Ulleo certified short course

Photography that opens doors.

Whether you want to capture unforgettable moments or start getting paid behind the camera — every lesson puts something in your hands you can use straight away.

10 modules 80–100 hours, self-paced 1:1 with Christina 12 months access
4.8 409 Google reviews

10-day money-back guarantee. Payment plans available.

A photographer composing a studio photograph

Course trailer · 2 min

Student photograph of a harbour jump in Newcastle Student wildlife photograph of a dolphin at Tangalooma

4.8

Average across 409 Google reviews

9,000+

Students enrolled across Ulleo courses

25+

Years of professional practice behind the course

10

Day money-back guarantee, no questions asked

Student work

Real work.

Every image below was taken by a student during the course — across landscape, street, wildlife and documentary. This is the standard our students achieve, whether their goal is to start a photography business or simply take photos they're proud of.

Start yours →
Landscape

A New Zealand Portfolio

Five images from a student series shot across New Zealand.

Sunset in New Zealand Waterfall in New Zealand Glacier in New Zealand Waterfall landscape in New Zealand Afternoon haze in New Zealand
Landscape

Gems of the East of Tasmania

Five images from a student series shot along Tasmania's east coast.

Halls Falls in Tasmania Close view of Halls Falls Little Blue Lake in Tasmania Binalong Bay in Tasmania Peron Dunes in Tasmania
Street

Newcastle Summer

Five images from a student project documenting Newcastle's summer beaches.

Conversation at Newcastle beach Harbour jump in Newcastle Harbour swimmers in Newcastle Beach scene in Newcastle Ocean scene in Newcastle
Wildlife

Tangalooma

Five images from a student wildlife project shot at Tangalooma, Moreton Island.

Kookaburra at Tangalooma Cormorant at Tangalooma Dolphin at Tangalooma Whistling kite at Tangalooma Whale at Tangalooma

A student's work, in the field

From student. To making an impact.

Chazak Rescue sends first-responder teams into war zones and hard-to-reach places around the globe. They chose Ulleo's Photography Professionals course to train their cadets — and the work their cadet brought home from Burma speaks for itself.

An internally displaced persons camp photographed by Zachary Esh
Look in Her Eyes photographed by Zachary Esh
A villager planting rice photographed by Zachary Esh

Submitted coursework by Zachary Esh, reproduced with permission from Chazak Rescue.

What you'll be able to do

Not ten modules. Four things you couldn't do before.

Read any scene, in any light.

Light, exposure and composition, so you get the shot you intended — not the one the camera chose for you.

Modules 1–3

Shoot in manual. Every time.

Full control of camera and lenses: which settings to reach for, and why, in any condition.

Modules 3–5

A portfolio that reads as yours.

Lightroom fundamentals through to curating and sequencing a body of work that shows who you are.

Modules 6–7

Get your first client. Keep them.

Pricing, contracts, client management and marketing — what turns a skill into an income.

Modules 8–10

Course trailer · 2 min

See what two minutes of it looks like.

The platform, the mentor, and the kind of work students are making — before you commit to anything.

The ten modules

From your first frame to your first invoice.

Modules 1–6 are Essentials. Modules 7–10 are what make it a business.

What separates a photograph from a snapshot — and how to start thinking like a photographer before you pick up a camera. The visual language of storytelling, applied to images you take in your first week.

The relationship between light, exposure and mood. How to read a scene and respond to the light you actually have — the foundational skill every other technique depends on.

How your camera works, what each setting does, and when to reach for which lens. By the end of this module you understand every dial on your camera and why it matters.

The principles that make the eye go where you want it — framing, perspective, negative space and leading lines. The difference between a photograph that holds attention and one that doesn't.

Advanced control of light and colour — indoors, outdoors and in mixed conditions. How to shape what you have, and how colour temperature affects mood and meaning.

A practical edit workflow from import to export. Selecting, adjusting exposure and colour, applying presets, and building a consistent look — the tool every working photographer uses.

How to curate, sequence and present your work — the difference between a folder of photos and a portfolio that gets you hired. Defining your style and how to talk about it.

How a photography business works: pricing your work, creating and managing contracts, client communication and the practical side of getting paid.

How to position yourself and attract the clients you want — online presence, word of mouth, social media and the slower-burn relationships that fill a calendar.

Taking a real project from initial brief to final delivery — managing expectations, communicating through the process, and handing over work that makes a client call you again.

The full outline, including activities and assessments, is in the course guide.

Christina Simons, Photography course mentor

Your mentor · both paths

Christina Simons

Your work, read by

A photographer the world's most demanding editors call on.

25+ years documenting humanitarian issues and cultural diversity. Published in The New York Times and The Guardian; on assignment in conflict zones for Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF. The standard she holds her own work to is the standard she'll hold yours to.

The New York Times The Guardian Médecins Sans Frontières UNICEF

Every activity

Written feedback on everything you submit, on both paths.

Live sessions

Six workshops with Christina, in your library from day one.

One-on-one

A dedicated session on your own portfolio at the end of the course.

Recent live events · available on demand

Six sessions with Christina, already in your library.

Workshops on the things students always want to go deeper on. Watch them the day you enrol.

Aerial landscape photography workshop
Ulleo Live · On demand

Aerial Photography: From Drone to Light Aircraft

Christina Simons

How elevation changes everything about composition, light and timing — whether you're on a drone or in the air.

Photojournalism workshop
Ulleo Live · On demand

Introduction to Photojournalism: Telling Stories Through Images

Christina Simons

How documentary photographers decide what to shoot, what to leave out, and how a sequence tells a story.

