Thinking about turning photos into something more than a hobby? You cover light, lenses, composition, colour and refining images. An award-winning photojournalist marks what you shoot, which makes this a solid place to start.
Light, exposure, lenses and composition are taught in order. After that the camera stops making the choices for you.
Christina Simons has shot documentary work for over fifteen years. She writes back on the images you submit.
A camera with manual settings helps, though a phone with a manual app will carry you through the course.
Photography work in New Zealand is mostly small jobs booked directly: a house listing, a family shoot, a wedding, a product run for a local brand. Content work has grown alongside it. The day is half shooting and half editing, with a fair bit of chasing bookings in between.
Your own jobs, booked one at a time.
Families, headshots and the odd pet.
Steady, quick work for local agents.
Prints, stock and commissioned work.
Long days, big responsibility, good money in season.
Images and short video for brands and social.
Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Every role is different, and some need more study or experience. Wedding, fashion and commercial bookings normally follow a portfolio and second-shooting hours rather than a course alone.
Three things worth knowing before you enrol.
Private messaging with Christina Simons, plus written notes on submitted images.
Ulleo runs live image critiques, editing walkthroughs and genre sessions across the year.
Post a half-finished shot and get eyes on it before you call it done.
Certificate of Achievement · The Career Academy
Awarded by the college on completion.
Detailed notes from your mentor on what you submit.
The work you make while studying stays yours.
An advisor sends the guide and the gear notes.
Begin the same day. Weekly plan or one payment.
Six topics, with your mentor writing back on each set.
Finish with images worth showing, then start quoting on jobs.
A camera with manual settings is recommended. A smartphone works too if you enable manual control through an app, and the course suggests which ones.
No. It is built for beginners and keen amateurs, and starts at the beginning.
From $29 a week on a plan, with no deposit and no credit check. Enquire for current pricing.
About 80 hours of study, with six months of access.
Christina Simons, a documentary photographer and photojournalist, with written notes on your submissions.
You enrol through The Career Academy and Ulleo, their education partner, delivers it.
It is a micro-credential with a Certificate of Achievement from the college. The college is an ICOES accredited centre with Official Accreditation from the CPD Standards Office, which is accreditation for professional development. It is not NZQA accredited, so it is not a national qualification. Those are different things, and photography clients hire on the strength of your images.
Yes. A 10-Day Money Back Guarantee runs from enrolment.
You enrol through The Career Academy, an online college in New Zealand, and Ulleo delivers the course through their platform.
The Career Academy has run for over 15 years and helps more than 25,000 students a year. Career support covers CV reviews and interview preparation.
Picture the first time someone hands you money for a photograph, and you know exactly how you made it.