Online Photography Course

Mardybum

Mardybum

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Rich Robson
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Good morning !

I've just seen an offer on groupon for an online photography course with http://www.iphotographycourse.com

Just wondered if anyone has any experience with them, or any other online courses in photography? This course is £50 (88% off) and can be done at your own pace (which I'm glad about as I'm currently attending a construction college course 2 nights a week), so there is no rush to complete it. I'm seriously considering it at this price.

Any thoughts ??

Thanks.
 
Warning bells are ringing.

First, it is 'accredited' by something called the International Accreditation Organization.

This comes up in an article (not in connection with this particular course) about worthless certificates:

one of IAO’s fully accredited institutions is the University of Antarctica (motto: “Big Continent, Big Opportunities”), which the accreditor recently removed from its website.
The University of Antarctica’s homepage includes a photograph of its “Administration Building,” which is actually a lightly doctored photograph of a former attraction at Walt Disney World’s Epcot theme park. The university’s website is elaborate and includes several entertaining sections, including photos of its alleged football team and “Snowman” mascot, as well as a guide to nightlife around the campus.
Accrediting the University of Antarctica should be a “one-strike-you’re-out disqualification,” Gollin said. And any institution that “describes its couplings with IAO as a positive attribute is not to be taken seriously.”
The accreditor did not respond to a request for an interview.
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http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/19/questions-about-faculty-list-new-university

It claims
an expert team of photographers with vast experience in all aspects of professional photography. Through the iPhotography online training course, we have blended the world-class expertise of some of the leading figures within the photographic industry together with a team of e-learn training masters, to create a unique online learning environment that will revolutionise the learning and development of beginner and amateur photographers.
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but names none of them.

It claims
a client base that stretches from the UK to Asia, working with well-established organisations in China, Japan, India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Korea, Nepal, Indonesia, Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
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but names none of them.

The shots in the student gallery are not credited, which seems odd.

This may well be the best ever photography course the world has seen. Me, I'd want quite a few questions answered before signing up.
 
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I took the risk when the same course popped up on groupon earlier this year.

It won't give you a recognised qualification at the end but I actually learnt a lot from it.

Why did I go for it when it oozed dodgyness? .. Because it is cheap!! I felt I had ALOT to learn about photography, it suited my learning style, covered the basic elements of photography and can be done in your own time.

The course works by you scrolling through a PowerPoint and then answering questions at the end, if you didn't answer the questions correctly you didn't move on to the next unit.

There are optional assignments throughout which you can submit to a 'tutor' I did print off the assignments for my own learning but I didn't submit as I feel I get more from posting a photo on here for critique.

If you want to learn the basics of photography and are self motivated I'd say take the risk!
 
jon ryan said:
Warning bells are ringing.

First, it is 'accredited' by something called the International Accreditation Organization.

This comes up in an article (not in connection with this particular course) about worthless certificates:

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/19/questions-about-faculty-list-new-university

It claims but names none of them.

It claims but names none of them.

The shots in the student gallery are not credited, which seems odd.

This may well be the best ever photography course the world has seen. Me, I'd want quite a few questions answered before signing up.
Click to expand...

Hi Jon, thanks for the reply.

To be honest I'm not that fussed if its a proper certificate or not. I should have explained in my original post that I've only just started out in digital photography, and not looking for a qualification or such, just a few pointers. I know I can get them here on this forum but to have "tasks" and to be able to understand light/apperture/shutter speeds/iso etc a bit more, Might be very advantageous.

Would buying a decent beginners book be just as good ? (And cheaper) ??
 
daventryh said:
I took the risk when the same course popped up on groupon earlier this year.

It won't give you a recognised qualification at the end but I actually learnt a lot from it.

Why did I go for it when it oozed dodgyness? .. Because it is cheap!! I felt I had ALOT to learn about photography, it suited my learning style, covered the basic elements of photography and can be done in your own time.

The course works by you scrolling through a PowerPoint and then answering questions at the end, if you didn't answer the questions correctly you didn't move on to the next unit.

There are optional assignments throughout which you can submit to a 'tutor' I did print off the assignments for my own learning but I didn't submit as I feel I get more from posting a photo on here for critique.

If you want to learn the basics of photography and are self motivated I'd say take the risk!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up, I was hoping someone had done the course and could explain exactly how it works.
I don't think I'd pay the full price (£150 or whatever) for the course but £50 ?? Might be money well spent on my beginners road to digital photography.
The course also touches on photoshop subjects which may be a good starting point for me also, as eventually I'd like to learn photoshop inside out.

Or like I mention in my previous post, would a very good beginners book for £20 or so be an equally or better option ??
 
Mardybum said:
Thanks for the heads up, I was hoping someone had done the course and could explain exactly how it works.
I don't think I'd pay the full price (£150 or whatever) for the course but £50 ?? Might be money well spent on my beginners road to digital photography.
The course also touches on photoshop subjects which may be a good starting point for me also, as eventually I'd like to learn photoshop inside out.

Or like I mention in my previous post, would a very good beginners book for £20 or so be an equally or better option ??
Click to expand...

I have many beginner books but I have to say I got more out of the course. It might just be the way I learn but what I liked is it really gets you to think about all topics, shows examples throughout.

I cannot get my head around photoshop.. But this is a great starting point. The course contains videos of someone editing photos with the program and they talk through it. The videos on photoshop are a few hours alone.

I took the risk and was very pleased i did. I didn't mind not having an accredited qualification.. Although you do get a certificate!

Every picture I have taken since I have thought back to the powerpoints and used the pointers.
 
For the basics.. Shutter speeds etc The course is excellent!!!
 
Wow - very tempting...

Hmm... I'll think this one over tonight.
 
Yeah I'd never pay for a photography course. You can learn everything by doing/experimentation and reading/watching free material on the net.
 
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