VPW's original ONLINE course provides students the standards of an in-person lesson with the flexibility of a self-paced environment. This unique and interactive class format allows attendees the ability to complete excercises, ask questions and review course material at their convenience within the structured timeline.

This 10 week Adobe Photoshop for photographers online course has been developed specifically for Photographers and is a much more goal oriented rather than tool oriented program. We answer the question: How can Photoshop make my images better?

We discuss features and functionality most crucial to Photographers not wasting time with many of the other tools that are not relevant to Photographers.

We focus on clearly defined goals, and work through the steps it takes to achieve them. Examples of such goals would be image color correction, selective tonal (and color) adjustments, retouching, as well as automating your workflow.

We demonstrate and discuss real-life workflows used by today’s leading Photographers, many of whom have visited and taught for VPW and made their insights available to us. Each class session is complemented with a exercise designed to get you using the software and practicing the material presented to you.

Other Photoshop courses focus on explaining each and every tool instead of honing in on what's really relevant for today's photographers. Take your images to the next level. Learn efficient, fast, effective workflows, and have fun in the process.

Throughout the course, you can ask questions, share images and and connect with your instructor and fellow course participants.

Please note that for this course, Photoshop version CC and newer can be used. Older version, such as CS6 will also work, virtually all techniques demonstrated will function properly, but the interface will look slightly different.

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About your Instructor: Marc Koegel

Since 2012, VPW Director Marc Koegel has had 1240+ students from all over the world join us for an Online Course! Students came from all over the world, including (but not limited to) the following countries: Canada, USA, Mexico, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Turkey, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, France, Portugal, Russia (Moscow), and New Zealand.

In the past few years, Marc's photography has won numerous international awards including the IPA (International Photo Awards), Spider Awards and PX3 (Prix De La Photographie Paris). Marc's work has also been featured on numerous photography blogs and recently on the Phase One website.

Session 1: Introduction to Photoshop CC2018 & CC2015:
Introductions, organization, backups and archives, system requirements, optimizing system for Photoshop performance, perception, ideal work environment, importance of calibration. The work area, basic navigation and most optimal set up of this software. Introduction to color management and the why and how of calibrating your system.

Session 2: Adobe Bridge CS6 & CC file organization software overview, customization,
and most effective use in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop.
Importing images into Adobe Photoshop, renaming files, file formats, file specs for output to web and print. Introduction to Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). Practical exercise: using Adobe Bridge CS6 & CC to import and organize your files, and batch processing for an effective RAW workflow.

Session 3: Image adjustments:
Making color and tonal adjustments, what tools are the most effective for Photographers to use, Levels versus Curves, Hue and Saturation, Shadow/Highlight adjustments.
Practical exercise: adjust your images using methods presented. Darken, lighten and increase contrast selectively. Set the white and black point for optimal image quality.

Session 4: Selections and selective Image Adjustments:
How to go beyond ACR capabilities. Make selections using the Marquee, Lasso and Magnetic Lasso tools (and which really work for Photographers). Use Quickmask for easy selections, make adjustments to selections and save/load selections. Introduction to masks.
Practical exercise: Compare Photoshop CS6 & CC selective adjustments to ACR adjustment brush. Make selections using selection tools and Quickmask mode, apply various adjustments to your selections.

Session 5: Introduction to Layers in Photoshop CS6 & CC:
Getting to know the Layers Panel. Adjustments versus adjustment layers – when to use which. Using layers to apply selective adjustments to your images, Opacity and Blending Modes. Getting to know the Layers Panel
Practical exercise: using layers and masks to makes tonal and color adjustment.

Session 6: Layering Techniques Continued:
Adding, editing and working with layer masks. Using and customizing Layer Styles, advanced burning and dodging using layers and masks, using fill and gradient adjustment layers. Practical exercise: Compositing techniques and advanced layer masking to apply selective tonal, contrast, and color adjustments.

