Photography Classes in
NYC | In-person Photography courses | Online Photo lessons
Our photography classes in Manhattan, New York City, are made fun and affordable while providing expert training in photography since 2003, for all levels — beginners, amateurs and advanced. PhotoManhattan offers:
- In-person group classes at our professional photo studios
- Outdoors photo walks in Union Square or the Highline, with full hands-on shooting practice
- Online courses that are fully interactive via in-class shooting exercises and assignments
- Private lessons and photo tutoring sessions at any location in NYC or online
Enjoy automated booking, certificates of completion for all classes. All classes allow any types of cameras, Including phone cameras, except where specified. Photo classes are offered during weekends, evenings, and summers. Conveniently located in Union Square, Downtown Manhattan.
In this section you'll find complete guides and courses from 2-9 weeks. Join in!
Scroll down to see course descriptions. ↓
I. Beginner Photography Classes: Learn Camera Fundamentals
📸 Your First Pro Photos: Smart Shooting & Camera Tricks
Stop missing great shots! This course teaches insider photography fundamentals and "hacks" using your phone or camera's automatic settings. Master exposure compensation, on-camera flash control, sharpness, and motion effects to immediately improve your images without going full manual mode.
⚙️ Manual Mode Mastery: Unleash Full Creative Control
Ditch the fear of the "M" dial! Dive deep into the Exposure Triangle to master Aperture for professional Depth of Field (Bokeh), Shutter Speed to freeze action, and ISO for flawless exposure in any light. Gain the technical command needed for truly artistic results.
II. Street Photography & Visual Storytelling Classes
👁️ Visual Composition & Storytelling Classes
This is where your creative photography takes over. Master composition rules (Rule of Thirds, Leading Lines) and learn how to break them to forge your own artistic style. Focus on visual design elements like perspective, color theory, and dynamic framing to make every image captivating, regardless of gear.
🏙️ Street, Travel & Cityscape Photography Workshop
Master the dynamic challenge of urban photography through intensive, hands-on field trips. Learn to capture candid moments, master natural light for environmental portraits, and apply essential composition skills for both vast cityscapes and on-the-go travel photos. Build confidence and speed in any outdoor environment.
📰 Photojournalism & Documentary Photography Course
Ready to develop your unique visual voice? Go beyond candid shots into long-form visual narrative. Learn the techniques of successful photojournalism by developing and critiquing your own original documentary series from conception to final sequence—an essential skill for serious storytellers.
III. Portraiture, Art, & Portfolio Building
👥 Portrait Foundations: Environmental, Posing, & Natural Light Setup
Go beyond snapshots by mastering The Decisive Moment and focusing techniques to capture action, emotion, and character in crowded settings, using backgrounds and angles to enhance the visual story. This course emphasizes quick, practical shooting for candid and environmental portraits.
🎭 High-Impact Portraiture: Conceptual Lighting & Editorial Directing
Make portraits that transcend the ordinary. This course guides you through high-end conceptual lighting, editorial directing, and the use of props, historical analysis, and advanced light effects using simple DIY home studio setups and minimal gear.
🤳 Power Portrait: Elevate Your Self-Branding
Become both the star and the producer! Mastering the self-portrait is the ultimate self-branding tool. Acquire practical, efficient techniques for posing, composition, and using remotes/timers. Learn the do's and don'ts of creating an authentic visual message for your social media and professional audience.
IV. Advanced Light & Technical Skills (Master the Tools)
💡 Professional Studio Lighting: Mastery with Strobes
Welcome to the professional studio environment. This intensive, hands-on course teaches you to master strobe equipment and sculpt light like a pro. Master classic portrait lighting setups, achieve perfect white-on-white, and learn advanced techniques using provided gear like softboxes and flash-meters.
⚡ Event Lighting Pro: Speedlight Mastery for Dynamic Environments
Stop fearing dark receptions! This workshop is your complete guide to mastering dynamic lighting in unpredictable environments. Learn to deploy your Speedlight effectively, mastering Automatic, TTL, and Off-Camera Flash (OFC) techniques to capture sharp, well-lit images at any corporate function or party.
🎬 Hybrid Video Crash Course: Cinematic Content with Your Camera
Expand your camera's potential and step into video production! This intensive workshop guides you through the full settings needed to produce professional, cinematic video with your hybrid or DSLR camera. Master sound settings, smooth camera motion, video lighting fundamentals, and crucial settings like shutter angle and frame rates.
