It may seem to you that Traditional photography lessons are really not required anymore. I don't blame you; today, anyone can just pick up a digital camera and click. If it doesn't come right, well, you can always Photoshop it. 

What happened to the true and tried formula of posing, plus lighting and composition and exposure to create a beautiful photograph! It is why we need a great photography school! To acknowledge the need for proper training and experience combined with the technical training required to bring the art of photography to the best results. 

As always, the choice of schools is endless, so we have picked some schools, workshops, and even online courses that do it better than the others. Check them out, and let's see if anything interesting develops!

Best Photography Schools

New York Institute Of Photography

New York Institute Of Photography is the world's largest and oldest photography school. Founded in 1910, NYIP has been successfully graduating photographers all over the world for 100 years. 
They have affordable home-study courses that allow students anywhere to learn the photography skills that they need. Each of their education courses includes comprehensive and up-to-date lessons, audio commentary on CD, and DVD video training. 
Each student receives a dedicated student advisor who is a professional photographer to guide you through the course. Another impressive plus to their school is that it limits the courses. 
It helps students dive deeper into the subjects, and a complete course on Photoshop alone gets offered. Join the NYIP, and you could pretty much become the next big Shooting Star!

Click here: http://www.nyip.com/.

Brooks Institute

Brooks Institute is one of the top photography schools globally. This photography school offers a BFA in Professional Photography and an MFA in Photography. 

There are not many schools that offer both of those. Whether you're interested in pursuing a photography degree or want to gain additional skills in film, graphic design, or visual journalism, you can find a program at Brooks Institute that meets your needs. 

However, Brooks Institute requires you to 'focus' with your thinking caps on. Its multidisciplinary approach to education promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity to help students become technologically adept and visually sophisticated. 

Their faculty of award-winning industry professionals and academics help students discover their creative style as they grow toward becoming trained professionals.

Click here: http://www.brooks.edu/.

Hallmark Institute Of Photographer

Hallmark Institute Of Photographer has a very unique ten-month program for professional photography. The curriculum features seven introductory courses of study. 

These courses are 

• Art & Technique, 
  

• Digital Imaging, 
  

• Design & Imaging Arts
  

• Marketing 
  

• Management
  

• Personnel Finance 
  

The unique "photo boot camp" approach gets students up to speed in ten months by combining cutting-edge photo equipment, state-of-the-art digital facilities, and a motivated faculty who have first-hand experience with the actual demands and expectations of the working world.

Click here: http://hallmark.edu/.

Rocky Mountain School Of Photography

The best thing about this school is that it offers intensive month-long courses. The course is on various topics, including professional photography and digital technology. Workshops at RMSP provide a wide range of experiences. It provides solid photographic instruction and covers basic to advanced topics. 

The program prepares people for a career in photography through hands-on learning, progressive development, support, and mentoring.

Click here: http://rmsp.com/.

Ohio Institute Of Photography And Technology

The Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology focuses on photography and professional skills. They specialize in using small-, medium-, and large-format cameras using digital and film as required. 

Other courses will train you in Adobe Photoshop plus advanced camera techniques. You will also have an opportunity to develop your portfolio. It also offers both day and night classes.

Click here: http://dayton.kaplancollege.com/Pages/Commercial_Photography.aspx.

Best Art Institutes

Many cities provide Art Institutes that provide live instruction on campuses in many cities. Their instructors are all professionals, and the schools get tightly managed to give the students the best possible education geared to their photography. 

One of the robust features of the Art Institutes is that they are in many cities, and they pull from the local artists to add to the education experience. Another advantage of the Art Institutes is that students can intern with professional studios of their specialty. 

It also gives the students a way to "show off" to the studios what they are capable of besides learning. Some excellent art institutes to start looking at are:

• The Art Institute of Philadelphia – Philadelphia, The Art Institute of Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh ‍
  

• Academy of Art University – San Francisco 
  

• The Art Institute of Colorado – Denver 
  

• The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale – Fort Lauderdale 
  

• The Art Institute of Atlanta – Atlanta 
  

• Miami International University of Art & Design – Miami
  

Best Online Photography Courses

Better Photo

Think you are too lazy to go to an actual school? This website offers an online learning experience that includes all aspects of photography and related software. There are even specific courses that cover some camera models and how to use them. 

They offer a large variety of courses taught by professionals in the industry. It is another membership-based website with an additional fee for the courses. 

The difference is the in-depth management of the members, offering them personalized critiques in their classes directly from the instructor and including websites for the members, plus a huge variety of other benefits.

Click here: http://www.betterphoto.com/.

Digital Art Academy

While looking again to online education, several highly specialized websites offer streamlined classes geared towards a specialty. 

This particular school offers classes that include step-by-step instruction combined with videos for specific digital art techniques, emphasizing digital painting and using Corel Painter and Adobe Photoshop software.

Click here: http://www.digitalartacademy.com/.

Lynda

Here's another that offers online education to a variety of online education. While this website is membership-based, it provides one of the largest varieties of online training for learning on your own in your own time. 

Lynda offers photography courses in Cameras + Gear, Documentaries, Lighting, Photo Assignments, Photo Assignments, and Printing + Sharing. In total, including all their courses, they offer over 1000 classes! For all you cheapos (like me), there is also a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL. 

Click here: http://www.lynda.com/.

Outdoor Photography Workshops

Let's not leave out the masses of nature photographers out there that want to learn how to photograph lions and tigers and bears (oh my!). There is a group with workshops worldwide with some of the most talented nature photographers around. 

Their intensive workshop instructors, Jason Hahn and Les Voorhis provide in-field, hands-on photo instruction coupled with classroom sessions and image critiques, tailoring their instruction to meet the needs of each photographer, regardless of skill level or camera equipment. 

Their focus is on helping improve your nature photography skills and expand your creativity while providing you opportunities to photograph unique and exciting outdoor adventure and nature subjects. Just looking at the damn images on their website is exciting!

Click here: http://www.outdoorphotoworkshops.com/.

On a closing note, let's face it; everyone has their own learning style and fits learning into their lifestyle. It depends on what you want to do! If you travel and work full time and have home responsibilities, then an online course is just what you need. 

If you have free time and can commit to being away, the obvious choice is a hands-on type of education. There are short-term and long-term classes and workshops everywhere. Snap away, guys!