Has anyone completed the Photography Institute online course?

twice said:
Hi,
For anyone currently doing the course.

What are your opinions on this 'No Frills Offer'?

I was going to sign up in the new year, but I have just received an email about the no frills offer.
Would I miss any of the 'frills'?
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The frills are

the filing box-which is a filing Box!!
book and booklets- book on proffesional photography worth about £15 (I think) and some small booklets of not much interest.
software- Gimp which is freeware anyway
DVD- A DVD of a pro who tells how he got started and is running his business
3 months mentoring at the end of your course,-Exactly what it says.
and numerous other small items not sure about these.

So its up to yourself which version you go for!
If your not bothered about the mentoring then go for it, the book they give you is on the list of books to buy that they give you so you could probably buy 2nd hand on Amazon.
I still think the course is good value even at the full price.
 
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swanseamale47 said:
Have you seen any of his work? I'm courious to know if the tutors are good experienced photographers, I have seen some from other courses who frankly haven't a clue what they are doing.
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My tutor has over 33 years as a pro and has just published a book on the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, Gloucestershire with a forward by the Duchess of Cornwall . His businees has a turnover of over £100,000 per annum. He also runs his own courses and seminars. So I think he has earned the right to give advice etc on my photo's.(y)
 
Hi Quaker

Did you manage to get module 7 done, I've tried twice since coming back from my hols and failed to complete it miserably due to the weather! Not as easy as you think this photography game is it!
Absolutely nothing happening around my neck of the woods and as we have to show the local community I can't just submit landscapes!
Roll on spring!
 
Bucketp said:
...... as we have to show the local community ...
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I am watching this thread with interest and this last comment has really caught my eye. When you say 'show to the local community' what does that entail? I ask as I live in Spain and was going to do the course out here. Unfortunately, I don't have a local community as such, certainly no one that speaks english!!
 
I took it to mean, show things that locals get up to, for example where I live theres lots of golf, mountain biking so thats the sort of stuff I am going to shoot hence why I'm waiting for the snow to thaw so people will venture out!
 
Bucketp said:
I still think the course is good value even at the full price.
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Thanks for the update, I did not go for the offer.
I will stick to my original plans and register next year when the pressures of work are a lot less manic and I will have a lot more time to study.
 
Bucketp said:
Hi Quaker

Did you manage to get module 7 done, I've tried twice since coming back from my hols and failed to complete it miserably due to the weather! Not as easy as you think this photography game is it!
Absolutely nothing happening around my neck of the woods and as we have to show the local community I can't just submit landscapes!
Roll on spring!
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Hello Bill,

No, not completed it yet. I have made a few attempts but my efforts have been dull and grey, hardly inspiring tourists to come and visit. I have given myself a deadline of getting it submitted by 29 Dec but I have my fingers crossed we will get some bright weekends which will allow me to get out and get some work done.

Did you have a good holiday?
 
Quaker said:
Hello Bill,

No, not completed it yet. I have made a few attempts but my efforts have been dull and grey, hardly inspiring tourists to come and visit. I have given myself a deadline of getting it submitted by 29 Dec but I have my fingers crossed we will get some bright weekends which will allow me to get out and get some work done.

Did you have a good holiday?
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Hi

I know what you mean I have been out and taken loads of pictures most of them good, but not what you would expect as you say to inspire tourists.
Living in the wilds of Scotland were only getting about six or seven hours of daylight and with more snow forecast. I think it could be a while before I get this one done. Very frustrating.

Holiday was great 30 degrees everyday then you come back to an average of 1, I want to go back now but work wont let me!

By the way if anybody is interested my course tutor is running some seminars in February March next year on How to Make Money From Photography.
The course will be looking at numerous ideas including traditional methods such as weddings and portraiture, through to stock and travel photography, publishing your own greetings cards etc. plus various ways of pursuing your own specialised interest.
Seminars are in Manchester, Swindon and Peterborough

If anybody is interested please PM me.

Cheers

Bill
 
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Hi Guys

I signed up for this course, modules 1 and 2 quite interesting.

I got a question, How long does it usually take for your tutor get back to you??

my module 2 assignment is still not back, I sent it 4 days ago, and given the simplicity of it, I am quite worried about the course?

Can anyone shine a light on me??

many Thanks

Luiz
 
Hi Luiz

Mine normally take about 4 days, if you have to wait longer than a week get in touch with your course advisor. It would probably depend on how you sent your assignement in.

Good luck with the course any questions fell free to ask.

Cheers

Bill
 
Hi Guys. Just how much of the course deals with becoming a professional photographer.?

