If you are living in New York City and you are scouting to see what are the 15 best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn, you are in the right place.
These days, almost every one of us has a smartphone with great camera performance, or high-tech digital cameras with which we are shooting images every day. Back in the day, photography was not a common thing, as people used to shoot photographs only of important things they wanted to remember. So basically people only took photos for special occasions, like if they were on a holiday or taking a family portrait. Today certainly still use cameras to capture similar moments, but we use them more often and have the capacity to capture as many photos as we want. We’ve even gotten to the point of taking the most mundane photos we can think of because it’s just so easy to do. However, when it comes to real photography, whether it’s shooting an image of a beautiful scene or capturing life’s important moments, it’s worth it to at least know a little bit about what you’re doing. These are images that last a lifetime and possibly longer.
Photography is a form of art because it is not simple as it looks. The skill requires creativity in order to make a beautiful photograph, not a piece of expensive equipment like many people think. Even if you have the eye of a photographer, that doesn’t guarantee your success. Just like anything else, you need to invest a lot of effort and time to master your skills and techniques.
However, if you already know how to take great photographs, you can get to the point where you earn a living from it. There are many online stock photo websites where you can sell your beautiful and unique photographs, or you can work as a full-time photographer or do it as freelance photographer.
We decided to create a list for people who live in Queens and Brooklyn. However, if you live in another borough in New York City, and you want to attend a photography class on a budget, check our list of 6 Free Photography Classes in New York City.
The classes we have on our list of best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn are for everyone, from beginners to people who have some experience, to professionals. Also, most of them don’t have age requirements so, regardless of your age, you can pursue your dreams. In order to create our list, we used Class Curious’ database to find some of the best photography classes located in Queens and Brooklyn. After we found some of the more popular classes in those boroughs, we ranked them by price.
Now let’s take a look at the 15 best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn to get you started with a new hobby, or possibly a new career.
15. Introduction to DSLR Photography
Location: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $46
If you want to learn how to make great photographs anywhere you go, investing in a DSLR camera will be your first step. In this class, you and 9 other students will be taught by David Samuel Stern, the basics of photography and how your DSLR camera actually works. This class includes lectures and experiments, but cameras aren’t provided, so you’ll need to bring your own. If you have the equipment, you are ready to learn the exposure controls and capture modes on your camera today.
14. Crash Course: Camera Basics
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $75
The average class size in this course is 10 people and the teacher is Sally Bozzuto. In this class, you will get a one-shot introduction to digital photography and you will get the chance to understand the process of making high-quality photographs. You will learn what each button does, its different modes and how to read the light meter. All ages are welcome in this class, but the cameras aren’t provided for the class. In order to attend it, you need to bring your own camera including DSLR mirrorless, micro 4/3 systems.
13. Crash Course: Night Vision
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn.
Class Level: Intermediate
Price: $75
There are people who want to learn how to make beautiful photographs with no experience at all, and there are people who know something about it. This class is for the second group of people who already have experience with cameras. The average class size here is 10 people and they are taught by Kathleen Rugh. If you understand how to operate with manual exposure, you can join this class, regardless of your age, but like in previously listed classes, you will have to bring your own DSLR camera because the materials aren’t included in the price. Now, let’s see what else we have on our list of best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn.
12. Intuitive Photography: Governor’s Islands
Location: Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Class Level: All Levels
Price: $75
Join this class and let teacher Mindy help you reveal your creative side and teach you how to shoot beautiful images in a two-hour class. The average class size consists of six people and people with and without experience are welcome. This isn’t a technical class, rather, it is a creative class where you will get to try everything you learn and when the class finishes, you will leave with great photographs. Here, you will learn the difference between seeing, looking and observing. For this class, you will need a camera, one lens, and no tripods.
11. Photo Safari: World Trade Center
Location: Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn
Class Level: All Levels
Price: $100
In an average class size of 7 students, you will get the chance to explore and discover Lower Manhattan’s magnificence and landmarks while you are revealing your architectural photography skills. With this class, you will learn how to remember the past and celebrate the future at the same time. Here, you will understand lines and balance while shooting amazing buildings. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you will need a fully charged camera and good walking shoes. Also, you can bring a notebook and pen so you don’t forget anything.
10. Intuitive Photography: Gantry Park, Long Island City
Location: Sunnyside, Queens.
Class Level: All Levels
Price: $100
Regardless of your photography skills, at the end of this class, you will have beautiful photographs for which you can be proud of. This is a three-hour class where you will be walking along the promenade, and you can shoot as many pictures of the NYC skyline as you want. This isn’t just another technical class, but a creative one that will show you and teach you at the same time how to shoot beautiful photographs. In order to attend this class, you will need a digital point and shoot camera. You can take your photographs home with you and you can hang them somewhere where everyone can see them.
