class by celina bailey

Basics of Photography

Clarity, confidence, control—build the technical photography skills to bring your creative vision to life.

The Basics of Photography is a hands-on beginners course designed to give you the knowledge, confidence, and control to move beyond camera auto mode and start creating intentional, beautiful images.

I'm interested
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COURSE LENGTH

4 weeks

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class start date

12th Jan 2026

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INVESTMENT

$250 / $300

Independent / Guided

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celina bailey

Whether you're a complete beginner or someone who’s been dabbling with your camera for a while, this class breaks down the foundational elements of photography in a way that’s approachable, clear, and creatively inspiring.

Understanding how your camera works is essential to capturing the kinds of images you envision. Without control over exposure, focus, and light, you're left guessing, and the magic of photography can quickly turn into frustration. This course is here to change that. 

Over the course of four weeks, we’ll cover the exposure triangle (shutter speed, aperture, ISO), metering, focus modes, lens choice, white balance, and more. You’ll also learn how to read light, think about composition, and begin to develop your own visual voice. 

Whether you're photographing your kids, your travels, or your clients, this class will help you finally feel in control of your camera, and ready to make photos you’re proud of.

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celina bailey
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    • Get to know your camera- how it works, what it can (and can’t) do

    • Understand the difference between crop sensor and full-frame cameras

    • Know when to shoot RAW vs. JPEG and how it affects your workflow

    • Learn the differences between focus modes and how to use them intentionally

    • Break down the camera modes (Auto, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual)

    • Master the three pillars of exposure: ISO, shutter speed, and aperture

    • Understand how shutter speed affects motion and how to freeze or blur movement

    • Learn how aperture affects depth of field and light

    • Practice metering in-camera and reading your histogram for accurate exposures

    • Explore the exposure triangle and gain confidence shooting in full manual mode

    • Use the zone system and the concept of stops to expose with precision

    • Recognize and work with different types of light, both natural and artificial

    • Understand how white balance and the color of light shape your images

    • Explore how different lenses affect perspective, composition, and genre

    • Gain a basic introduction to photographic genres and where your interests might lead

    • Watch a simple editing walkthrough to learn how to organize, archive, and prepare your images for web and print

    • A 4-week online interactive workshop, paced with daily written lesson and daily exercises

    • Daily instructor interaction in the classroom to answer questions and support your learning

    • Weekly Zoom calls with live demonstrations, discussion, and time for Q&A

    • Weekly assignments with individualized, screen-recorded feedback for guided participants

    • Bonus exercises for extra practice (optional and not critiqued)

    • Zoom recordings available each week for independent students and guided studens who can’t attend live

    • A DSLR or mirrorless camera that allows you to shoot in full manual mode

    • A basic understanding of how to operate your camera’s buttons and menus (you don’t need to be an expert—just comfortable exploring)

    • A willingness to step outside your comfort zone and try new things

    • Optional but helpful: a notebook or journal to jot down settings, ideas, and light observations

    • Most importantly: an open mind, a curious spirit, and a desire to learn through both practice and imperfection

  • Interactive classes are held online and registration opens seasonally.

    Guided students can participate fully in class, by asking questions, submitting assignments, and getting personalized feedback from your teacher.

    Independent students have full access to class content and can participate in class discussions —they just don’t get teacher critique and feedback on images or assignments.

“ I had been wanting, for the longest time, to take a course which showed me the basics of photography, taking away that guessing game to achieve what I am seeing and know that what i am doing is correct without having that eternal doubt. I never found any course that spoke to me until I stumbled across Celina’s. “

monique
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MEET THE TEACHER

Celina

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Bailey

Hello, I’m Celina. I’m a visual art addict, a working mom to Mathis and Elsie, a loyal friend, a hopeless romantic, and someone who still believes in magic.

I wear many hats and embrace being perfectly imperfect- a walking contradiction who finds beauty in everything. Professionally, I’m the Artistic Director and content strategist for CrownRing | Noam Carver, a bridal company. I also teach photography here and lead workshops in Montreal on photography and social media. Over the years, I’ve collaborated with brands like Disney, eBay and JCrew, and built a Pinterest following of over 3 million.

Storytelling is at the heart of everything I do. I’ve been drawn to documentary photography for over a decade—capturing real, quiet, and messy moments. Lately, I’ve fallen in love with film again, developing and scanning at home and dreaming of one day building a darkroom.

Born into a half British, half Moroccan family, I’ve lived in Montreal since I was five. I love coffee, vintage finds, florals & stripes, anything Japanese, and all the colors.

I dance often, stay up too late, and am always happy to try something new—especially if it feels a little unexpected and fun.

See Celina's instagram
Visit celina's website 
Any questions?

Email your teacher directly here and they will get back to you.

Alumni Student?

We’d love to have you back! Email your teacher here and they will send you a link.

Registration opens January 7th

6pm EST

REMIND ME
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What other students had to say

This is the first time I finally understood how to take photos Manually with my DSLR camera. It was really easy to understand and to apply to the exercises weekly. There was a clear improvement in my photo skills after just five lessons! I am now confident enough to go out with my DSLR and take photos of anything, Amazing class, super fun. Highly recommend to anyone that needs to brush up on their skills or is starting fresh.

minna

I had taken workshops and watched countless tutorials. But after years of taking photos, I still had not mastered manual mode. Celina’s course was so motivating and she paced the assignments so that I was able to make connections among aperture, shutter speed, and metering. I feel I am ready to take my photography to the next level. I highly recommend this class.

gILlian
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Hands down this was the best photography course, virtual or in person, I’ve ever experienced and the best value. The daily instruction plus recommended exercises to immediately put those principles into practice is a winning combination

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coco
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