I ask because everyone seems very enthusiastic about the course and it sounds good. However I have no interest in the 'professional' side of things, just improving my own photography.
 
Hi David

The course itself is designed towards becoming a pro but I am finding that when working on my modules I am now stopping and thinking about what I am doing, it makes you think about getting exposure right, composition right in fact everything right. In that way I would say that it is helping me improve my photography enormously as I am no longer just snapping away at everything I see.
the course covers every aspect of photography from land capes to weddings, from commercial to fashion.
With your pictures getting graded by very experienced professional photographers who not only critique you pictures they also give very good advice.
Like yourself I cant see me becoming a pro but It would be great to see my pictures maybe being used in a book or magazine.
Good luck if you go ahead with it.
 
A friend of mine done this course about 2 years ago, she then used her qualification to go on cruise ships taking photos. she done that for 18 months and has just set up her own business. she highly recomends it. i have planned to do this course for some time, i signed up to their newsletter about 3 months ago and guess what..... if you dont book it straight away, after some time they start sending you discount offers :D first one i got offered me £50 off the course price, i didnt go for it, i got another offer through a week ago offering a christmas special offer of £150 off the fees. offer ends new years eve... guess what im ordering boxing day :D :D :D

you only get these offers if you sign up to recieve information from them... just a tip for those of you thinking of doing it in the near future....

Leon
 
I really think the OP should change the title of this thread to reflect what it has effectively become - a discussion thread on the Inst of Professional Photography course. Anyone coming across it (including myself) for the first time would find it very confusing, unless they read every post in detail from the start...

I am actually on the 'other' course - the one I thought this thread was about! Only on Module 3, which I'm finding hard going. mainly because I need settled weather and daylight for my Zone Chart exercises, and I can't get enough time!
 
phil8139 said:
I asked for info on this course, they emailed straight back. Never got round to looking at it properly but kept getting emails with discounts if I sign up, last one I got was for £200 off the cost, great saving if you want to do it.(y)
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lmgculley said:
A friend of mine done this course about 2 years ago, she then used her qualification to go on cruise ships taking photos. she done that for 18 months and has just set up her own business. she highly recomends it. i have planned to do this course for some time, i signed up to their newsletter about 3 months ago and guess what..... if you dont book it straight away, after some time they start sending you discount offers :D first one i got offered me £50 off the course price, i didnt go for it, i got another offer through a week ago offering a christmas special offer of £150 off the fees. offer ends new years eve... guess what im ordering boxing day :D :D :D

you only get these offers if you sign up to recieve information from them... just a tip for those of you thinking of doing it in the near future....

Leon
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Keep up man :LOL:
 
lol, must have missed that one... :D
if anyone wants to enroll in this and get the discount, message me your e-mail address and i will forward you the link to let you get the course for £400 instead of £550... keep in mind this is only valid untill new years eve.
 
lmgculley said:
lol, must have missed that one... :D
if anyone wants to enroll in this and get the discount, message me your e-mail address and i will forward you the link to let you get the course for £400 instead of £550... keep in mind this is only valid untill new years eve.
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I was reading various threads on courses yesterday and there was mention of a reduced price version of what I think was this course. It was cheaper as they supplied previously opened/used reference material. But I can't for the life of me find the thread or the information on their website. Anyone know what I'm talking about? :wacky:

I'd like to know if the reduced price course is cheaper than your kind offer a promotional code. Was the code specific to you though? Sometimes they aren't meant for general, public use.

I'm keen to do some more formal learning in 2011 and currently looking into this course and the one by the OCA.
 
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Well, I've just signed my wife up for the course. It would have been nice for both of us to do it at the same time, but £700 is way too steep. I have a full time job, so she should be able to put the most into it. Plus there's nothing stopping me doing the assignments too; they just won't get marked. (y)
 
I've just had an email offering the course for £350 if I sign up before Feb 28th. Seriously thinking about giving it a go.
 
Im confused as well now, I thought it was the Photogrpahy institute, but think the topic changed to the other course a few threads in.

Has anyone any comments of the OP's original thread with regards to the Photographt Institute or was it decided that it was a no no. I have read the whole thread and am still confused, not hard to do...:)
 
Rolyratman said:
I've just had an email offering the course for £350 if I sign up before Feb 28th. Seriously thinking about giving it a go.
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That's a good price. It's what I paid, but I went for one of their 'scrubbed' courses: pre-opened, but complete.