Session 7: Fixing common digital imaging challenges:
Sharpening your images, creating panoramas from multiple images, Retouching images, Healing and patching, fixing perspective, using filters. Practical exercise: retouch common blemishes in a portrait shot , create a panorama from multiple source images and correct perspective.

Session 8: Photoshop CS6 & CC for black and white:
Popular black and white conversion workflows. Using adjustment layers to create stunning black and white images, applying creative toning and tinting effects to black and white images to enhance their mood and effectiveness.
Practical exercise: create a black and white image from color RAW files using the methods discussed in class.

Session 9: Extending Photoshop with Plugin Software:
We examine a selection of popular plugin software that can be used to easily extend Photoshop functionality. Demonstrations include how to combine effects created in plugin software with further processing in Photoshop.
Practical excercise: students work on a personal project and present result for instructor feedback in the final class

Session 10: Printing Discussion and Personal Project Feedback
In this final class, your Instructor will provide feedback on submitted images from last week's assignment. Final Q&A and a short discussion on how to prepare your images for printing.

 

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Here's a selection of student feedback Marc received for his online courses:

I’ve just come back from a trip de Turkey (amazing and beautiful country) and have been watching your posted reviews of our 5th assignment. It’s a fantastic learning experience, and I want to say how much I personally appreciate the time you put into it.

Greg H.

I really apprceiated the video tutorials and video feedback of everyone's images. I learned so much and got inspired seeing what the other participants photographed. In addition to your PDF handouts it made for a truly multimedia learning experience. My only criticism is that I wish the course would have lasted longer -:) Thank you Marc.

Sebastian T.

Your assignments got me out practicing and shooting. Your feedback was not only helpful but also extremely encouraging and motivating. Thank you for an amazing 10 weeks.

Sharon M.

Thanks Marc. You have been a wonderful teacher. Even with my hearing impairment, I have easily followed your on-line tutorials and you have been so kind and positive with your feedback. This course came at the perfect time for me.

Shirley B.

"I want to express what a joy this has been in learning from you. You are an inspired photographer and a great teacher, and I want to thank you for your video critiques and the time you invested to create the video lessons and handouts."

Jeff S.

"Marc, thank you for a very beneficial and enjoyable class. I sincerely appreciate your dedication to your students."

Sam B.

"The Google Community you created for the class was a great method to stay connected with all participants and learn from others, in addition to your spectacular reviews and videos. Your critique sessions are always quite insightful and done so in a very professional manner; I always learn a tremendous amount from your special gift of breaking images down and recommending improvements. This was my second "remote" class with you and look forward to one day taking a class from you in person. Thanks again for you guidance."

Joanne S.

 

How this ONLINE Course works:

Marc is excited to be teaching in this new online format.

Every week (on Mondays), you'll receive your lesson for the week. The lesson typically is in the form of a PDF document that you can download and study, but Marc has also prepared video tutorials for you as well. Together, these materials provide a rich learning resource that will get you out shooting using new techniques and skills.

After studying the lessons, you'll have time to work on provided excercises which help to reinforce your skills. Excercises are given weekly or bi-weekly.

You upload your images to a password protected online community created using the service google plus, where only your fellow course participants and your instructor Marc can see them. Here, you can also receive comments and see the other participants images and what Marc and other's have said about them. There is also a forum were you can get in touch 24/7 with your questions and comments.

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Frequently asked questions:

Q: How much time will I need to work on this course each week?

A: A minimum of 20-30 minutes each week, plus shooting assignments. You can spend significantly more time, you will get out of this course what you put in.

Q: What equipment do I need for this course?

A: You'll only need a computer, and RAW files that could come from virtually any digital camera out there.

Q: Do I have to be online at any specific times?

A: No you don't. The lessons are send via email, so you can work on them anytime, where-ever you happen to be. You submit the assignments online, and this can be done anytime before the assignment due date.

Q: Do I need to own any software for this course?

A: Yes you'l need Adobe Lightroom software for this online course. The latest version is recommended, but older versions can also be used.