In 2016, I decided to really give the side hustle of photography a real kick in the pants/full out try. Not just by word of mouth as jobs trickled in, as I had full focus on my full-time job. (I cruised that way for a decade…)

I bought a full-frame camera, my first prime lens, and spent every morning commute, bathroom break, and spare second diving into learning. These are some of the online courses I took to learn in between my other job and running a household with my littles – it was so worth it, and I’m never going to stop learning. After over a decade and more classes than I can count (some that are no longer available; these are the roundups of the ones that stayed with me) I took countless more on marketing and energy work that are just as relevant, but that’s for another post.

The Unraveled Academy

An online community with tons of courses and a brimming active Facebook group and in-person events. A wide range from beginner to niche courses inside. Some are included, and some you can upgrade for one-off topics in smaller groups.

“Teethkiss” by Yan Palmer

http://www.yanpalmer.com/teethkissthe-class

This course takes care of the whole artist – mindset, shaking the money tree, glorious posing guides, love-soaked video recordings for inspiration, and some woo-woo goodness that aligns perfectly with my learning style. I plan to take this class again and again as a recharge. I still stream the video recordings Yan sent to return to my WHY. The community Facebook group that pulled around Yan for this workshop is truly magical.

Illuminate Classes – Especially “The Magic of Light” by Summer Murdock

https://www.illuminateclasses.com/the-magic-of-light-summer-murdock

These seats sell out in minutes, so be on the email list, set the reminders, and take it seriously. The other teachers and topics are great too. It’s a nice mix of “in-class” online participation and learning on your time. But you can’t not know your LIGHT. And it will make you fall in love with every kind.

“Getting Started with Lifestyle Photography” by Elena Blair via Creative Live

This was the first online lesson I took. I was not in any online communities or forums and hardly knew what I was looking for or what questions to ask. She broke down her prompts, poses, settings, and, for the first time, made photography look so accessible, and the images she captured were ones I wanted to photograph and didn’t see around as much. I have since taught at her retreats a decade later, and it feels like a full-circle moment – I would have never believed that was possible.

“The Profitable Portfolio” by Darcy Benincosa

https://darcybenincosa.com/courses

This is more for people interested in weddings and goes more into the marketing side of photography than gear settings… but one I return to for posing inspiration and a grounding way to approach the whole process.

I highly recommend attending in-person retreats if you can and would be happy to recommend some if I have a clearer sense of what you like to photograph and where you are in the spectrum of learning. I offer 1:1 mentoring virtually and in person in the Bay Area if I am traveling (photographers have used me as a resource to review wedding timelines, scouting, dreaming up their own ideal session, and setting up a styled shoot; I can attend and shadow on the day to be a resource; I also allow you to shadow me for various sessions)

Curious if mentoring is a fit? Send over an email at hello@letsspreadbeauty.com, and we can have a conversation.

Invest in yourself – your time, your money, your talents. If you choose to participate, I highly recommend live seats to hold you accountable. Cheers to learning. If you have any other online workshops you recommend, please comment below!