Beginners Photography Classes - Weekly Evening Classes
Beginners photography classes in Coventry — get off Auto and finally understand your camera
A friendly three-week evening course that takes you from Auto to confident manual control. Exposure, focus, composition and the settings that actually matter — with hands-on feedback on your own camera.
Maximum four people, so you get real attention and the time to ask questions and practise as you learn.
A beginners photography course that finally makes your camera make sense
Coventry · three weekly evenings · max 4 people · all beginners welcome
Most people who come to these classes have owned a camera for a while — or just bought their first — and still feel stuck on Auto. They’ve watched the videos, read the articles, and the settings still don’t quite click. That’s exactly who this course is for.
Over three relaxed evening sessions we build the fundamentals properly: aperture, shutter speed and ISO, how they work together, and how to take control of focus, light and composition. You work on your own camera, at your own pace, with hands-on guidance and feedback every step — not a lecture, but a small friendly class where there’s genuinely no such thing as a silly question.
You’ll leave able to get off Auto with confidence and understand why each setting matters, so you know what to do when it counts. Prefer one-to-one, or the evenings don’t fit? The same content is available as private photography lessons or online 1-2-1 over Zoom.
Is this course right for you?
If any of these sound familiar, you’re exactly who it’s for.
Prefer 1-2-1, or the evening times don't fit?
The three-week classes run on set evenings. If the dates or times don't work around your job or family, you don't have to miss out — Alan's 4 × 2-hour private 1-2-1 package (£360) covers everything in the beginners course and more, one-to-one, scheduled entirely around you.
Why a class beats “just watching more videos”
Free tutorials can explain ideas, but most beginners come to me having tried them and still feeling stuck — because videos can’t:
- Show you where a setting actually is on your specific camera
- Give consistent advice — every channel seems to say something different
- Stay current — a lot of what’s online is out of date
- Answer your questions or let you engage in the moment
- Look at your photos and tell you exactly what to fix
In a small class you get all of that — personal, current, and tailored to the camera in your hands.
Your three weeks, step by step
Break free from Auto
Aperture, shutter speed and ISO — and how the exposure triangle works together to give you control.
Master light & focus
Reading light, getting sharp focus, avoiding soft images, and making better choices in front of any scene.
Fine-tune everything
Composition, cleaning the frame, protecting highlights and building simple habits for consistent results.
What’s included for £150
- All tuition and practical guidance across three two-hour evening sessions
- A printed course book covering every topic
- Practical assignments to work on between sessions
- Constructive image review and feedback throughout the course
What to bring
You’ll need a DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual exposure modes, a charged battery (and a spare if you have one), and space on your memory card. Bring something to take notes. That’s it — turn up ready to practise and ask plenty of questions.
Learn from a qualified professional
Alan is a BIPP-qualified professional photographer (ABIPP) and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society (ARPS), and has been teaching for over 15 years. He explains the ‘why’ behind every setting — so you know what to do when it counts, not just which button to press. His mentoring clients have a 100% RPS distinction pass rate — 20+ LRPS and 4 ARPS to date.
Your place is risk-free
If the first session doesn’t meet your expectations or suit the way you like to learn, Alan will refund your course fee, less a small administrative charge. No one has ever needed to use it — but it’s there so you can book with confidence.
Choose your start date and book your place
Beginners Photography Course Coventry
Summary - Camera Courses For Beginners - Key Information
Location: 45 Hathaway Road, Coventry, CV4 9HW
Duration: 3 × 2hr evening classes (19:00–21:00)
Participants: Max 4
Start Dates: Beginners Photography Course
3wks Wednesdays - Jul 1 - Jul 15 Coventry
3wks Mondays - Jul 6 - Jul 20 Coventry
3wks Thursdays - Sep 17 - Oct 1 Coventry
3wks Tuesdays - Sep 22 - Oct 6 Coventry
3wks Mondays - Oct 12 - Oct 26 Coventry
3wks Wednesdays - Oct 14 - Oct 28 Coventry
3wks Mondays - Nov 9 - Nov 23 Coventry
3wks Tuesdays - Dec 1 - Dec 15 Coventry
3wks Wednesdays - Jan 13 - Jan 27 Coventry
3wks Thursdays - Jan 28 - Feb 11 Coventry
Level: Beginner and Novice
Description:A practical three-week evening course that takes you from Auto to confident manual control, built around your own camera.
