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Design
4.9 / 5.0
overall rating
Photography
Develop an eye for composition and lighting to create standout visual stories
Beginner
5 Weeks
2026 Edition
About this course
Develop a sharp eye for composition, lighting, and manual camera exposure to create standout visual imagery. Learn complete RAW editing and color grading techniques in Adobe Lightroom to shoot with professional confidence.
What will you learn
Master manual camera exposure settings (ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed)
Apply lighting principles for portrait, product, and street photography
Edit and retouch RAW images professionally in Adobe Lightroom
Your requirements
DSLR or Mirrorless camera (or modern smartphone in Manual mode)
Adobe Lightroom or similar RAW photo editor
Course curriculum
Chapter 1:
Camera Mechanics & Exposure
Lessons:
5
Duration:
40 mins
The Exposure Triangle Explained
Balance Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO to achieve perfect manual exposures.
Understanding Depth of Field
Control depth of field to isolate subjects with creamy bokeh backgrounds.
Shutter Speed Dynamics & Motion
Freeze fast action cleanly or capture deliberate motion blur artistically.
Focal Lengths & Lens Selection
Choose the ideal focal length for portraits, street scenes, and architecture.
RAW vs. JPEG & Sensor Dynamics
Maximize dynamic range and color latitude by shooting in uncompressed RAW.
Chapter 2:
Composition & Natural Lighting
Lessons:
5
Duration:
45 mins
Rule of Thirds & Golden Ratio
Structure balanced visual compositions that draw the viewer's eye.
Leading Lines & Framing Techniques
Use architectural lines and natural frames to add depth and focus.
Harnessing Natural Light
Master shooting during the golden hour, blue hour, and harsh midday sun.
Portrait Posing & Direction
Direct subjects naturally to capture authentic expressions and poses.
Product & Commercial Staging
Arrange studio props, manage reflections, and highlight product textures.
Chapter 3:
Lightroom Retouching & Color Grading
Lessons:
5
Duration:
50 mins
Importing & Catalog Organization
Build an efficient photo library with ratings, color labels, and keywords.
Tone Curve & Exposure Balancing
Sculpt contrast and tonal balance using parametric and point curves.
HSL, Color Grading & Split Toning
Create a signature color aesthetic using individual color channels and wheels.
Selective Masking & Skin Retouching
Use AI masks and radial filters for targeted exposure adjustments.
Exporting for Web, Print & Portfolio
Export color-managed photos tailored for print and social media feeds.
Adrian Sterl
Commercial & Editorial Photographer
Commercial photographer with a portfolio spanning luxury product campaigns, editorial portraits, and international exhibitions.