Photograph anyone, anywhere.
A window-lit family at home. A planned shoot in a park. A pet on the rug. The same handful of principles, applied to whoever's in front of you.
Portrait Photography Course
Portraits that look like the person — not just the lens.
Eighteen modules on people, light, posing and editing. Real feedback in the gallery from a real tutor on every photograph you upload. Account access for as long as you keep it. Over 100,000 photographers taught since 2012.
For as long as your account is active
·
Tutor feedback
·
CPD-certified certificate
18modules
100k+members
4.9★rated
100,000+photographers taught
Since 201214 years teaching
4.9★average member rating
18modules in the course
For lifeof your account
What you'll be able to do
From "they never smile properly in photos" to portraits people thank you for.
Most people freeze in front of a camera. The job of a good portrait photographer is to take that away — with the light, the pose, the conversation, and the timing. That's what you'll learn here.
Pose people without making them look posed.
Stop worrying about awkward hands and stiff smiles. The small cues that get partners, kids, grandparents and clients looking relaxed in seconds.
Use the light you've already got.
Window light, lamp light, a single off-camera flash. Read it, shape it, soften it. No studio required — though we'll cover that too.
Studio or on location — whichever suits you.
Where you photograph changes how you photograph. The trade-offs of both, so you choose with confidence rather than habit — and how to build a studio on a budget when you're ready.
Candid moments that still look like portraits.
Not every portrait is planned. Storytelling, timing and quiet observation — the lessons behind every photograph that makes someone say "that's exactly them."
Edit faces without making them plastic.
Skin retouching, colour, black-and-white conversions, clean-ups. Taught with restraint — so your portraits still look like the person, not a CGI version.
Inside the course
Eighteen modules, six phases — one thing taught at a time.
Each module covers one thing properly, in plain English. Open any phase below to see exactly what's covered.
01
Foundations of portrait photography
Find your way around any camera, then understand the three settings that decide how every portrait looks.
Foundations of portrait photography
Find your way around any camera, then understand the three settings that decide how every portrait looks.
- Introduction to Portrait Photography
- Camera Basics
- Shutter Speed, ISO & Aperture
02
Light, composition & setting
How to read light, place a subject, and use props or backgrounds to support the photograph instead of fighting it.
Light, composition & setting
How to read light, place a subject, and use props or backgrounds to support the photograph instead of fighting it.
- Basic Light
- Props & Setting
- Composition
- Mastering Light & Shadow
03
Photographing the people closest to you
Family, partners, babies, children. The techniques that put anyone at ease — from setting up to that last shutter press.
Photographing the people closest to you
Family, partners, babies, children. The techniques that put anyone at ease — from setting up to that last shutter press.
- Setting Up for Clients
- Family Photography
- Babies, Toddlers & Children Photography
- Couples Photography
04
Pets, headshots & individuals
One-person portraits and the trickier subject of all — animals. Posing, patience, and the practical bits that make the difference.
Pets, headshots & individuals
One-person portraits and the trickier subject of all — animals. Posing, patience, and the practical bits that make the difference.
- Animal Photography
- Headshots & Individual Photography
05
Creative direction & craft
Black & white, the working tricks of experienced portrait photographers, and the mistakes that catch people out.
Creative direction & craft
Black & white, the working tricks of experienced portrait photographers, and the mistakes that catch people out.
- Creative and Black & White
- Professional Tricks & Techniques
- Mistakes & Pitfalls of Portrait Photography
06
Editing your portraits
Skin retouching, colour, clean-ups and creative finishes — taught in Photoshop, with restraint as the rule.
Editing your portraits
Skin retouching, colour, clean-ups and creative finishes — taught in Photoshop, with restraint as the rule.
- Basic Portrait Editing
- Advanced Portrait Editing
The course trailer
Watch a quick look at what's inside.
A short trailer giving an overview of the course — what you'll learn, who you'll learn from, and the kind of photographs members are making.
Your tutors
Real people. Real photographs. They'll know you by name.
When you pop a photo in the gallery, a tutor watches it land. They reply with the kind of feedback you actually wanted from your last camera club — specific, honest, and warm.
Stephen Walton
Course Instructor & iPhotography Head Tutor
Art-school trained, photographer since 2005. Over a decade managing a high-end portrait studio — more than 4.5 million portraits taken, from the general public to household-name celebrities. Now a freelance landscape and portrait photographer, with work published by Adobe Photoshop and multiple industry awards for his portrait work.
The CameraSense method
Learn the way that suits you — not the way a textbook tells you to.
CameraSense is the teaching method behind the iPhotography Portrait Photography Course. The course is built around the way you take in information — whether that's listening, watching, reading or doing — so the lessons stick whichever way your brain prefers.
Four ways to learn the same craft. Mix them up, switch as the mood takes you, finish at your own pace.
Listen
Photography podcasts you can put on while you're out walking, driving or making a cuppa.
Watch
Video tutorials that show you the technique, the gear and the result — no skimming required.
Read
Course chapters and blog posts for the times you want to take it in at your own pace, on paper or on screen.
Do
Photo assignments to put what you've learned into practice — the only way it really sticks.
The Member's Photo Gallery
Practise what you've learned — and find out how you did.
Watching a tutorial is one thing. Knowing whether your own photographs are working is another. The Member's Photo Gallery is where you upload your shots, get a tutor's honest reply, and pick up tips from members further along the road.
Try the technique
After each module, head out and shoot. Bite-sized, doable, on your own subjects — not busywork.
Upload your photograph
Pop your best shot into the Member's Photo Gallery. Friendly, private to members, no public scroll.
Get a tutor's reply
A named tutor writes back with what's working, what to try next, and why. Written, personal, signed.
