The New York Institute of Photography is not only the largest in the world, but also the oldest school of this profile. His courses attract thousands of students annually and help them learn professional skills. Photos of his graduates adorn the world's most prestigious publications, including the National Geographic magazine. The main advantage of the school is the simplicity of training, without difficulties, without homework, only creativity. If you want to take a good picture of the world, then you need to learn how to look at it as a photographer - this is the motto of the New York Institute of Photography.
How did it all start?
The Institute of Photography in New York was opened back in 1910, when the industrial revolution in the country and the world was in full swing. The world looked at science and developing technologies as a way to make life easier, more comfortable and, therefore, better. American companies paved the way for it with the help of new products and inventions, including cameras that are improving from year to year. It was an ideal time to create a school teaching science and photography skills.
The institute was opened by French émigré Emile Brunell, near the Pennsylvania Station of the New York Railroad. Its surroundings in those years developed rapidly and became the "home" for many technical schools. Brunell initially considered his project (now the New York Institute of Photography NYIP) in modest quality. The school was designed for single clients who acquired their own cameras and now wanted to learn how to handle them. However, lessons gradually appeared on engraving, retouching and cinematography. Then E. Brunell began to generalize them and publish them in his own book. The school received its modern name in 1914, when it was officially registered by its creator.
School development
Active development of the institute began after 1920, when the leadership changed. The school was under the control of the entrepreneurial businessman S. Falk and his two brothers. The commercial vein of the head played into the hands of the educational institution. Falk was created not only publishing house. The New York Institute of Photography also acquired two branches: in Chicago and Brooklyn. In 1930-1940, the school graduated from the majority of cameramen working on newsreels.
Even more clients began to appear after the director of the institute had the ingenious idea of distance learning, which allowed expanding the borders and the market, increasing incomes.
Transition to distance learning
For the first time, the institute passed accreditation giving the right to conduct distance learning, in 1956. The educational institution has retained its status to this day, in addition, it has been licensed in the Department of Education of the State of New York. In 1975, the boarding school was closed. This serious step allowed us to fully concentrate all our forces on the development of distance education.
The only thing that has not changed is that to this day at the institute photography courses are taught by highly qualified and conscientious instructors. Each of them inspires their students to new creative victories and accomplishments, forcing them to constantly improve and move forward professionally.
Currently, the New York Institute of Photography (address: 10016, USA, NY, New York 192 Lexington Ave, No. 701) offers ten thematic courses. Anyone who wants to learn more about photography and learn how to take beautiful pictures for personal or commercial purposes will definitely find something suitable for themselves. Distance learning allows you to get professional skills, being anywhere in the world, in its own rhythm. Up to 18 months are allotted for the development of each course, while during the entire period the students use the services of a competent mentor who will advise them technically and professionally, as well as control the degree of assimilation of new knowledge. Let us dwell on the program of each of them in more detail.
Professional Photography Course
This course is the most popular, thousands of people turn to it annually, and among them are not only beginners and photography enthusiasts, but also professionals who want to improve their skills. It is a comprehensive program that will teach you how to take control of your camera. The course reveals the basic elements: the secrets of exposure, the use of lenses, lighting. At the same time, photography training takes place in a relaxed atmosphere. Study adapts to the rhythm of the student’s life, you see, an incredibly favorable offer.
Students receive information on how, in all conditions, including weather, professional photographers get great pictures. The course offers a kind of "assorted" of skills in several types of photography: wedding, portrait, landscape, etc. Throughout the course, students complete photo projects and post them on the Internet so that they can be appreciated by professionals. Materials: 6 lessons are available around the clock on the Internet seven days a week.
As a result, after taking distance learning courses at the New York Institute of Photography, you will have self-confidence and skills that will help turn an innocent hobby into a full-fledged job with good income. If you are not satisfied with the quality and results, the institution will return the money to you, but do not forget that certain deadlines are set for this.
Course "Fundamentals of Digital Photography"
This course is intended for those who want to master a digital camera. In the process of training, students will learn about its main functions, about how to manually take pictures of places and people around higher quality in manual mode. Professional photographers will show you how to see the world through different eyes. The course will be useful not only for beginners, but also for those who have been operating with a digital camera for several years. Like the previous one, it involves creating a portfolio with your own projects, which will be evaluated by masters. In order to successfully complete photography training, you will receive 4 lessons and videos available at any time on the Internet.
Course "Portrait Photography"
The course program consists of materials that teach all the subtleties that must be taken into account in order to create beautiful and professional portraits. Students will learn how to work with various types of subjects: from individuals to groups of children, animals, etc. Qualified teachers will explain the nuances of lighting, choosing a pose in a street or studio, in static or motion. All this will help in the future to create inspirational photos. In parallel, a portfolio is created from their own works, according to which teachers will evaluate the effectiveness of training. Materials: 4 lessons, including lectures and videos available around the clock, access to the forum.
