Beginners Photography Classes - Weekly Evening Classes
Beginners Photography Classes in Coventry — 3-Week Evening Course
Get off Auto and finally understand your camera
Beginners photography classes in Coventry — 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.
Maximum four people, so you get real attention and the chance to ask questions on your own camera.
BIPP qualified · ARPS · 15+ yrs teaching · 800+ five-star reviews →
Is this course right for you?
If any of these sound familiar, you're exactly who it's for
| This sounds like me… | How the course helps |
|---|---|
| I've got a new camera but it's still stuck on Auto | Exactly who it's for — we start from the very beginning, no assumed knowledge. |
| I've had my camera for years but never understood the settings | We build the fundamentals properly so it finally clicks into place. |
| I've watched endless YouTube but I'm still confused | Hands-on and personalised, with someone to show you where each setting is on your camera — no conflicting or out-of-date advice. |
| I'm worried I'll be the least experienced in the room | Everyone starts here. Maximum four people and no such thing as a silly question. |
| I'm not sure my camera or lenses are good enough | Any DSLR or mirrorless with manual modes is perfect — the kit lens you already have is fine. |
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- Stay current — a lot of what's online is out of date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.
"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."
"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."
"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."
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, Tile Hill Village, Coventry, CV4 9HW
Participants: Max 4
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Multi Course Start Dates: Beginners Photography Course
3wks Thursdays - Jun 11- Jun 25 Coventry
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
Experience - Level: Beginner and Novice
This beginners photography course is aimed at anyone with a digital camera wishing to get off auto exposure mode and learn about key camera settings and composition to make better photos.
Equipment Needed:
You will need a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera with manual exposure modes.
Alan will provide you with a course book covering all the topics for the course
Beginners 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 a friend or partner come along to watch?
Places are limited to four participants to keep classes personal, so sessions are for booked participants only rather than observers. If a friend or partner would also like to learn, they're very welcome to book their own place.
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.
Do I get a certificate?
Not as standard, but one is available on request — an informal acknowledgement of completing your beginners photography training.
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.
What happens if a class can't run?
On the rare occasion a class can't go ahead, you'll be offered an alternative date or a credit.
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 your schedule, take the same content one-to-one. Either way, you'll come away knowing exactly what you're doing behind the camera, and why.