US and Europe. Thanks to the assignments on the course, I gained more experience and self-confidence.
has a three-month waiting list of clients in Europe
Before
Before
AFTER
AFTER
First I got free workshops from Alexander Slyadnev on Instagram. I thought it can be a relaxing hobby for me. But I was so inspired that in a month I switched to the full-fledged Course program to study 2-3 hours a day. Now I am a professional photographer and my main income comes from food shoots.
I've come a long way from photography basics to specific portrait and food photography only. I put all my energy and free time to practice and make projects for my portfolio. That gave me a chance to get clients throughout the course. Thanks to the Course I have not only photography skills and a diversified portfolio, but also marketing and networking competency to promote myself on the market.
I've come a long way from photography basics to specific portrait and food photography only. I put all my energy and free time to practice and make projects for my portfolio. That gave me a chance to get clients throughout the course. Thanks to the Course I have not only photography skills and a diversified portfolio, but also marketing and networking competency to promote myself on the market.
Dave Kim
Before
Before
AFTER
AFTER
The moment I first started a photography course with Alex, food photography was something unknown and distant to me. Even though I'm a chef and working with food is so natural for me. But thanks to this Course, I discovered something more than just food photography! It opened my soul. I can now say that I can not even choose between cooking and photography.
And of course, the Course experience and my new career gave me an opportunity to save a huge amount of money. Now I can make shots for my cookbook by myself. There is no need to pay more than $3000 for a professional shoot! That sounds great, doesn't it?
And of course, the Course experience and my new career gave me an opportunity to save a huge amount of money. Now I can make shots for my cookbook by myself. There is no need to pay more than $3000 for a professional shoot! That sounds great, doesn't it?
Max Svyativoda
Before
Before
AFTER
AFTER
I was already a professional photographer, but I wanted to grow and develop my income opportunities. I took the food photography Course to boost my skills and get new project ideas.
Each month of my studies at this Course was so encouraging: my shots improved with every new assignment. Great results motivate me to move on and reach higher goals! I have a waiting list of clients now, long-term contracts with food companies, a steady, regular income, and I travel a lot!
Each month of my studies at this Course was so encouraging: my shots improved with every new assignment. Great results motivate me to move on and reach higher goals! I have a waiting list of clients now, long-term contracts with food companies, a steady, regular income, and I travel a lot!
Liana Ruchka,
Before
Before
AFTER
AFTER
Olga Kudryavtseva,
Mary Sokor,
After graduating from the course moved to the big city and started a career as a food photographer.
Saves up to $3000 a month as a food photographer for his own recipes.
switched to $50 000 annual income thanks to food photography
Don`t have a camera? Start with your smartphone!
Start with a Mobile Photography Bootcamp
Learn how to make professional food shots using your smartphone camera and basic editing apps. You can get your first freelance contract or increase engagement on your blog page just in 2 months of learning and practicing real-world assignments.
Start your journey towards success with tuition options that fit any budget, including options for zero upfront tuition cost for those that qualify! You can also rest easy with our Income Protection Guarantee, knowing that if you experience a temporary dip in income, you won't have to pay a thing until you get back on your feet.
Jumpstart your learning now!
START YOUR JOURNEY NOW
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Apply for Bootcamp
$0 Upfront tuition
Train first. Pay later.
We have tuition payment plans that fit every budget, including an income share agreement, where you pay $0 up front tuition and $0 interest until you finish your entire course of education - up to 11 months! Then, pay back a small percentage of your future earnings. Upon approval for this program, applicants will submit a nominal Commitment fee that we deduct from your total cost of deferred tuition.
We get paid only when you do. After graduation, if you experience a job loss or temporary reduction in income in any month, we waive any repayment plan while you get back on your feet.
Income Protection Guarantee
