The usual places to look for digital photography courses are community colleges, YMCAs and camera clubs (which you can find in your local paper). However, these courses don’t always happen at convenient times. You might also discover that you have only a short amount of time to take a crash course in something like digital wedding photography (especially if the bride is heavily pregnant). You can try online digital photography courses.

Some Are Free

Some of the digital photography courses you come across online are actually a series of detailed articles. This is not as bad as it at first sounds. First of all, these kinds of online digital courses are usually free, put up by camera supply websites in order to help stimulate your interest in a hobby that supports their business. However one of the most popular is put out by About.com (which is heavy on advertising, but it's free). That one comes in your email like an e-book.

You can also go to websites like ExpertVillage.com and click on their digital photography category to get a video version of digital photography courses in one to five minute chunks. The great thing about the videos is that you can rewind them. You can also make fun of the teacher without him or her knowing it. And, of course, it's free (provided you have internet access and a computer.)

Before You Go

Before you sign up or attempt one of these free online digital photography courses, you do need to know a little bit about digital cameras. You want to have the camera in front of you and be able to identify the parts. You also want to know what kind of memory card your camera takes. Good digital photography courses will also give you a glossary of terms used, but not all will. Make sure in advance.

You also need to know that you have all of the specifications to be able to read the online digital photography courses. Some many require you to have the latest version of Abode, which is free to download IF you already have an older version of it. Abode is usually standard with Windows XP and higher. You will also need to check the spam filter of your email box in case your digital photography courses are sent to you by email. Your email security program might not recognize the address and immediately assume that it is spam.