Things to do · Arts and crafts
Take a photography course
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A beginners' course takes your camera off automatic and shows you what shutter speed, aperture and light actually do to a picture. City Lit's version mixes talks and demonstrations with practical exercises indoors and out, and even lends you a camera during class if you do not have one.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksIndoors or outWith othersUK and US
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What a beginners' course covers
City Lit's Photography for beginners needs no previous knowledge, though it asks you to be comfortable with numbers and simple measurements. It covers choosing a camera, exposure and light readings, shutter speed, aperture and depth of field, lenses, composition and light, with the aim that you can use your camera's manual functions. You can bring a digital or film camera with manual aperture and shutter speed settings; if you have none, the college supplies a digital SLR or mirrorless camera during taught hours, plus tripods and lenses.
Longer courses go further. SAIC's Introduction to Digital Photography in Chicago adds black-and-white and colour capture and printing, digital photo editing, the history of photography and group critiques.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex | Learn to Control Your Camera: one day, 10am to 4pm; classroom in the morning, practice in the gardens in the afternoon; any camera, compact to DSLR | £80 |
| City Lit, London | Photography for beginners: in person, 4 to 8 sessions, daytime, evening or Sunday | £409 full fee; £327 senior fee; £266 concession |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | Introduction to Digital Photography: Monday and Wednesday evenings; bring a digital SLR or mirrorless camera with manual functions | $675 |
| Community College of Philadelphia | Digital Photography: online, 12 lessons, 24 course hours, new class starts monthly; covers DSLRs to smartphone cameras | $115 |
How to start
- Pick a course that matches your time, from a one-day camera workshop to a weekly class over eight or so weeks.
- Check what camera it asks for; City Lit and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago both want one with manual settings, and SAIC rules out point-and-shoot cameras.
- Practise between sessions, as City Lit recommends, and bring the pictures back to class.
Where to go
- City Lit, London: Photography for beginners UK
- RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex: Learn to Control Your Camera UK
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Continuing Studies: Introduction to Digital Photography US
- Community College of Philadelphia: Digital Photography (online, noncredit) US
We opened these links on 10 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need my own camera for a photography course?
It depends on the course. City Lit lends a digital SLR or mirrorless camera during taught hours if you do not have one, while SAIC asks you to bring a digital SLR or mirrorless camera with manual functions.
Can I learn photography on a smartphone?
Some courses include it. Community College of Philadelphia's online Digital Photography course covers everything from DSLRs to smartphone cameras.
How much does a beginners photography course cost?
As last listed, from £80 for a one-day camera workshop at RHS Hyde Hall to £409 full fee for City Lit's beginners' course, and from $115 online to $675 in person at SAIC in Chicago.
Can I use a film camera on a beginners course?
City Lit accepts a film camera with manual aperture and shutter speed settings, but you pay for up to seven rolls of film plus processing and printing yourself.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Photography for beginners; Royal Horticultural Society, Learn to Control Your Camera; School of the Art Institute of Chicago Continuing Studies, Introduction to Digital Photography; Community College of Philadelphia, Digital Photography. Opened 10 November 2026.
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