Introduction to Photojournalism: Capture Powerful Stories
A course by Finbarr O'ReillyPhotojournalist
A course by Finbarr O'Reilly, Photojournalist
Learn how to research stories and document them through photography to create meaningful and engaging narratives
There are many stories around the world that would remain untold without the illuminating power of photojournalism. Driven to tell those stories is Finbarr O’Reilly, an award-winning photojournalist with over 20 years of experience who has documented conflict, and humanitarian and social issues for publications and organizations like The New York Times and the Nobel Peace Prize.
In this course, he teaches you to create a structured narrative through a sequence of images with visual and emotional impact. Learn to identify, research, and capture your story while upholding ethical considerations. Explore the beauty of human connection and document captivating stories.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 16 downloads
Documentary Photographer: Social Responsibility
18 minutes, 53 seconds
Researching the Subject 1
10 minutes, 1 second
How to Build a Story through Images
12 minutes, 40 seconds
Materials
7 minutes, 59 seconds
Shooting the Story 1
19 minutes, 6 seconds
Photoshop
18 minutes, 28 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet photojournalist Finbarr O’Reilly as he discusses how his career has developed and what motivates him, along with the images and artists that influence his work.
Finbarr goes through the ethical considerations and responsibilities of photojournalism. Then see how to identify and research the subject you’re covering, and explore the essential elements needed to build a story through images.
Explore the fundamental equipment needed to capture important moments of your story. Next, start shooting, as Finbarr teaches you about overcoming obstacles and shares some best practices for photography. Discover how to review your work and organize it to improve the editing process.
Look at some effective digital editing techniques to enhance your photos. Finbarr then guides you on the principles of selecting and sequencing the right images to create your narrative. Learn how to develop a signature style that differs from other photographers.
Prepare your work for sharing with the world and hear Finbarr’s advice on how to approach editors and pitch your stories. End the course with guidance on the responsibilities you have to the subjects of your work and securing positive relations with them.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Produce a visually engaging narrative story of at least ten images.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone interested in improving their visual storytelling skills through photography, from professional photographers to those who want to create engaging stories for social media.
Requirements and materials
Some basic knowledge and understanding of photography is required.
In terms of equipment, you will need a camera or a mobile phone with a good quality camera, and access to editing software such as Photoshop or Lightroom.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
nice course to learn basic workflow and finish a project
- acvarelahPLUS6 months ago
el curso me desperto y me animo a la publicación, me resulta dificil poder compartir el proyecto en el curso. lo comparto por aqui. publique mi proyecto pero no veo que salga en el curso
- 8 months ago
Very good course from start to finish. It covered all of the aspects of a photojournalism project. I found the instructor to be very easy to listen to and follow. He had a coherent vision and structure for the course and it was excellently presented.
- 9 months ago
Good Course!
- 9 months ago
Aprendizagem muito útil. Conhecer novos pontos de vista
Finbarr lived in West and Central Africa for over a decade documenting conflicts in several countries in those areas. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and works for organizations such as the Nobel Peace Prize. He has won numerous awards for his photography and multimedia work including World Press Photo, Laureate Carmignac Photojournalism Award, 2020 Emmy Award, and 2012 Academy Award best documentary shortlist. He’s held academic fellowships at Yale, Columbia, and Harvard universities, and is the author of the nonfiction memoir, Shooting Ghosts: A U.S. Marine, a Combat Photographer, and Their Journey Back from War.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- About Me
- Influences
- U2
The Research
- Documentary Photographer: Social Responsibility
- Researching the Subject 1
- Researching the Subject 2
- How to Build a Story through Images
- U3
The Shooting
- Materials
- Shooting the Story 1
- Shooting the Story 2
- Shooting the Story 3
- Reviewing the Story
- U4
Developing and Editing
- Photoshop
- Editing the Story 1
- Editing the Story 2
- Your Signature Style
- U5
After the Project Is Finished
- Pitching Stories to Editors and Publications
- Documentary Photographer: Responsibilities with a Community
- FP
Final project
- Introduction to Photojournalism: Capture Powerful Stories
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for those with some photography experience who want to deepen their skills in photojournalism, visual storytelling, and documentary techniques.
You’ll need a camera (DSLR or mirrorless), basic lenses, memory cards, and a laptop for editing. Access to a mobile phone, reflector, and basic lighting gear is also recommended.
You’ll learn how to research stories, build narrative photo essays, apply ethical practices, collaborate with local photographers, use lighting techniques, and create impactful visual narratives.
Yes, the course includes extensive coverage of ethical photography, obtaining consent, protecting privacy, and documenting vulnerable populations with respect and integrity.
Yes, the course offers practical techniques for documenting elections, conflicts, and humanitarian crises, including workflow, composition, and ethical considerations.
Prior experience in documentary or news photography is helpful but not required. The course builds on general photography skills to develop specific techniques for storytelling and journalism.
You’ll learn strategies to build trust and authentic relationships with subjects, which are essential for capturing genuine moments and ethical portraits.