IOP Member: Paul Armstrong
Review date: 19 September 2025
Course: Professional Diploma in Photography
Score out of five: 5
The IOP Professional Diploma in Photography is a truly outstanding course. Being able to study in my own time has been invaluable in allowing me to juggle studying, setting up and running my photography business and developing as a photographer.
The course materials are well structured, clearly explained, well illustrated and include lots of additional material to expand a student’s knowledge and skills. I’ve learned so much from the course and would like to particularly mention the feedback given on assignments by my tutor, Tim. His comments are incredibly detailed, supportive and with lots of excellent advice on how to improve.
The assignments have all been interesting, with very clear briefs and are designed to build student confidence alongside the increasing level of challenge. Needless to say, I’ve enjoyed every aspect of the course and my favourite parts have been the sections on portraiture, which is my favourite aspect of photography.
The final assignment feedback has been extremely thorough and much appreciated. The detailed advice about achieving greater luminosity for promo shooting on location has been particularly useful, as have the recommendations about makeup in studio portraiture and how to use Lightroom to deal with the shadowing effect of heavy mascara.
The course and especially the guidance, support and feedback of my tutor has enabled me to truly develop as a photographer. I’ve gained a lot of confidence from it all and have lots of ideas for how I can continue to improve.
Enrol on this course here.