Photography post-production workshop
Ulleo Live · On demand

Editing for Impact: Enhancing Your Photos in Post-Production

Christina Simons

A live Lightroom session using Christina's own post-production workflow on real images.

Working with photography clients workshop
Ulleo Live · On demand

Communicating with Clients & Working to a Brief

Christina Simons

How to take a client brief, ask the right questions, present your work, and deliver exactly what was asked for.

Smartphone photography workshop
Ulleo Live · On demand

iPhone Photography for Beginners

Christina Simons

Apply composition, light, editing and personal style to the camera already in your pocket.

Manual camera settings workshop
Ulleo Live · On demand

Mastering Manual Modes

Christina Simons

Aperture, shutter speed and ISO, demonstrated live so you can see how each setting changes the image.

Real students · real outcomes

From hobby to working photographer.

Adam and Sharni both enrolled in Photography Professionals. Both are now working.

“I wasn't sure I could turn it into a career. Now I have.

Adam Egan · Street & night photography

Sharni Tolhurst · Photography Professionals graduate

★★★★★

The feedback I get from my mentor is constructive and appreciated. Even at the halfway point I've learnt a lot and I'm ready to soak up more.

Aaron Goodchild — Google review

★★★★★

The tasks were never overwhelming and I felt confident I would complete it whilst working full time and being a Mum. The mentor always supplied good, honest feedback and tips for improvement.

Jemima Knight — Google review

★★★★★

The photography course has been amazing and I can tackle it at my own pace. The mentor is super helpful and provides amazing, honest feedback.

Alyse Filipuzzi — Google review

4.8 out of 5 across 409 Google reviews.

Choose your path

Pursuing a hobby, or building a career?

Same mentor, same live events, same guarantee on both. Professionals adds the four business modules.

Essentials

Capture the Moment

The first six modules — light, camera, composition, colour and editing. For people serious about their photography who aren't yet going professional.

$2,645$1,995Save $650

Or $200 deposit, then $50/week.

  • Six modules — Introduction through to Developing a Portfolio
  • Written feedback from Christina Simons on every activity
  • Live events library — six sessions, on demand
  • One-on-one mentor session at the end of the course
  • Verified digital badge and Certificate of Completion
  • 12 months access · 10-day money-back guarantee*
Enrol in Essentials — $1,995

Payment plans available. *Payment plan deposit not included.

Most popular · build a career

Professionals

Skills & Strategies to Grow Your Business

All ten modules — including Business Fundamentals, Brand & Marketing and Working to a Brief.

$3,145$2,495Save $650

Or $200 deposit, then $50/week.

  • Everything in Essentials — all six modules
  • Four business modules — Business Fundamentals through Working to a Brief
  • Written feedback from Christina Simons on every activity
  • Live events library and a 1:1 mentor session on your portfolio
  • Verified digital badge and Certificate of Completion
  • 12 months access · 10-day money-back guarantee*
Enrol in Professionals — $2,495

Payment plans available. Same 10-day money-back guarantee.

10

Day money-back guarantee, either path

Enrol, start learning, and if you're not loving it, email us within 10 business days for a full refund. *Payment plan deposit not included.

Not sure which path fits? The course guide breaks both down, and an advisor can talk it through.

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Optional add-ons

Three bundles, for wherever you're taking this.

Bundles are optional add-ons, available at enrolment or any time during your course. Talk to an advisor for current pricing.

Paid add-on

Career Bundle

For photographers who want to be employed

  • A CV and cover letter, written for youBuilt around the work you produced on the course
  • Guaranteed workplace placementReal industry experience, arranged for you
  • Lifetime course accessNo expiry date — come back any time
  • A second Ulleo courseAny other short course in the catalogue
Paid add-on

Business Bundle

For photographers starting their own business

  • Website Launch PackageA professional photography website, ready to go
  • An additional 1:1 mentor sessionMore dedicated time on your own work
  • Lifetime course accessNo expiry date — come back any time
  • A second Ulleo courseAny other short course in the catalogue
Paid add-on

Personal Bundle

For photographers doing this for themselves

  • A tablet, includedEverything you need to study and edit on
  • An additional 1:1 mentor sessionMore dedicated time on your own work
  • Lifetime course accessNo expiry date — come back any time
  • A second Ulleo courseAny other short course in the catalogue

Bundles can be added to either path — Essentials or Professionals — at enrolment or later.

Talk to an advisor

Have a question?

The things people ask before enrolling.

People who love photography and want to take it seriously — improving their personal work, building a portfolio, or turning it into a career. Essentials suits those who want to become better photographers; Professionals suits those who want to work as one.

Essentials covers six modules and takes around 80–100 hours in total. Professionals covers all ten. Most students do 1–2 hours a week around work. You get 12 months of access from the date you enrol.

No. The course works with any DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even a recent smartphone. The principles apply across equipment — you'll learn more from a phone you understand than a camera you don't.

A verified digital badge and a Certificate of Completion, one for whichever path you take. Both can be added to your résumé and LinkedIn profile.

Through the learning platform, written feedback on your activities, live events that are recorded and available on demand, and a one-on-one session with Christina at the end.

A laptop or PC with a decent internet connection, and general computer skills — saving documents, uploading files and posting on discussion boards. You need to be at least 16 to enrol; under-18s need written consent from a parent or guardian.

Download your course guide

Everything, in one PDF.

Full module outline, what the assignments look like, who's teaching, payment options and how the mentoring works. An advisor will follow up if you'd like one to.

Ulleo Photography Short Course guide cover