12 Free Photography Tutorials For Starting Out or Becoming a Pro

Get top tips and learn advanced techniques from Domestika’s photography experts

Photography is such a broad discipline, you will never run out of new tricks to learn.

From shooting self-portraits and sunsets to using sketchbooks and pin-hole cameras, these 12 tutorials share the best techniques for working on a diverse range of photographic projects with a variety of tools.

Whether you are just starting out with limited resources or are looking to perfect more advanced techniques, we have a tutorial for you. Click on the title to access the full content!

Photography Tutorial: How to Set up a Self-Portrait

Self-portraits have been a fundamental component of self-expression throughout history, allowing artists to explore their own external image and internal truths. Laura Zalenga (@laurazalenga) is a photographer passionate about the art of self-portraits who has given talks for clients like Adobe, Disney, Sony, and Mercedes Benz.

In this tutorial, she shares three different ways you can set up your own self-portrait photoshoot easily and effectively, depending on what tools you have available.

Photography Tutorial: How to Photograph a Sunset

Sunsets are a popular photo subject, but low lighting, a short time window, and their wide range of colors can make them difficult to capture.

In this tutorial, photographer Nico Ferreyra (@nicoferreyra6) guides us through preparing and planning our shoot before capturing unique and visually striking photos of a sunset.

Photography Tutorial: Why You Should Have an Artist's Sketchbook

Having a library of images, ideas, and inspirational material that you can draw on when it’s time to create is essential. The more things you see, the more sources of inspiration you have to draw from.

An artist's sketchbook is where you store this collection of information, which is why it's such an important tool in any creative process.

Photography Tutorial: How to Freeze Motion

Spanish photographer Jesús G. Pastor (@jesus_g_pastor), who has shot for Spain’s national newspapers and international publications and NGOs such as the UNHCR, explains how to capture a subject in motion, from freezing an entire scene to freezing one element of a scene.

Photography Tutorial: How to Make a Pinhole Camera at Home

If you're a fan of a more artisanal approach to photography, put your phone down. In this tutorial, Fotolateras will walk you through how to make a pinhole camera at home, using a few simple tools and materials: you’ll need a metal box, black paint, black adhesive tape, aluminum adhesive tape, and a drill.

Photography Tutorial: How to Create an Artistic Narrative

You don't need much to tell a good story with a picture: according to Carlos Herrejón, a camera, Photoshop, and your imagination is enough.

In this tutorial, this internationally acclaimed surrealist photographer will walk you through the basic steps involved in creating a narrative using photography and creative editing with Photoshop.

Photography Tutorial: How to Replace The Sky in Architectural Photography

Unlike the human eye, a camera's sensor is usually incapable of capturing all the nuances of the sky. Often we have to resort to using programs like Adobe Photoshop to make all the different tones and textures visible.

In this tutorial, Daniel Garay Arango (@danielgarayarango), who specializes in black and white architectural photography, explains step by step how to edit the sky in your photographs to obtain professional and spectacular results.

Photography Tutorial: How to Solve Problems on Location

Capturing the essence of a space through photography comes down to your choices regarding angles, lighting, and arrangement. However, technique and experience are key if you want to show a space at its best. Photographers do not always have the opportunity to check out a location and its lighting conditions ahead of a shoot.

It is therefore important to learn how to deal with any obstacles you might encounter. In this tutorial, photographer and architect Tuca Reinés (@tucareines) will teach you how to solve problems that arise during your interior photography project.

Photography Tutorial: How to Take Photos of Models with Natural Light

Not everyone has access to professional equipment and studio lighting when shooting models. However, you can still achieve professional results if you know how to make the most of the resources you do have: a smartphone and natural light.

In this tutorial, publicist and photographer Nay Jiménez (@nayjimenez) shares her top tips for an at-home photo shoot using your camera phone.

Photography Tutorial: Step-by-Step Tips for Retouching Skin

Photographer and graphic designer Nina Bruno (@ninabruno) is a Photoshop expert. In this tutorial, she will walk you through different adjustments you can make in Photoshop to eliminate imperfections and get the best results from your portrait photography.

Photography Tutorial: How to Sharpen Your Images

Sharpening your images before you publish them can have many benefits: it can compensate for any blurring caused by your equipment, make your pictures more vivid, and make it easier for viewers to appreciate the details. Remember, this process doesn’t have the power to bring an out-of-focus shot into focus.

Mikael Eliasson runs his own photography school in East London and has had his work exhibited across Europe. In this tutorial, he explains his simple process for sharpening an image in Photoshop using the high pass filter.

Photography Tutorial: Creating a Set for a Self-Portrait Shoot

For a self-portrait to make an impact on the viewer, apart from channeling emotion, it also needs a well-planned, interesting set.

In this tutorial, photographer and writer Danny Bittencourt (@dannybbittencourt) shares her tips on how to create the perfect set and tackle any technical or conceptual challenges posed by your self-portraiture project.

Enjoyed these tutorials? Be sure to check out our photography courses.

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