Photography Cost

There are three categories of expense that you’ll make if you choose to make a serious study of photography. While some in-person classes may provide a high-quality camera for in-class use, you’ll need to buy your own in order to practice at home or make use of your skills after the class is over. A high-quality camera averages about $850 for a mirrorless camera or $500 for a DSLR. To read more about these options, see below. You’ll also want to invest in a detachable lens or two. These range from $150 to $2000 per lens, depending on the type and quality of the item. Once you have your equipment, you’ll also need editing software. The industry-standard programs are Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop, which you can get as a bundled subscription for $9.99 a month. As you can see, studying photography requires some financial investment upfront, but the rewards of learning this skill will make that outlay worthwhile.

What is Photography?

Photography is the art of producing an image by recording light with a camera. Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first photograph in 1826. Photography was a revolutionary technology because it made it easier for images to be reproduced and widely distributed. The first cameras were large and awkward to handle, and the lengthy exposure times necessary to capture an image required photographic subjects to hold still for uncomfortable intervals. However, as the technology evolved, cameras became easier to use and more affordable.

For over 100 years, all photographs were captured on film and developed using chemicals. In 1975, Steven Sasson invented the digital camera, which dramatically increased the ease of capturing and distributing photographic images. Most photography today is digital: the device taking the photo saves the recorded image as a digital file. Smartphones capture 92.5% of those digital photos, but there’s still nothing like a dedicated camera for getting a sharp, high-quality image. 

Digital photography classes will teach you how to make the most of your digital camera. You can learn how to use all of your camera’s settings to the best advantage, how to work with studio or outdoor lighting, and how to adapt the choices you make as a photographer to the environment and goals you are working with. You’ll also explore the powerful, industry-standard software that allows Digital Photographers to edit and retouch the photos they take. 

Read more about what photography is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Photography?

Since the first photograph was taken in 1826, creators have been using this skill to capture images of the world around them. Photography allows people to document events, moments in time, and things they have seen. It can also help human beings gain a better understanding of the world, in the case of scientific photography or photojournalism. Photography is also an artistic medium—the Photographer presents their interpretation of the human experience through what they choose to document and the perspective their photos show.

Another important aspect of photography is that photographic images can be reproduced, allowing them to be circulated and distributed worldwide. Even before digital photography, a film photograph was easier to reproduce than the paintings and drawings that had previously been the best way to convey an image. One early example of how the new technology of photography rapidly came to shape the world is the work of Matthew Brady. His photos documenting the American Civil War showed the brutality of the war’s impact, powerfully influencing public opinion about the conflict.

Now, with digital cameras, the distribution of photographs can be nearly instantaneous, and reproducing one only requires uploading a file. Also, the powerful editing software available to modern Photographers makes remarkable transformations possible. Social media has shown some of what one can do with the opportunities provided by digital photography, with photos of dramatic events witnessed by private citizens being rapidly distributed all over the world. However, the full potential of digital cameras and photo editing software may have yet to reveal itself.

In-Depth Review of the Cost

When it comes to a high-quality camera, you’ll have two options for what to buy. The classic digital photography tool is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera, which costs an average of $500 for an entry-level model when bought new. You might also choose the increasingly popular mirrorless camera, which is both more compact and sells at about $850 new for entry-level devices. Either way, make sure you get a camera that allows you to change lenses and gives you access to a variety of changeable settings.

You’ll also want to invest in some interchangeable lenses for your camera, which range from about $400-$600 for intermediate equipment. The most popular and versatile lens styles are the 25-70mm mid-range zoom lens and the 70-200mm telephoto lens. Other lens types include wide-angle, fish-eye, and macro. Once you learn more about what kind of photography you want to do, you can invest in lens styles that are more specialized to your work.

Once you have your hardware, you’ll also likely want to invest in some photo editing programs. The industry-standard tools are Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop. You can get these tools as a bundle for $9.99 a month as of November 2022. There is usually a free trial available, so you can explore these programs before committing to the investment. If you are not ready to invest in a paid service, you can try RawTherapee instead of Lightroom and Pixlr instead of Photoshop. However, if you’re looking to go into photography for professional purposes, you’ll want to learn how to use the industry-standard Adobe products.

Why Learn Photography?

There are a host of reasons to learn photography, both in terms of enriching your life and with regard to building a career. Photographers say that photography allows them to see the world differently. It keeps them in the present and allows them to capture moments. It also helps the Photographer realize what their perspective on the world is because the specific photos they take express who they are. 

Photography can also be a great career choice. Once you’ve invested in your equipment and studied your craft, you can earn a substantial wage as a Photographer, especially if you go into a lucrative field like wedding photography. Photographers often travel to new places and meet new people as part of their work. There is also an active community of professional Photographers that you can learn from and contribute to.

Read more about why you should learn photography.

Free Introductory Photography Course Online 

You may not be ready to dive into a full photography course right away. In that case, an overview of photography can help you determine your next steps. There are quite a few free photography courses available online. Noble has some free materials that can help you get started. If you’d like an introductory course on the editing aspect of photography, try Noble’s free on-demand Intro to Photoshop video tutorial. You can also check out Noble’s free seminar on photo retouching.

Sites like Udemy and Coursera offer some free on-demand videos about photography, both on how to use your camera and the editing process. The camera-focused courses typically take you through the basics of using your camera's settings. They teach you about composition and how to frame shots. You’ll also learn to adapt to variations of lighting. And you can explore how to work with the principles of aperture and depth of field. Brief free courses on the most popular Photoshop and Lightroom techniques are available on these sites as well.

Read about more free photography videos and online tutorials.

Learn Photography with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop’s small class sizes and expert instructors make it an excellent environment for learning photography and related skills. Students can choose between in-person and live online courses, depending on which is better for their particular situation. Students can also retake Noble classes for free, which can help expand their knowledge of the topic.

Noble offers a certificate in photo retouching specifically, delving more deeply into critical skills that Photographers should have. Another option is Noble’s popular Graphic Design Certificate, which covers Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and graphic design principles. If you don’t yet want to commit to earning a certificate, you could take an individual Photoshop course to start with. You can also do a Photoshop bootcamp for beginners with Noble.

When you do a digital photography certificate at Noble, you’ll acquire foundational skills for photography and photo editing. Students learn to use manual settings to help them make the most of what a high-quality camera offers. They also discover how to work with different types of lighting, both inside a studio and out in the world. In terms of digital photo manipulation, students explore how to manage their photographs with Adobe Lightroom and edit them using Adobe Photoshop.