Course "Wedding Photography"
This course will be relevant and especially interesting to those who earn money on wedding photography. High-quality photos with beautiful staging and spectacular techniques will be in demand and rated much higher than standard ones. Professional wedding photographers work with students and guide them through all stages of building a successful business, from finding clients, planning the day to the editing process of the footage. After completing these courses of photography, students gain composition, exposure, and lighting skills. Training contributes to the development of their own unique style by which potential customers will recognize the photographer. Materials: 4 lessons (video and lectures), access to the forum.
Photojournalism Course
The course was created for those who know how to tell stories, write reports and want to back them up with photographs that would impress the reader. Professional photojournalists will talk about how to visualize their own impressions and dry text, and what methods to use for this. Students are taught to look at the world through the eyes of a photographer, to be able to capture interesting images using the right exposure and composition, light. For teaching, 4 lessons are provided, including lectures by teachers and videos.
Professional Photography Course for Travelers
This course was created by the New York Institute of Photography for those who love to travel, is inspired by photographs from the popular magazine National Geographic, and wants to capture everything that it sees around on film. In order to shoot the world around beautifully, you need to look at it with a professional look. The course program is built very competently and filled with material of various profiles. the course will teach several types of shooting that will be useful on a trip, including landscape, portrait, documentary. The technical side of the issue is also highlighted: the necessary equipment and facilities. Hone the acquired skills and consolidate knowledge contributes to the creation of their own photo projects. The materials and duration of the course are similar to the previous ones.
Landscape Photography Courses
Having all the necessary certificates and licenses, NYIP creates a wide variety of training programs, including a highly specialized course in landscape photography. He teaches how to capture the beauty of the world. Issues of working in the open air (including the types of equipment used for various situations), in conditions of natural light, various times of the day are revealed. Professional photographers explain examples of the nuances of composition and exposure regarding wildlife, landscapes, flowers, animals, etc. 4 lessons with lectures and videos are provided for round-the-clock online use.
Business Course for Photographers
The New York Institute of Photography helps not only beginners in this field, but also professionals. So, a business course was created for those who have long been in the profession and want to create or expand their business, learn how to make money using their camera. Initially, it is taken into account the fact that this program is chosen by those who can make beautiful and high-quality pictures. Otherwise, you can choose it in a pair to any of the above courses and take training at the same time. Students will learn about what it takes to start their own photo business, identify potential buyers and the market, as well as the cost of their work. The course consists of five lessons (video and lectures).
Course "Photoshop for Photographers"
The course teaches you how to professionally edit photos using the world's most popular Adobe Photoshop software. Students will learn about framing, sizing, retouching, overlaying, painting, and masking. Given all the necessary material that will help in creating the best and most interesting options for photos. Throughout the course, a portfolio is created, which is evaluated by a specialist. Materials: 6 lessons with practice and theory.
Video Training Course
The online course is intended for professional photographers who would like to acquire additional skills in amateur video shooting, learn how to use modern technology to create quality work. Step by step, students are taught process planning, the intricacies of writing a good and interesting script, techniques for correcting sound and light transmission, and editing. All this in the future helps in creating a dynamic video. Materials: 6 lessons, including videos and lectures.
New York Institute of Photography in Russia
In order to provide professional training for photographers around the world, the institute collaborates with three schools: The New York Institute of Art and Design (interior design training), Ashworth College and the Canadian department of the New York head office. The educational institution offers its courses not only in English, but also licenses its materials around the world. That is, there is an opportunity to undergo training in several countries, including Russia. The institute officially announces two licensees who also work remotely. The first exclusive provider is located in our country and is called Distance Education Russia, the second is in Latin America and this is Educación a Distancia Latinoamérica. Unfortunately, not all the courses listed above are available in Russian, but only three of them: wedding, portrait and fundamental photography. Prices are very affordable, it is possible to pay in several payments.
New York Institute of Photography: reviews
For more than a century, the educational institution has taught professionally and efficiently photographing the world around thousands of people around the world. Not all of them became famous photographers whose work is regularly published in magazines or shown to the public at exhibitions. However, the acquired skills in any case turned out to be useful at least at the household level, for creating beautiful family albums.
There are quite a lot of reviews about the institute on English-speaking resources, and for the most part they are positive, but they simply returned the money to dissatisfied citizens. In Russia, training has begun relatively recently. Domestic photography enthusiasts speak well of him, note the “strong” teaching staff, which is 100% composed of the best photographers in Russia, members of the Union of Photographers. One of the important factors that graduates celebrate is the certificate that is signed in America. Of course, the price of training, which is much lower than in the USA, also pleases.

In response to the opinions on the Internet that the New York Institute of Photography is a “money fraud”, we can say that this is not so. Annually, a huge number of students graduate from the educational institution. All of them receive a certificate of international standard, which in the field of photography has a high reputation. Among the graduates of the institute there are famous photographers whose names are familiar to the whole world: Jim Edds (a hurricane hunter who shot the typhoon Haiyan from the inside in 2016), Freddy Larsen, Jim Alexander, Michael Doven and others. Note that the article uses photographs of graduates and students of the New York Institute of Photography.