Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography

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I'll teach you the skills necessary to stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s a personal passion or a business pursuit, you can learn video, photography, art, design, marketing skills and more here.

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Step-by-step tutorials and project-based learning.

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One-on-one support from experts that truly want to help you.

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more about phil

My professional background is in video production and editing. I graduated from Loyola Marymount University's School of Film and Television in 2011. Since then, I've worked on thousands of projects that have appeared in movie theaters, film festivals, television and online.

Today, I create all kinds of things from photographs that can be seen on my Instagram to homemade sourdough bread that feeds my family. Who knows where life will take me. But I know wherever I am, I'll be creating.

Since 2012, I've been creating online courses that over two million students from around the world have taken. Course topics include everything from photography and video to design and business courses. If I can't teach it , I collaborate with other experts who share their skills with absolute beginners.

Video School is my website where you can take my online courses. You can also find them on top course platforms like Udemy.

Photography & Friends is a website and community I created to help new photographers become confident with their cameras.

I can't wait to see you in class!

- Phil

Will Carnahan grew up in Southern California. After spending every hour he could in the darkroom at Highschool playing with film, Will went on to earn a B.A. from The University of California Riverside in Film and Visual culture. At UCR he became a staff photographer for the schools newspaper, covering sporting events, concerts, and local news. In late 2006 Will and his friend Ryan started a photography company focusing on weddings, events, and their love for photography.

In 2007 Will continued on to Loyola Marymount University, earning an M.F.A. in Film and Telivision Production. While still shooting headshots, weddings, and events on the side, he focused on Cinematography. The years between 2007-2010 were an exciting time for film makers as it saw the first heavy transition from emulsion to digital. Having a base education in film exposure and a practical education in digital media allowed Will to excel as a cinematographer while in grad school. He went on to earn LMUs Panavision Cinematography award in 2008 and 2010.

Graduating in 2010, Will started freelancing as a Cinematographer, camera operator, and photographer. With heavy expirence in 16mm and 35mm film will transitioned into 4k cinema and up using REDs, Arri systems, and other cameras to take on Hollywood. The first few years of freelance saw Will shooting Music videos, short films, 2nd unit features, commercials, and web content.

Late in 2011 Will got a job shooting a web commercial for Disney Interactive. Since then he has been shooting consistently for Disney, shooting commercials for the parks and resorts as well as Disney channel, ESPN, and the Muppets.

Will Call Cinematic was established in 2013 as Will and his business partner and friend built a Production company to accommodate their freelance work along with some notable corporate clients. Through Will Call Will and Sam direct and produce video content for companies like Ghirardelli Chocolate, Diesel films and Nike, Whitney Eve Clothing, PredPol, and many others. With Sam and Will being cinematographers, Will Call gives them a hub for equipment rentals, music video production, and photography.

Today Will continues to freelance as a cinematographer and photographer, shooting and directing mostly commercial content and weddings.

Learn creative skills, from absolute beginner to advanced mastery. 

Video School exists to help you succeed in life. Each course has been hand-tailored to teach a specific skill from photography and video to art, design and business.

Whether you’re trying to learn a new skill from scratch, or want to refresh your memory on something you’ve learned in the past, you’ve come to the right place.

Education makes the world a better place. Make your world better with new skills!

Our courses can be watched 24/7 wherever you are. Most are fully downloadable so you can take them with you. You can also view them on mobile devices with the Udemy mobile app.

All courses have a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can check it out, make sure it’s the right course for you, and get a refund if it’s not!

  With a focus on cinematic beauty and human connection, Sam specializes in capturing peoples’ cultures and lifestyles.  His affinity for traveling has led him to work on productions of all types and sizes across the United States, Western Europe, Eastern Asia, Central and South America.  His travels abroad have taught him invaluable lessons in what it takes to capture stories while on the road. 

  Born and raised in the skateboard and surf culture of Santa Cruz, California, Sam found his passion for photography and filmmaking at a young age while making extreme sports videos with his friends. At Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, he was educated in many aspects of filmmaking but focused on cinematography, directing, and documentary film.  It was also during this time that he expanded his photography skills, working in the darkroom, printing 35mm film for the first time and taking photos for school's newspaper at various school events. 

  Today, Sam looks to further explore the art of photography and grow as a filmmaker, expand his production company, Will Call Cinematic and continue to explore cultures around the world.  He is lucky to call these two passions of his work and looks forward to learning the skills and knowledge he has learned with his students.