Each unit consists of different types of learning materials to appeal to all students and will be made up of study materials labelled READ, PRACTICE, WATCH, INTERACT.
An Introduction To Digital Photography
This unit provides an essential introduction to digital photography. From equipment to camera types, this unit is an excellent refresher or the perfect starting place for beginners. Unit comprises:
READ » Introduction to digital photography
READ » Understanding photography jargon
WATCH » Important camera functions part 1
READ » QuickStart Guide to Autofocus
INTERACT » Camera lens assessment
INTERACT » Introduction to digital photography Test Questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 1 – Manual
Understanding The Technology Of Digital Photography
A good understanding of the technology of digital photography giving you the knowledge you will need to get off the Auto setting and to gain much more control over your camera.
READ » Understanding the technology of digital photography part 1
READ » Understanding the technology of digital photography part 2
READ » Shooting RAW
INTERACT » Check your knowledge of photography terms
WATCH » Important camera functions part 2
INTERACT » Digital SLR simulator
READ » Quick Start Guide to Metering Modes
INTERACT » Understanding the technology of digital photography test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 2 – Modes
Controlling Light With Apertures
Improve your photography instantly by learning about aperture settings, depth of field and exposure.
READ » Controlling light with apertures
INTERACT » Check your knowledge of apertures
READ » A useful chart
WATCH » The Exposure Triangle
INTERACT » Controlling light with apertures test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 3 – Apertures
Depth Of Field And Hyperfocal Distance
A more in-depth unit on this crucial photography subject.
READ » Introduction to depth of field
READ » Advanced depth of field part 1
INTERACT » Advanced depth of field part 2
Mastering Shutter Speeds
The choice of shutter speed has a profound effect on the way that moving subjects are recorded. Discover how to create silky water and how to freeze action shots as well as how to produce impressive results.
READ » Mastering shutter speeds
READ » Quick Start Guide to Shutter Speed DOWNLOADABLE
INTERACT » Mastering shutter speeds test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 4 – Shutter Speeds
Advanced Focus Control
Looking at all the various ways autofocus can be used to best suit not just you as a photographer, but everything you photograph.
READ » Advanced Focus Control
Cracking Composition
In this unit, we look at how to compose a beautiful photograph. You will learn about leading lines, shapes and how to use colour in the composition. This unit alone will change the way you take photographs forever.
READ » Cracking composition
WATCH » IOP® Instructional Video on COMPOSITION
INTERACT » Cracking composition test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 5 – Composition
Advanced Composition Skills
Learn the fundamentals of advanced composition skills from using colour to create a mood using unusual perspectives.
READ » Advanced composition skills
WATCH » IOP® Instructional Video on ADVANCED COMPOSITION
INTERACT » Advanced composition skills test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 6 – Advanced Composition
Using Light Effectively
All the fundamental principles of photography are linked to the use of light. This is one of our most in-depth and detailed units.
READ » Using light effectively
WATCH » IOP® Instructional Video THE HISTOGRAM
INTERACT » Using light effectively test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 7 – Lighting
Advanced Portrait Lighting
One of the most detailed and comprehensive units, using high-quality video tutorials to teach you the correct use of Flash in portraiture.
WATCH » 62 Videos And Around 5 Hours Of Exceptional Tutorials On Lighting
Holiday And Travel Photography
Make your travel shots memorable with this helpful unit. We look at planning the perfect travel shot and encourage you to consider different perspectives when shooting abroad.
READ » Holiday and Travel Photography
INTERACT » Holiday and travel photography test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 8 – Travel Photography
Landscape Photography
Take stunning landscape imagery. Learn how to use depth and light to create a professional landscape picture.
READ » Landscape photography
READ » Quick Start Guide to Lens-mounted Filters
WATCH » LEE Filters ND Standard Filters (Neutral Density Standards)
WATCH » LEE Filters ND Grads (Neutral Density Graduated Filters)
WATCH » The Big Stopper from LEE Filters
INTERACT » Landscape photography test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 9 – Landscapes
Special Projects
Take your photography skills a step further learning how to shoot panoramas. We also introduce HDR photography to help you produce perfect exposure and teach you how to create a living photo.
READ » Special projects
READ » Quick Start Guide to Dynamic Range DOWNLOADABLE
WATCH » Time-lapse movie examples
WATCH » Living photography
INTERACT » Special projects test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 10 – Special Projects
Black And White Photography Skills
Producing beautiful black and white shots is an art form and requires knowledge and practice. Learn to ‘see’ in mono and take black and white shots to be proud of.
