Digital Photography Fundamentals:
Camera Techniques, Lighting & Studio Photography
Develop practical photography skills through live, hands-on training covering camera settings, exposure, lenses, lighting, composition, portrait photography, product photography, and outdoor shooting techniques.
Course Overview
The Digital Photography Fundamentals: Camera, Lighting & Composition course is a live online course designed for students who want to build a strong foundation in professional digital photography. Through instructor-led demonstrations, hands-on practice, and guided photography assignments, students learn how to confidently operate a digital camera and create high-quality images using professional techniques.
The course covers essential photography concepts including camera settings, exposure, lenses, composition, and lighting before progressing to studio portrait photography, product photography, and location shooting. Students gain practical experience working with professional lighting equipment, directing subjects, and applying creative techniques in a variety of photographic environments.
By the end of the course, students will understand the complete image creation process, from planning and capturing photographs to producing technically accurate and visually compelling images. This course serves as the foundation for advanced study in Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop for Photography, and the Digital Photography & Retouching Certificate Program.
Who This Course Is For
- Beginners who want to build a strong foundation in digital photography.
- Photography enthusiasts looking to improve their camera skills and image quality.
- Graphic designers, marketers, and content creators who want to create professional-quality photographs.
- Small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to produce high-quality images for products, branding, and social media.
- Students interested in portrait, product, and studio photography.
- Anyone planning to continue into Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop for Photography, or the Digital Photography & Retouching Certificate Program.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the core principles of digital photography, including camera settings, exposure, lenses, and focus.
- Control aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and white balance to produce properly exposed images.
- Apply composition techniques to create visually balanced and engaging photographs.
- Use natural light, continuous lighting, flash, and studio lighting equipment effectively.
- Capture professional-quality portraits using appropriate lighting setups and posing techniques.
- Photograph products using professional tabletop and studio lighting workflows.
- Adapt camera settings and shooting techniques for outdoor and on-location photography.
- Plan and execute photography sessions in both studio and real-world environments.
- Evaluate and improve photographs based on technical accuracy, lighting, composition, and visual impact.
- Build a solid foundation for advanced photo editing and retouching using Adobe Lightroom Classic and Adobe Photoshop.
What You Will Create
Throughout this course, you will complete a series of practical photography projects that develop your technical and creative skills. By the end of the course, you will have produced:
- A camera settings and exposure practice series.
- A professional studio portrait and headshot session.
- A product photography project using studio lighting techniques.
- An outdoor or on-location photography assignment using natural light.
- A curated collection of edited photographs demonstrating your understanding of exposure, composition, lighting, and camera control.
These projects provide the foundation for building a professional photography portfolio and preparing for advanced photo editing and retouching courses.
Examples of Classwork
Course Structure
This course includes 12 hours of live online instruction delivered either as four 3-hour sessions or two 6-hour Saturday sessions. Classes combine instructor demonstrations, guided camera practice, hands-on photography exercises, critiques, and project-based learning focused on practical professional workflows.
Each module introduces a core photography skill and includes applied exercises in camera operation, exposure, composition, studio lighting, portrait photography, product photography, and location shooting. Students receive instructor guidance and feedback as they develop greater technical control and visual confidence.
Students who successfully complete the full course and final photography project earn the Solovant Digital Photography Certificate, demonstrating a solid foundation in professional photography techniques and workflows.
Session 1: Digital Photography Fundamentals
(3 Hours)
The first session introduces students to the essential technical and creative principles of digital photography. Students learn how to operate a digital camera, control exposure, select appropriate lenses, use autofocus and metering settings, and apply composition techniques while building confidence with professional camera controls.
Topics Covered
Digital camera types and essential controls
Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
The exposure triangle
Focus modes and focus points
Metering modes and exposure compensation
White balance and color temperature
Lenses, focal lengths, and depth of field
Introduction to flash photography
Composition and visual balance
Basic camera setup and image file formats
Module Project
Students will create a short photography series that demonstrates control of exposure, focus, depth of field, motion, and composition. The project includes images created with different camera settings and lenses, followed by a guided review of technical accuracy and visual effectiveness.
Session 2: Studio Portrait Photography
(3 Hours)
The second session focuses on creating professional portraits in a studio environment. Students learn how to work with studio lighting, direct subjects, and produce well-lit portraits and headshots using professional photography techniques.
Topics Covered
Introduction to studio photography
Studio lighting equipment and safety
Continuous lights and studio strobes
Light modifiers, including softboxes and umbrellas
One-light and two-light portrait setups
Portrait and headshot lighting techniques
Posing and directing subjects
Camera settings for studio photography
Background selection and composition
Creating consistent professional portraits
Module Project
Students will complete a professional portrait and headshot session using studio lighting techniques. The project emphasizes lighting control, exposure, composition, subject direction, and producing a series of polished portraits suitable for a professional portfolio.
