Where To Learn Photography Now: Latest Top Photography Resources

Where to learn photography

When it comes to learning photography you have a lot of choices in 2026. In this article I'm going to outline the most popular options. In addition, I'll tell you the benefits and drawbacks of each one. Then, you can make a more informed choice based on more than just their costs.

In Person Photography Classes

The best way to learn photography in 2026 is still in person. That said, there are a lot of different options for how and where you learn photography in person. For example, you can learn a great deal informally by working as a photographer's assistant. However, if you want to learn quickly you might choose to take a class. Here's a break down of the different ways to learn photography in person.

Credited Photography Classes

When it comes to learning photography you can go to college and get a multiple degrees in the subject. In fact, I know several photographers with Masters of Fine Art degrees. That said, this route is very expensive and time consuming.

However, if you really want to master photography then it might be exactly what you're looking to do. If so here is a list of the top photography schools in the world.

All that being said, I'm a much bigger fan of learning photography without needing to pay for school. So, let's talk about those next.

Noncredited Photography Classes

A faster way than earning a college degree in photography is to take noncredited photography classes. If you're in a big city you'll likely find at least one photographer teaching photography classes. In addition, in large cities there are often dedicated noncredit photography schools.

Here in Atlanta we have the Atlanta School of Photography. However, when I was in Pittsburgh, I was one of very few people offering consistent photography classes for folks from beginners to pros.

Urban Areas Offer Bigger Opportunities

Of course, if you live in a small city or more rural area it can be hard to find a place where you can take formal photography classes. This is true even if they're noncredited. If that's the case you'll likely need to look online.

Best Photography Learning Websites

Despite the massive amount of information available on Youtube and Wikipedia you're unlikely to have much luck learning photography there. In fact, those are the two most popular websites that people tell me they've tried to learn photography from. However, they're not really set up to teach you very well.

I wrote an entire article on the best websites to learn photography from in early 2025. That article is still accurate. Therefore, take a look at it after reading the rest of this article.

Top Rated Photography Courses

Let me let you in on a secret. Photography is often taught in a very formulaic way. In fact, some of the best known teachers often skip the theory behind the method that they teach you. This is why I'm a bit skeptical of classes and teachers that are "top rated."

After all, photography isn't an easy to learn topic. In fact, it's really math heavy and most people are not math people. There are fractions involved which means numbers do the opposite of what we feel like they should.

Learn Theory Over Formulas

Therefore, in my opinion, taking a class where you learn a formulaic process that you can't deviate from or explain might feel good for a while. However, it's often going to make it harder to learn in the long run.

To be clear, I'm not saying that all of the top rated photography courses are like this. In fact, I feel that Lindsay Adler does a very good job explaining why we do things along with how. Plus, it's hard when courses are time limited. Which is a bigger reason why some top rated photography teachers don't explain a lot of the reasoning.

Check out this article I wrote on the topic of finding valuable photography training. Too, here is an article to help you figure out if a photography workshop is worth the money.

How To Learn To Be A Photographer

The most sound and practical way to learn to be a photographer is going to vary. In fact, it's often a matter of personal preference. That said, learning the reasons why photographers do what we do will always be the best way to learn photography.

Talk To Teachers First

So, if you're serious about becoming a photographer and want to know more about where to learn then make sure you talk with the teacher. Ask them if they teach theory or just practice. Honestly, just learning practical stuff might be enough for you.

For example, if you're taking a class before traveling formulaic might work. To make it work take a class on the exact type of photography you'll encounter. Ultimately, that could be enough.

However, if you want to succeed as a photographer you need to learn the reason and theory behind what photographers do.

Free Resources To Learn Photography Online

Learning photography doesn't need to be expensive. After all, photography is expensive enough. I wrote an article a while back on what you should expect to pay for a photography class. Plus, there are free resources like Youtube.

The challenge is finding quality in a mess of otherwise hardly useful content. I've put together a page full of free photography resources. It's not as comprehensive as I wish it were but it's a great place to start.

Free In Person Learning Resources

In addition to free online resources there are often free in-person resources available for learning photography. For example, there are a lot of camera clubs that, while not free, are usually very low-cost.

Too, there are often free photography meetups in larger cities. If you're close to one look for them online. In fact, I run two free photography meetups each month so if you're in Atlanta please join us!