Melbourne CBD street photography location used during a photography course

In-Person Photography Workshop / Melbourne

Photography Courses Melbourne
DSLR & Mirrorless Express

Three hours, one-on-one, walking the streets of Melbourne. You'll leave shooting full manual.

1,500+

Students

400+

Reviews

14

Years Running

Google
4.9

135 reviews

TripAdvisor
5.0

95 reviews

Airbnb Experiences
4.85

79 reviews

WeTeachMe
5.0

126 reviews / 371 students

One of the most highly rated photography courses in Melbourne

DSLR & Mirrorless Express

$499 per student3 hoursMax 2 students per classMelbourne CBD

This photography course covers full manual modein 3 hours. You turn up with your camera, and by the end of the session you know exactly how to use it in full manual mode. This photography course will rapidly transform your photography skills from a place of knowing absolutely nothing. You don't need any prior experience or photography knowledge to attend. You only need a digital camera that can shoot in manual mode.

The course covers ISO, shutter speed, and aperture in 3 focused hours with direct feedback on your own camera.

Yes. You rock up with a mirrorless camera or DSLR, without knowing a single thing about photography, and leave with the skills to use it in full manual mode. You start creating your own beautiful photography, beyond the world of happy snap phone photos. Suddenly, (as sudden as 3 hours can be,) you realise that you fully understand how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO all work together to create the exposure you never knew you were looking for.

Book Your SessionEvery Saturday in Melbourne CBD
Yarra River at dusk during a photography course in Melbourne

Student Reviews

414+ verified reviews across Google, TripAdvisor, Airbnb and WeTeachMe

Daniel is a master teacher. Though he has developed a successful format for his course, he really makes an effort to change his tact for the motivations of his students. For example, I had a looming first wedding shoot, which he referenced in his explanations and gave extra advice on. It just so happened that I was the sole student in my class and I felt very comfortable with him as a young female. This was a sound investment for me, and I would recommend this course very much.

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Amber

7 April 2026

Daniel is the best mentor I've ever had. As someone who had different mentors and was starting to get into manual photography, I found everything pretty confusing and overwhelming at first. Daniel explained things in a way that made the concepts simple and easy to understand. He's taught me so much that I know I could never have learned just from watching YouTube videos. By the end of the lesson, I felt so much more confident, which is exactly what I was hoping for. He's also incredibly easy to get along with and made the whole experience really enjoyable. I had so much fun throughout the process. Thanks so much Daniel, I'd still be completely lost without you. I can't recommend him highly enough!

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Ying

12 March 2026

The best value for money three hours I've ever spent. Daniel is a natural teacher who breaks down camera settings, exposure and the technical side of photography in a way a complete beginner can easily grasp. He's patient, encouraging and explains everything very clearly. I went straight out with my camera the next day and surprised myself, especially after months of trying (and failing) to get a handle on manual mode on my own. I'll never be able to look at my phone pics in the same light again, haha.

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Sass

9 February 2026

I highly recommend this learning experience. I was new getting back into photography after many years, and was getting lost in YouTube content which only confused me, so I booked in with Daniel. In 3 hours I learnt more than many hours of watching online content. Daniel has the amazing gift and ability to make technical information easy to understand. He is completely in tune with your level of experience, and explains things very well and at the pace that suits you. If you are new to photography and are wondering where to start, this is by far the best way, and exploring interesting parts of the city also made it a lot of fun.

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Jennifer

5 September 2025

I have taken three other photography classes to learn how to use my new camera. This class finally made sense for how to use the camera and how to adjust the settings to get the picture I wanted. I found the other courses helpful but confusing. This course teaches you how to manage aperture shutter speed and ISO at the same time to get a great shot. This is the only class you need to understand your camera. Thanks Daniel.

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Danielle

15 August 2025

Simply the best photography class I have ever attended. Daniel was attentive and took the time to understand my process of capturing images and gave amazing suggestions and tips. My composition and image quality improved in a few hours. I recommend this course for new intermediate and seasoned photographers especially if you want to learn the best photo spots in and around Melbourne.

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Simba

22 July 2025

Daniel Bilsborough, photographer and founder of DJB Photography School

Your Instructor: Daniel Bilsborough

You'll be walking the streets of Melbourne, side by side with a photographer whose work has been featured in National Geographic. Learn more about Daniel and the school.

Daniel teaches every single session personally. Running since 2011 with over 1,500 students. When there's only two students in a class, there's nowhere to hide, and no question goes unanswered, with hands-on guidance in real-world shooting conditions.