Week 1 is about getting off Auto for good — the exposure modes, then aperture, shutter speed and ISO, and how they work together as the exposure triangle, with practical assignments to put it into practice.
Week 2 goes deeper into getting the exposure right: manual exposure, metering, reading the histogram, exposure compensation, stops and dynamic range, and bracketing — followed by a review of your assignment work.
Week 3 moves on to focusing and depth of field, white balance, JPEG vs RAW, and the foundations of composition, finishing with a final assignment review.
With a maximum of four people, you get genuine attention and plenty of room to ask questions, and you'll leave with a printed course book covering every topic to revisit at home. Beginner and novice friendly — just bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual modes.
What You'll Learn: How to get off Auto and use manual exposure, aperture, shutter speed and ISO; how focus works; and the foundations of composition to make stronger, more deliberate photos.
Includes: A printed course book covering every topic, so you can revisit it all afterwards.
Equipment: A DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual exposure modes.
Booking terms
A non-refundable deposit secures your place. Cancellations less than four weeks before the start date are not refundable, and no-shows forfeit the fee. Changing your date, or rebooking a missed class, incurs a £50 rebooking fee. Classes run with a minimum of two and a maximum of four participants; under-18s are welcome when accompanied by a paying adult. Interest-free payment plans and gift vouchers are available. Read the full booking terms & conditions →
What beginners say
★ 800+ verified 5-star reviews · Google & Trustpilot →
“I’ve just attended a 3-week total beginners course with Alan. His course is excellent — the material and delivery is professional, informative and fun. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Alan.”
Marie Rushworth · Google“Was a complete beginner and found this very useful to get confidence with my camera. Alan has so much knowledge and expertise to impart. Good atmosphere and some laughs along the way.”
Deb Moffat · Google“I attended the beginners camera course, would definitely recommend. Didn’t realise just how much there was to know! Nice small group which gives you time to ask questions.”
Laura Simpson · GoogleBeginners photography course — FAQs
Do I need an expensive camera or lenses?
No. Any DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual exposure modes is perfect — it doesn’t need to be new or expensive. You don’t need extra lenses; the kit lens that came with your camera is fine. Bring what you have.
I’m a complete beginner — will I be out of my depth?
Not at all. The course assumes no prior knowledge and starts with the fundamentals. With a maximum of four people there’s time for questions and individual help — and there’s genuinely no such thing as a silly question here.
How much time does the course take?
Three weekly evening sessions of two hours each — six hours of teaching in total — plus optional practical assignments between sessions, usually a couple of hours a week if you want to get the most from it.
Is there parking at the venue?
Yes — there’s space for two to three cars on the premises, plus free roadside parking on the cul-de-sac.
What if I miss one of the three weeks?
The course runs as a fixed three-week block, so a missed session can’t be repeated within it. You’ll still receive the full course material for that week to work through yourself, and if you’d like to cover it properly you can book a one-to-one private lesson (1–2 hours) with Alan to go through what you missed.
Can under-18s attend?
Yes — younger photographers are welcome on the classroom course, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult on the course.
Is the venue accessible?
The classroom is on the ground floor with step-free access. Please note the toilet is on the first floor, up a flight of stairs. If you have any specific access needs, get in touch before booking and Alan will do his best to help.
What can I do after the beginners course?
Most people add the Lightroom photo editing course to develop their images, or continue with monthly mentoring or 1-2-1 lessons. If you’re aiming higher, there’s also RPS distinction support.
Where the classes happen
Good to know
Everything you need at a glance
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Location | 45 Hathaway Road, Coventry, CV4 9HW · Tile Hill |
| Format | 3 weekly evening classes · 7–9pm |
| Group size | Maximum 4 · small and personal |
| Level | Beginner and novice · no prior knowledge needed |
| Price | £150 · includes a printed course book |
| Equipment | DSLR or mirrorless with manual modes |
| Parking | 2–3 cars on site, plus free roadside parking |
| Access | Ground-floor classroom, step-free; toilet on first floor |
Ready to take control of your camera?
Three evenings, a small friendly group, and a proper grounding in how your camera works — that’s all it takes to stop fighting Auto. Choose a start date that suits you above, or if the fixed evenings don’t fit, take the same content one-to-one.
Choose your dates & bookEvenings don’t fit? Take it 1-2-1 in person or online over Zoom. Or start free with the online photography academy.