Let’s learn together.

Join us for the newest iteration of the Photo Class.

Education & Community

Photo Class presented by Focal Point is an evolution of the original Reddit Photo Class, which has been running each year for over a decade. Like previous years, there will be regular lessons and assignments to get new photographers comfortable with the skills they need to really launch forward. This year we’ve tweaked the curriculum a bit and have added the real-time benefits of an active Discord server. If you’re new to photography, this is the perfect place to get started!

As you know, you can follow along on the class’s original home Reddit or on the dedicated Discord server, but this year, we’ve added a consolidated home for the class - and it’s right here! Follow along and track your progress, lesson by lesson, with each going live bi-weekly.

While nice and organized here, it is still strongly recommended that you engage in the social aspect through Reddit or Discord, as that’s where you’ll find live conversations with the teachers, mentors, and your peers. We will also be holding regular video/voice chats which will help you in your progress. Ultimately this course works best as a joint effort!

 FAQs

  • The course is open to anyone wanting to better their photography skills. As it’s a fundamental course, it will start with the basics and build in a thoughtful and effective way.

  • Yes! The class has always been free. All the information is available to everyone at any time. All critiques and interactions with the teachers and mentors is included in the course and has no extra cost.

  • Short answer, yes. Longer answer: If you’re using a phone, we recommend downloading an app which allows you to change settings so as to practice the effects settings have on the final image. If you’re shooting film, take into consideration development and scanning times. This may cause delays in getting any critique back to you if the teachers and mentors have gone on to the newest lesson. If you’re okay with that, we’re okay with it!

  • All kinds of good stuff: settings, composition, color theory, genre exploration, organization and post processing, lighting, giving and receiving meaningful feedback, and much more!

  • This year is structured a little differently. We’ll have two semesters. Semester 1 runs from January-May. During June, July, and August, you will have self-lead assignments focusing on a larger project with additional reading. You will also have the opportunity to catch up on any missed assignments. Semester 2 runs from September-December and will culminate in a “final” project, which will be due at the end of the semester.

  • There will be weekly assignment submission posts on Reddit where you can submit your assignment photo. On the Discord server, there is a channel dedicated to submissions.

  • We’ve got a team of professional and enthusiast skilled photographers and educators on board! Our specialities range from travel, landscape, portrait, sports, and more. Stay tuned for an introduction from the whole team.

  • We won't be giving out the assignments early, but we'll have a syllabus with a little info about each weeks lesson and assignment available before the class starts to allow you to plan a little. We don't want to release the lessons in batches and the assignments are part of the learning process for the lessons so it won't be super helpful to most to have them early. We want to keep a steady pace with a logical flow of learning to not overwhelm people with too much info or options.

  • We will be approaching the post processing section more holistically, as in, we won't be focusing on one specific piece of software.

  • Nope, you'll absolutely be fine with that! There might be one or two lessons that might not completely apply, e.g. changing focal length but nothing more than that.

  • We officially start January 1, 2024, but feel free to jump in on conversations and sharing photos on the Discord today!