READ » Black and white photography skills
INTERACT » Black and white photography test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 11 – Mono
Perfect Portrait Photography
Take a perfect portrait in any situation., Once you have perfected this technique, expect to be on call for every family event!
READ » Perfect portrait photography
INTERACT » Perfect portrait photography test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 12 – Portraits
Advanced Portrait Photography
More in-depth and advanced portraiture skills for those looking to develop into commercial work as well as those who wish to consolidate their learning from the previous unit.
READ » Advanced Portrait Photography
READ » Posing Guide
Image Editing Techniques
Image editing techniques and skills are vital to becoming a competent photographer. This unit addresses these key skills and offers comprehensive advice on essential editing techniques.
READ » Image editing techniques
INTERACT » Image editing techniques test questions
PRACTICE » Practice Assignment 13 – Editing
Make Money From Photography
We give you hints and tips on how to make money from photography. This unit also includes a tutorial on how to make a photography website from scratch worth up to £2000.
READ » Making money from photography
WATCH » Make your photography website
INTERACT » Making money from photography test questions
Product Photography
Your introduction to making money from product photography, including food, advertising and lifestyle genres, written by a working professional.
Fashion Photography
Your introduction to making money from fashion photography, written by a working professional.
Assignment Section
In this assignment section, you will be set assignments and will be asked to produce seven different photographs. Your tutor will spend, on average, around 7 hours considering your photography, assessing your images and giving you detailed feedback on how to improve. There is no better or faster way to become a better photographer.
Assignment – Composition
Get detailed and bespoke feedback
Your tutor will set you an assignment and give you constructive and in-depth feedback on the composition of your submitted image. The tutor will spend at least an hour looking at your photo and will give you detailed help and advice on how you can improve your composition.
You will receive a mark out of 100% for your image.
Assignment – Landscapes
Get detailed and bespoke feedback
Every photographer wants to be able to take a decent landscape, and this is your chance to see what an expert thinks of your landscape photography. We will ask you to do a landscape assignment and submit your best shot for assessment. Your tutor will spend at least an hour looking at your submitted image and will give you very detailed advice on how your photograph could be improved.
You will receive a mark out of 100% for your image.
Assignment – Portraits
Get detailed and bespoke feedback
Portraits can be a problematic discipline but an essential skill for any budding photographer. Our expert will look at your submitted portrait, giving it his full attention for at least an hour. He will make adjustments and suggestions as well as give specific technical advice based on your needs.
You will receive a mark out of 100% for your image.
Assignment – Black & White
Get detailed and bespoke feedback
The fourth of our compulsory assignments is designed to provide you with a critique to help improve your black & white photography. Your IOP® expert will set you a mono assignment and take time (at least an hour) to view and assess your photograph. He will give you advice on the tonal range as well as help you with any technical areas which could help you improve your mono photography.
You will receive a mark out of 100% for your image.
Final Assignment
Get detailed and bespoke feedback
You will be asked to submit three photos, and they will be assessed by an expert. This assessment is very in-depth and designed to significantly improve your photography. You will receive thorough and personal feedback on each photo you upload. Your tutor will spend around 3 hours looking at your final assignment images.
You will receive a mark out of 100% for each of your three images.
One student said: “The feedback from Tim was worth the course fee alone. I felt that he spent a good amount of time reviewing my shots and thinking how they could be enhanced or improved. I have printed out his responses and find them extremely useful.” Marcus Hurley, May 2016
Certificate And Feedback
In this unit, we ask you to tell us what you thought of the course and provide you with your Advanced Diploma in Photography certificate as well as your member badge.
Camera
Any camera that allows you to control the manual settings is perfect for this course. Even the most basic compact cameras offer that functionality these days. Look at your camera manual – can you change the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings? If so, your camera is fine for the course.
Equipment
Any PC, Mac, laptop, tablet or smartphone is suitable for viewing the course and course videos.
A reasonable broadband internet connection (2mb and above).
Non-essential equipment
The following items would be worth investing in, perhaps in the future and as you work through the course, developing your skills.
They are not essential for the course.
- A DSLR camera
- Choice of lenses
- Image editing software like Adobe Lightroom
- Tripod and filters