9. Intuitive Photography: Noguchi Museum
Location: Astoria, Queens.
Class Level: All Levels
Price: $100
This class, the next one on the list of best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn is only three hours long, but during this time, Marj will teach you everything regarding basics of photography and different techniques. This class is more creative than technical and it encourages people with little to no experience to join. After three hours, you will finish the course successfully, but keep in mind that you need to pay a $10 general admission for the museum, as well, and it is not included in the class price.
8. Using Your DSLR Camera
Location: Bayside, Queens
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $105
Coming in around halfway through our list of the 15 best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn is a class at Queensboro Community College. Here you can learn everything you need in order to get the most out of your camera. You will learn what choices to make while you are picking lenses as well as the basic principles of photography. In this class, you will be taught on a Canon Rebel T3i, but the same principles will apply to most any DSLR camera. If you want to show your friends and family your beautiful photographs and hang them in your living room, make sure you sign up for this class.
7. Photography: Documentary – A Social Approach
Location: Bayside, Queens.
Class Level: All Levels
Price: $105
If you want to gain some knowledge about photography from this class, it is recommended to have basic photography experience and photo editing skills, but people without any experience are encouraged to attend this class as well. In this class, teacher Leo Correa will be teaching you the most effective and the most inspiring photography disciplines as well as how to use the lens. Also, there will be a short-term project including a bit of sightseeing where you can shoot different photographs.
6. The Art Of Digital Photography
Location: Bayside, Queens
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $155
The Art of Digital Photography is one of the best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn and on our list of best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn as well. Here, as in the previous course, the teacher is Leo Correa. With this class he focuses on exposure, composition, portrait and landscape techniques, design in photography and basic retouching techniques. Also, there will be organized walking tours, weekly assignments, and demonstrations. In order to get the best experience from this class, it is recommended that you have computer skills, the ability to use peripherals and knowledge of image formats as well as technical jargon.
5. Photography: Digital Basic
Location: Jamaica, Queens
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $229
Jennifer Brown, the teacher in this class will be teaching you the basics of digital photography. You will not only learn the basics of photography, but you will also learn how to transfer photos from camera to computer, how to edit them and how to share them among other things. You will gain basic knowledge about buying a camera, such as megapixels, aperture, white balance, shutter, and ISO. The equipment isn’t included in the class price so make sure you have your fully charged camera with you. After this class, you will be able to shoot beautiful photographs, edit them and share them with your friends and family.
4. Photography Digital II
Location: Jamaica, Queens
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $229
This class is dedicated to people who have little to no experience with photography and cameras, but have a strong will to learn how to shoot amazing photographs. Jennifer Brown is teaching an average class of 15 students and she will help you understand your camera better and get the maximum out of it. The course is divided into two sections, the first one covers the technical aspect of operating a camera system while the second one is to apply your knowledge to capture your vision. If you are ready to make your dream finally come true, all you need is a camera and to join this course.
3. Digital Photography I: The Basics
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Class Level: Beginner
Price: $350
In Digital Photography I: The Basics, the next one on our list of best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn, all ages are welcome to attend the class. Here, in a class of approximately 10 students, you will learn the foundations and potential of digital photography. This course will last a couple of weeks and for this time you will learn so many things like shutter speeds, ISO, aperture, exposure, motion blur and how to compare different lenses. You will need to bring your own camera and manual. If you miss out on one of the classes during the course, there are no makeup classes, but there is a video you can watch and learn what you missed.
2. Digital Photography II: Intermediate
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Class Level: Intermediate
Price: $350
If you decide to join this class, you will instantly learn how to control your camera’s exposure manually. However, this class requires you to have some kind of previous experience with cameras and photography in order to get the maximum from it. You need to know SLR manual functions, a basic understanding of motion blur and depth of blur All ages are welcomed to join the Digital Photography II: Intermediate class but every student needs to bring their own camera. This course is great for those who want to refresh their knowledge or want to upgrade it even more.
1. Essential Lighting and Studio (6 Weeks)
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
Class Level: Intermediate
Price: $350
The teacher in the class Essential Lighting and Studio that ranks first on our list of best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn (6 Weeks) is James Reddington and he is teaching an average class size of 8 students. Since this class is intermediate level, you will need to have a previous experience with cameras and photography. Here you can upgrade or refresh your knowledge by breaking down the tools, techniques, and setups in order to shoot a beautiful photograph. You will be using a combination of practice and theory to master your photography skills. You can take every photograph home with you and you can show them to your friends and family.
This was our list of 15 best photography classes in Queens and Brooklyn. We hope we managed to show you some great classes and inspire you to check one out.