Session 3: Product Photography
(3 Hours)
The third session introduces students to the principles of professional product photography. Students learn how to photograph commercial products using studio lighting, create clean and consistent images, control reflections and shadows, and produce photographs suitable for advertising, e-commerce, and marketing.
Topics Covered
Introduction to product photography
Tabletop photography techniques
Lighting products with continuous lights and strobes
Using diffusers and reflectors
Controlling reflections and glare
Photographing products on white and colored backgrounds
Flat lay photography fundamentals
Composition for commercial photography
Camera settings for product photography
Preparing images for editing
Module Project
Students will complete a professional product photography assignment using studio lighting techniques. The project emphasizes lighting control, composition, product styling, and creating a series of high-quality commercial images suitable for online stores, marketing materials, and portfolio presentation.
Session 4: Outdoor & Location Photography
(3 Hours)
The final session gives students the opportunity to apply everything learned throughout the course in a real-world environment. Students work with natural light, adapt to changing conditions, and develop the skills needed to create compelling photographs outside the studio.
Topics Covered
Working with natural light
Understanding the quality and direction of light
Golden hour and blue hour photography
Outdoor portrait techniques
Environmental portraits
Street and urban photography fundamentals
Landscape and architectural photography
Camera settings for changing lighting conditions
Composition in outdoor environments
Planning and executing a location photo shoot
Module Project
Students will complete an on-location photography assignment that demonstrates their ability to apply professional camera techniques, lighting, and composition in a real-world setting. The final project includes a curated series of photographs showcasing technical accuracy, creative vision, and a consistent photographic style.
Certificate of Completion
Students who successfully complete the course requirements will receive the SOLOVANT Digital Photography Certificate.
The certificate recognizes successful completion of a structured live online course focused on digital camera operation, exposure, composition, studio lighting, portrait photography, product photography, and location shooting. It demonstrates a solid foundation in professional photography techniques and serves as preparation for advanced study in Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop for Photography, and the Digital Photography & Retouching Certificate Program.
Academic and Professional Teaching Model
SOLOVANT courses are designed for learners who want more than short tutorials or isolated photography tips. This course follows a structured academic and professional approach that combines technical demonstrations, guided camera practice, visual analysis, project-based learning, critiques, and instructor feedback.
Courses are taught by instructors with graduate-level education, university teaching experience, professional certifications, and experience in photography, design, digital media, technology, and artificial intelligence.
The goal is to help students understand digital photography as both a technical and creative discipline while developing the camera, lighting, composition, and visual communication skills needed for contemporary photography, media production, marketing, and professional creative work.
AI in Digital Photography Workflows
Artificial intelligence is now part of modern photography and image production. AI-supported tools can assist with autofocus, subject detection, exposure optimization, noise reduction, image selection, masking, and other parts of the photographic workflow.
This course introduces AI as a professional support tool, not as a replacement for camera knowledge, lighting skills, composition, or visual judgment. Students learn how AI-assisted features can improve efficiency while maintaining control over image quality, realism, and creative intent.
The course also encourages critical awareness of AI limitations, including incorrect subject detection, inconsistent automated adjustments, reduced creative control, and the need for human review. Students learn to evaluate AI-assisted results and make informed technical and creative decisions.
Tuition:
Normal $690
$490
What is included:
- SOLOVANT Digital Photography Certificate
- 12 hours of live online instruction across four sessions
- Instruction from an Adobe Certified professional
- Graduate-level professor with photography and digital media experience
- Free course retake
- Access to class recordings
- 25% discount on the next SOLOVANT course
- One 101 mentoring session included
Schedule
- Duration: 4 sessions
- Total Instruction: 12 hours
- Format: Live online
Saturday class: October 3rd and 10th
- Two Saturdays option: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Weeknights class: October 5, 7, 12, 14, and 16th
- Four Nights Option: 6:00 pm to 9:00 PM
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Sale!
Ready to Build Professional Photography Skills?
Enroll in this live online course and develop practical digital photography skills through guided demonstrations, hands-on shooting exercises, instructor feedback, and project-based learning.
This course includes 12 hours of applied photography training focused on camera operation, exposure, lenses, composition, studio lighting, portrait photography, product photography, and outdoor shooting techniques. Students complete a final photography project and earn the SOLOVANT Digital Photography Fundamentals Certificate upon successful completion.
Continue Into the Full Certificate Program
Students who complete this course may continue into the full Digital Photography & Retouching Certificate Program, which expands into Adobe Lightroom Classic, Adobe Photoshop for photographers, professional retouching, color correction, image organization, AI-assisted editing workflows, and portfolio development.
This makes the Digital Photography course a focused entry point into a broader professional photography and post-production pathway.
Earn Your Digital Photography Certificate
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us
We can schedule a Zoom or Phone Call to answer all your questions
hello@solovant.com