I don't think it'll make any difference, but brand new for the same price as 'scrubbed' must be good. (y)
 
I was looking at this course but opted to sign up for the OCA course The Art of Photography instead. Roughly the same price but recognised qualifications at the end. Can even work towards a degree in photography with the OCA too which is a massive selling point in my eyes.
 
I suggested a few posts back that the OP change the title of this thread to avoid the obvious confusion... hasn't happened. I'm going to open another thread now, one that really is about The Photography Institute course, which I am doing, and which I'd like to hear from others about.
 
How do the different courses compare with regards to cost and qualification at the end?

I'm really interested in doing one, more so to improve my photography/knowledge etc. But if I'm going to do a course I might as well do one with a recognised qualification at the end of it.
 
Both offer a discount apparently. the inst.com one offers a 'scuffed course' for £350, you wont find it if you search their site however if you put this address in - http://www.inst.org/photography-courses/enroloffer.htm you get access to a nice discount. a 'Scuffed' course is exactly the same as the normal course, same books, same service, same everything, only reason you get the discount is because someone got sent that kit and decided they didnt want to do it so sent it back. if your ok with that you can save yourself £150...

with the 'other' course, just sign up to recieve their newsletter and wait, after a while the offers start rolling in.

hope this clears things up and gives a few people a saving.

P.S. it sais only 3 scuffed courses left but it said that before i enrolled and hasnt changed..... think its just an offer ploy to get you to sign up quicker.

Anyway, did anyone have their tutor e-mail them introducing themselves after signing up with www.inst.org???? because i enrolled on the 29/12/2010 and still havnt recieved any maill or had my tutor get in touch which i find quite unprofessional.
 
I enrolled on the inst.org one and got the email with details for the online material but haven't got a specific one from the tutor. Having said that I haven't got the pack yet either.
Module 2 going in tomorrow if I can finish it off between work and school runs, be interesting to see what comes back.
 
yoby said:
I enrolled on the inst.org one and got the email with details for the online material but haven't got a specific one from the tutor. Having said that I haven't got the pack yet either.
Module 2 going in tomorrow if I can finish it off between work and school runs, be interesting to see what comes back.
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How do you know who to send it to if you havnt had an e-mail from anyone?
 
The email containing the link to the online course material and the password for enrolling also has my tutors name and email address in it. Haven't had anything from him personally as yet to welcome me to the course or introduce himself.
 
Hi all - Can anyone who's on the inst.org course let me know what the tutors expectations are for the essay in module 2? - Been years since I wrote anything other than Technical Specification documents and I can see my essay turning into either a series of bullet points or a 10 page novel - Any pointers on the level of detail expected would be appreciated.

Cheers
Dave
 
My wife's materials arrived today. It came via Fed-Ex in one big box: Consisting of ring binders wrapped in bubble wrap. I'm not sure how a full-price course would be delivered, but this 'scuffed' one seems fine to me. We were both shocked by how much there was.

Hopefully she's looking at it now and not just wasting time on Facebook.
 
Same here, mine turned up today as well, sounds like your 'scuffed' one is exactly the same as the top end one.
I paid (well I didn't my employer did) for the full price course.
Got the two giant ring binders complete with bubble wrap containing the printed versions of all course modules, a blue folder containing a rather nice book, DVD and Gimp Software (bit pointless that but hey ho). An envelope with letter(s) in and a smaller booklet about how to market yourself.

Huge amount of stuff. Not sure the Mrs will be too chuffed when she gets back from Cyprus and sees it all in the living room........
 
Hey Bill,
Got mine to hand


Portrait Photographers Guide to posing - Bill Hurter

Professional Techniques of the Wedding Photographer - A Complete guide to Lighting, Posing and taking photographs that sell - George Schaub and Ken Sklute

Photographers guide to filters - Lee Frost

Photographers Market Guide to Building Your Photography Business:Everything you need to know to run a successful photography business - Vik Orenstein

Digital Photographers Handbook - Tom Ang

The Photographers Guide to Marketing and Self Promotion - Maria Piscopo

The Photographers Guide to Landscapes - John Freeman

Basic Studio Lighting ; Photographers complete guide to professional techniques - Tony L Corbell

Photos That Sell - The art of successful freelance photography - Lee Frost

*must buy myself a scanner **

Hope that helps
Cheers
Dave
 
I can't get any of them yet - Still got to explain the huge box to SWMBO when she gets back from Cyprus this evening. She'd have a fit if I'd turned the house into a library as well - I've already got the Tom Ang one (somewhere) so going to start with that. Then hoping that the local Library might have some of the others !
 
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