🚁 Drone Photography Classes: FAA Prep & Aerial Cinematography
Embark on an exciting journey into the world of drones. Learn to use the drone as a professional photographic tool, covering everything from pre-flight checks and cinematic flight patterns to exposure settings and FAA Part 107 preparation. Capture breathtaking aerial stills and professional video footage.
V. Commercial Photography Classes & Business Tools
🛒 E-commerce Photo Power: Product Lighting & Styling
Capture high-quality images that sell! This crash course is designed for businesses looking to quickly produce great photos for e-commerce listings (Amazon, Etsy). Learn the essential product lighting and styling tricks used by pros, adapted for simple equipment (phone or camera), focusing on branding and color balance.
💡 Budget Studio Setup: DIY Lighting for E-commerce
Learn to build an automated, highly efficient DIY photo studio to shoot your small-to-medium sized products using minimal equipment. This hands-on workshop teaches you how to maximize quality and efficiency with your phone or DSLR, setting up repeatable lighting for fast batch editing and visual consistency.
📱 Delicious: Food Styling & Mobile Marketing
Make your dishes look as fresh as they taste! This workshop is an overall guide to achieving perfectly sharp, colorful, and appetizing food images using your phone camera. Learn basic food styling, staging, composition, and fun tricks to control focus and detail, perfect for chefs, restaurateurs, and social media content creators.
🏠 Real Estate Photo Secrets: Capture & Edit for Listing Success
Boost your listings and increase sales! This workshop delivers quick, effective tools needed to take stunning real estate photography. We simplify interior photography: managing tricky lighting, avoiding distortion (wide-angle techniques), and utilizing basic editing tricks (like HDR) for photos that capture clients' attention immediately.
VI. Photo Editing Classes: Digital Workflow & Retouching
🖼️ Lightroom: The Essential Digital Asset & Workflow
Stop wasting hours searching for files! This course introduces you to a non-destructive, professional Lightroom workflow: properly importing and organizing photos, executing fast batch editing, and using it for digital asset management. Learn to safeguard your photo library and streamline your entire process.
🛠️ Photoshop Essentials: Layers, Selections, and Basic Retouching
Master the fundamentals of the industry-standard software for photo editing. Learn to non-destructively fine-tune your pictures using crucial tools like layers, curves, levels, and the clone stamp. Practical, guided instruction will help you gain control over basic color correction and localized adjustments.
🎨 Advanced Photoshop Retouching & Compositing
Take your retouching skills to a professional level. Gain advanced control over difficult images using sophisticated, non-destructive tools. Master complex layer masks, powerful selection tools, and deep color correction. Focus on detailed, localized image adjustments and basic compositing techniques with Raw files.
VII. Film Photography Classes: Analog Process & Darkroom
📸 Film Photography Fundamentals: Shooting, Processing & Printing
Rediscover the unique magic of analog photography. This comprehensive course covers the entire film workflow: understanding different film stocks, proper loading and shooting techniques, developing black and white film, and making high-quality prints in the darkroom. The perfect start to your analog journey.
⚫ Black & White Photography Classes: Monochrome Mastery
Discover the dramatic power of monochrome. Learn how to 'see' and process scenes in black and white, mastering contrast, texture, and light to strip away distraction and focus purely on form, emotion, and visual narrative. A specialized skill for fine art and compelling documentary work.
🎞️ Darkroom Classes: Private Printing Instruction
Experience the magic of traditional analog printing. This course is taught via
One-On-One private instruction, focusing on tailored printing techniques. Students arrange and rent time at external, third-party darkroom facilities for hands-on, focused learning.
VIII. Mobile & Social Media Mastery
📸 The Phone Camera: Tricks, Tips, and Hidden Potential
Unlock the full photographic power of the device you carry every day. Learn how to maximize your smartphone's camera settings (Portrait Mode, Night Mode, Pro settings) and troubleshoot common issues like low light and blur for professional-grade mobile photos.
🌟 Visual Identity & Personal Branding: Photography for Your Story
Define your unique visual identity and translate your lifestyle, mood, and character into a cohesive photographic narrative. Master composition, color, and contrast to strategically convey your message and build a powerful visual brand.
📈 Shoot to Share: Mastering Photography for Instagram & TikTok
Transform your photos and videos into content that drives engagement across platforms like Instagram. Learn essential hashtag strategy, create compelling short-form video content (Stories, Reels), and adapt your existing photography to stand out and build your visual brand.
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