Black, red, orange…enter the color spectrum and into focus. Though there is nothing more satisfying than watching film develop in the dark room, most of us in the digital age simply press the play button and hold up the camera to examine the image in the view finder. The problem remains the same: Why didn’t the photograph come out as I expected?

However advanced your photography skills, there is always room to learn more. Standing in the darkroom after developing my last role of film, I was handed a course reflection sheet. After filling it in politely, I thought how I would have better spent my eight hundred dollars. Some photography courses are better than others, and are actually worth the money. Here are a few tips to help you find the best photography course to suit your needs.

1. Self Assessment: So what do you want to learn?

It is a no-brainer that if you are a beginner it would be best to learn the basics, especially if you are handling a new camera. Most good photography courses will ask you to fill in a skills form to establish what you need to learn. If the course doesn’t ask you, it’s a good idea to do it yourself. Write down what you can do and what you want to learn on the course. By doing this you can realistically assess yourself. After assessing your skills, many courses will tailor the course to fit your needs. Sometimes, however, this is not the case and you are simply thrown into three different categories; beginner, intermediate and advanced. If you decide what you need to learn before signing up you will gain more from the experience. Other more advanced courses will require you to submit a portfolio, but if you have not created a portfolio yet you can take a course designed to create one!

2. Course Frame work

A good course or workshop should provide constant feedback and monitor your progress. Some workshops will offer extensive lists of skills to choose from and other courses will simply dump you in a park with 20 other students and then lead you to the dark room or Mac and give you a pat on the back. Make sure the course you choose has a well defined course outline that you can refer back to and follow while you are studying.

3. Equipment

Bonus! Some schools actually lend you equipment. What an incentive to start a photography course!

Some are better equipped than others. Some more expensive courses will provide a Mac with the latest Adobe imaging software and grant you access to a fully equipped studio space.

The International Center of Photography (ICP), a school in Manhattan, will give you a camera to start you off. It is an excellent school which offers evening courses.

If you do not live in New York, look for reputable colleges in your area and contact them to ask if they provide part-time or short intensive courses in photography. Which ever school you choose, you should check what materials and facilities they offer and how they match your needs.

4. Reputable Schools

Being in the ‘in-crowd’ won’t guarantee you success. Reputable schools sometimes market themselves on their success but don’t keep up with the competition. However, this is not always true!

The University of the Arts London, Parsons, the New York School of Visual Art, and the Royal College of Art London all look great on your resume, but it may not be necessary to enroll if you simply need the basics in flash or want a workshop in editing digital photography. Most of the ‘big’ schools do offer short courses and at some stage are worth investigating. That said, you should always research the school at which you want to study or ask past alumni and current students how they feel about the course.

5. Your Mentor

When you have found a course you like, research the teacher assigned to your course. If they don’t have a bio on the school website have a look for their portfolios online. If you cannot find anything, contact the school and ask for more information on the tutors. Most good schools will have online profiles of all the teaching staff. Have a look at their experience and their work, and think about your interests and goals in relation to what you find. If you want to study a short course at a University, there may be open days that you can attend. Most Art Universities offer a variety of short courses, either in the evenings or during school vacation.

Some professional photographers hold their own workshops, and you can gain access to this information by joining online groups or contacting individuals on flickr.

6. Advanced courses

If you wish to take an advanced photography course there are a variety of options available from advanced part-time courses to MA’s in photography and residencies, not to mention internships.

I have included a few exciting opportunities to further develop your skills.

– Short courses at the School of Visual Arts
– Photography internship at Martha Stewart Living
– Full time study at Vancouver University of Media

7. Travel courses

Romantic spots or theme-focused courses can be fun, but are they more for hobbyists than serious learners? Again, it all depends on the environment and the school. If you research the establishment before arriving it could all pan out for you. A friend of mine enjoyed a five-day course at the Light and Life Academy in India. She completed the workshop in ‘Communicative Image’ and said that it was an incredible experience that inspired her to create completely different work. Some schools offer distance learning courses, such as the Academy of Art University, the Stratford Career Institute, and Ashworth College.

8. Work load and time frame

How long will the course take and how many hours are you expected to put in? Some online courses will have a limited amount of units. Each unit will be outlined and designed to teach you different skills.

Evening courses and short courses may be completed in a matter of weeks. Decide how much time your schedule allows. If you have the time to do an intensive one-year course, have a look at the course outline from New York Film Academy. If, however, you are looking at a six-week course, investigate summer workshops from colleges in your area or country.

9. Publicity and Qualification

Some workshops or courses help you develop a portfolio, a professional website, a body of work to show in a group exhibition, gain publicity in magazines or simply create networking opportunities. If it is a skill-based workshop you may be awarded an accreditation in the skill studied, for example, a diploma in Photoshop techniques. Compare courses online to get the best publicity and accreditation possible.

10. So how much is it going to cost?

Everything said and done, this is first and foremost the deciding factor: how much will it cost?

Photography courses range in price. A freelance photographer posting a small workshop on Craigslist may only set you back 100 dollars, compared to part time diploma that may set you back several thousands. The best thing to do is to decide in advance what you want from the course, how serious you are, and how much you are willing to spend to get to where you wish to be. I have recently learnt of some cheaper courses that are held at camera stores in NYC:

– B&H Photo Video
– Adorama