Daniel is always available by email after the session. If you get stuck or want to share a shot, reach out.

Photography Courses in Melbourne: Learn Manual Mode Fast

Shutter Speed Explained

From freezing motion to light trails, shutter speed is the backbone of creative photography. You'll practise it live with trams, people, and street scenes. See our night photography settings guide for low-light techniques.

How Aperture Affects Your Photos

Depth of field clicks when you see it in your own shots. You'll try wide and narrow apertures to control background blur and exposure.

Understanding ISO in Real-World Lighting

No more dark, grainy photos. Learn how ISO balances light sensitivity with image quality in real world shooting. Ready to go further? Our Lightroom course for beginners teaches post-production next.

Photography course at Flinders Street Station Melbourne
Students on a photography course in Melbourne
Yarra River at dusk during a photography course in Melbourne
Seafarers Bridge at night during a photography course
Student on rooftop with telephoto lens during photography course
Federation Square performer during photography course Melbourne
Photography students in Melbourne laneway
Rooftop group during photography course Melbourne
Students comparing cameras during photography course Melbourne
Dog in blue van photographed during Melbourne photography course
Melbourne laneway at dusk during photography course

Why Choose DJB Photography School?

How Manual Mode Works

In 3 hours you'll understand exactly how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together, and most students don't go back to auto mode. New to cameras? Start with our photography tips for beginners or find the right gear with our best camera for beginners guide.

400+ Reviews Across Four Platforms

Over 400 five-star reviews across four platforms. The same course, the same results, since 2011.

Manual Photography Beyond the Course

From holidays to family photos to landscapes, you'll use what you learn here for years. The course covers everything from portrait photography to golden hour shooting.

Photography Classes Melbourne With Small Groups And Big Results

All classes are capped at 2 students. So more attention on you, every question answered and no pressure. Past students often say the small group size was the difference between “I sort of get it” and “it actually clicked.”

Melbourne laneway at dusk during photography course

Camera Course Melbourne. Hands-On Training in the CBD

This camera course is designed for beginners with a DSLR or Mirrorless camera who want to leave auto mode behind. You'll learn to take control of your camera in the heart of Melbourne through a guided photography walk through Melbourne CBD.

Book Your Session

Private vs Group Photography Courses

Photography courses in Melbourne typically fall into two categories: large group classes of 10 to 20 students, or private and small-group workshops. You learn differently in each.

Private / Small Group (1-2 Students)

  • Tailored to your camera and skill level
  • Direct feedback throughout the session
  • Flexible pace based on how you learn
  • Questions answered as they come up
  • Walking workshop format, shooting the whole time
  • Curriculum adapts to what you need most

Large Group (10-20 Students)

  • Set curriculum, larger class sizes, broader pace
  • Covers a wide range of topics in one session
  • Pace set to suit the group as a whole
  • Questions shared with the full class
  • Often includes a mix of classroom theory and practice
  • Social learning environment with other students

With two students per session, settings corrections happen in real time while you're shooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you run a camera course in Melbourne?

Yes. Our DSLR & Mirrorless Express course is a hands-on camera course in Melbourne designed for complete beginners. You'll learn to control your camera settings in real-world situations, not just theory.

Could this be the best photography gift available for anyone in Melbourne Australia?

It could be, if you know someone who loves photography but doesn't know anything about manual mode, or how to use their new digital camera properly, this course has a huge number of testimonials and reviews, read them for yourself and see what you think.

If I work in marketing I need to learn some basic photography skills is this the best photography course in Melbourne for that?

It's certainly one of the best. Have a read through the reviews yourself. Students regularly mention how much everything finally "clicked" after trying to learn photography from YouTube. It's a practical, hands-on session and you get exactly what you pay for.

Would this be the best photography course for retirees?

A huge number of students are retirees. You've got the time, you've got the camera, and now you want to actually know how to use it properly. The course takes you from knowing nothing to confidently shooting in full manual mode in 3 hours. No jargon, no pressure, just a relaxed walk through Melbourne. Many retired students say they wish they'd done it years ago.

See all frequently asked questions

Ready to Shoot Manual?

Three hours. In person. Just you, Daniel, and the streets of Melbourne. No prior experience needed. You'll leave knowing exactly how to control your camera.

The course covers everything in a single session.

$499 per student. Max 2 per class. Every Saturday in the Melbourne CBD.