Learn alongside members
Comment on other members' work, ask questions, get encouragement back. This is where the friendships start.
Members' work
Photographs taken by people who started where you are.
Every photograph below was taken by a real member after taking the course. None of them set out to be professionals. All of them are now photographers.
Community Points & Rank Badges
You start with a thousand points the moment you join.
Every member at iPhotography has a points score and a rank badge. They're not gimmicks — they're how the club recognises the work you do, the modules you finish, and the help you give other members.
+1,000
when you join the course
+500
when you complete the course
+30
for every module finished
+50
for every photo shared in the gallery
Distinguished
5,000 pts
Established
10,000 pts
Expert
75,000 pts
Legendary
300k+
Included free with the course
Three bonuses that go with the course.
Hand-picked extras that make the teaching stick longer. Yours the moment you join — no upsell, no fine print.
Your bonuses
Combined value £0.00 — included free
Free
Bonus 01.
10 Tutor-Assessed Portrait Assignments
Ten hands-on portrait briefs across the course. Each one gets personal written feedback from a named tutor — the bit no free tutorial can give you.
Free · worth £0.00
Free
Bonus 02.
Member's Photo Gallery & Weekend Challenges
Share your photographs with the club, get personal tutor feedback, and join the Weekend Challenges — themed photo prompts every weekend with the rest of the members.
Free · worth £0.00
Free
Bonus 03.
Media & Download Library
A growing library of training videos, eBooks, presets, cheat cards and reference guides — yours to download any time.
Free · worth £0.00
What members say
Real reviews from real members.
Pulled verbatim from members who've taken this course. We've left the typos in — that's how you know they're real.
★★★★★
"The course was so easy to follow. The tutors are friendly, knowledgeable and really helpful with feedback. I've gone from being scared of my camera to actually loving the time I spend with it."
TM
Tony Mills
Member · iPhotography
★★★★★
"I've tried a lot of online courses. This is the only one where a real person replied to my photographs. It changed how I shoot, but more importantly it changed how I look at things."
RH
Robin Hollamby
Member · iPhotography
★★★★★
"Best money I've spent on my hobby. The modules are clear, the feedback is genuine, and the gallery is the friendliest corner of the internet I've found."
SY
Simon Young
Member · iPhotography
★★★★★
"I was nervous about being the oldest one in the group. Turns out everyone here is welcoming, and the tutors don't talk down to anyone. I'm finally taking photographs I'm proud of."
DG
Debbie Gammie
Member · iPhotography
★★★★★
"Stephen's feedback on my landscape photograph was the most useful 200 words I've ever read about my photography. Worth the cost of the whole course on its own."
JG
John Gallagher
Member · iPhotography
★★★★★
"I took the course over a long winter. By the spring I was photographing things I'd walked past for thirty years and never noticed. That's the real gift."
AS
Audrey Schweikert
Member · iPhotography
The course, the bonuses, the club — one payment
Everything you get when you join today.
The Portrait Photography Course — the full course, the bonuses, account access for as long as you keep it, and a thousand Community Points to start you off in the club.
- 18 modules (kept for as long as your account is active)
- Real tutor feedback in the Member's Photo Gallery
- Three bonuses worth £207.00 — included free
- iPose Photography eBook — included free on course completion
- CPD-certified Course Completion certificate
- 1,000 Community Points on day one · 500 more when you finish
- Rank badge that grows with you
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Save £257.00
Portrait Photography Course
£149.00
Pay by Visa, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal.
30
Day Guarantee
Try the course for 30 days. If it's not for you, we'll refund you in full.
We've been teaching photography since 2012. We know the course works — but you don't have to take our word for it. Join, take the first few modules, share a photo in the gallery, and if it doesn't click, email us within 30 days and we'll refund the lot. No hard feelings.
Common questions
The things people usually ask us first.
I'm new to photographing people. Will this really work for me?
Yes — that's exactly who the course is built for. The first few modules assume no portrait experience. We cover camera basics, lighting, and the small things that put a subject at ease, then build from there. Whether the people you photograph are family, friends, or one day paying clients, the same craft applies. Most members work through the course in a few months; some take a year. There's no clock.
Do I need a studio or any special kit?
No. The course is built around what you've already got — a window for light, a corner of a room, a familiar face. We'll show you how to make portraits in everyday spaces with a standard DSLR, mirrorless, or even a recent smartphone in manual mode. When you want to take it further, we cover the budget kit and home-studio set-ups that punch well above their price.
How long do I have access to the course?
For as long as your account is kept active. No expiry, no resubscription, no "course access window". The modules, the gallery, the bonuses, and the certificate stay with you.
Who actually replies to my photos?
An iPhotography tutor. Replies are written, specific, and signed. Most arrive within a few working days. You'll know which tutor wrote your feedback because they sign it.
What are Community Points and rank badges?
They're how the club recognises your activity over time. You start with 1,000 Community Points the moment you join, earn 30 for every module you finish, 50 for every photograph you share, and 500 when you complete the course. As your points grow, your rank badge changes — from Regular through to Legendary.
Can I get a refund if it's not for me?
Yes. Email us within 30 days of joining and we'll refund the course in full. No quiz, no hoops — just reply to your welcome email and let us know.
Is the certificate worth anything?
The Course Completion certificate is CPD-certified, which is recognised across the UK for continuing professional development. For most members it's a quiet bit of pride rather than a career credential — but it carries genuine weight if you want it to.
Come and learn with us.
The world's friendliest photography club has a place set for you. Join today, take your first module tonight, share your first photograph by the weekend.
Join the Portrait Photography Course — £149.00