Whether you’re pursuing smartphone photography as a hobby or a career, there’s always room for improvement. Even if you’ve been photographing for years, there’s always something you can learn.
Whether you’re learning about lighting, composition, or editing, it doesn’t hurt to see how other photographers are doing things. The important thing is to be open minded and willing to put yourself out there.
One of the best ways of learning about smartphone photography is through a workshop or class. In the past, workshops have mainly been held in person, but in the age of COVID-19, more and more photographers are teaching online.
What is a Smartphone Photography Workshop?
So, what exactly is a smartphone photography workshop and what can you expect to learn from it? First, it’s important to understand the difference between a photography class and a workshop.
Classes involve the classic teaching structure of the instructor explaining how things work or how to do certain things. Examples of this could be a basic course on smartphone photography. You’ll learn how your phone works and how you can improve your photography. Of course, the topics of classes can vary.
Workshops, on the other hand, tend to be more hands-on. In a workshop, you’re expects to take charge of your own learning and creativity. In a workshop, you’ll likely do more creative work and get more feedback, both from the instructor and your fellow learners.
With both classes and workshops, you could be looking at a range of prices depending on who is teaching and what you’ll be learning. You should also be able to find both in-person and online options.
Why You Should Sign Up for a Workshop
If you’ve been working as a mobile photographer for a while, it’s easy to get complacent in your talent. You’re obviously good at what you do, so what could you possibly learn from a workshop?
Well, the answer may surprise you. As with anything, you’re likely to have certain strengths and weaknesses when it comes to mobile photography. Perhaps you take great photos, but your editing skills aren’t quite up to par. Why not sign up for an editing workshop?
Even if you feel like you’re a well-rounded mobile photographer, there are a ton of people doing things much differently than you. Everyone does their job a certain way and it doesn’t hurt to experiment with new techniques.
Simply put, smartphone photography workshops will take you out of your comfort zone and push you to better yourself as a photographer. No matter how much experience you have, getting constructive feedback in a workshop is going to be far more helpful than reading comments on social media.
No matter where you’re at in your photography career, it’s likely that your work now is completely different from when you first started. Whether you took classes or learned along the way, your style and skill evolved.
Workshops give that evolution a helping hand. Sure, some workshops can be a bit pricy, but consider it an investment in yourself. By this time next year, your work might be completely different than it is now.
Where to Find Smartphone Photography Workshops
So, you’re ready to sign up for a smartphone photography workshop. Now all you have to do is find the right one. Luckily, photography workshops are a common occurrence in most areas, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding one.
But before you sign up, you’ll need to decide whether you prefer in-person or online classes. They both have their benefits, so you’ll need to consider which one you’ll benefit from more or which one will suit your budget better.
In Person
In person smartphone photography workshops are great if you prefer hands-on experience with face-to-face instruction. Some people just can’t do online learning, and that’s fine! There are several places to search locally to find the right workshop for you.
Many areas have local fine arts schools or art centers that offer classes and workshops in a range of subjects. Since smartphone photography has become more popular, many schools and facilities have begun offering instruction.
Depending on where you live, you may also be able to find a local photography school. Some fine arts schools offer weekend workshops to the public on occasion, or you might consider signing up for some of their classes.
Another great resource is local photographers or photography clubs. Though many of these individuals and clubs may be more focused on traditional photography, there are plenty that have taken up interest in smartphone photography.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt to make friends with like-minded people! If you have a little extra cash laying around, then a Moment Travel Trip might be worth it too! You can travel to a myriad of different uniquely foreign locations and you’ll get to interact with and learn from the teachers of the Moment Lessons (post-covid of course) While Moment Travel is really expensive and comes included with a lot less than one might hope they are an experience that can improve your mobile photography and filmmaking unlike anything else.
Online
Not every mobile photographer is lucky enough to live in an area surrounded with photography resources, so if this sounds like you, don’t worry! There are plenty of great workshops and classes on the internet. Not to self-promote but a great place to start is Photos with Phones’ Youtube Chanel.
Aside from that, though, you’ll likely find no shortage of online smartphone photography workshops taught by your favorite mobile photographers.
One of the best places to search for smartphone photography courses is on Skillshare. If you’re unfamiliar with this website, it’s an online learning platform that primarily focuses on interactions between instructors and learners, rather than just lectures.
Whether you’re interested in improving your still photography skills, become a mobile filmmaker, or improve your editing abilities, you’re certain to find what you’re looking for on Skillshare. You can even learn more about marketing your work!
Moment also has a range of online photography lessons. Most of Moment’s courses focus on traditional photography techniques, but there’s still plenty to learn that could be applied to smartphone photography as well.
From studio photography to photo storytelling Moment has a ton of courses to choose from. There are also more than a few courses designed specifically for the mobile photographer. Plus, their courses are taught by some of the best photographers in the industry.
If you need a little nudge in the right direction, we’ve gathered a list of the 7 Best Smartphone Photography Courses. Take a look and see if there’s a course that could take your smartphone photography to the next level.
