The Course

Photography Courses in Melbourne

DJB Photography School runs one photography course in Melbourne: the DSLR & Mirrorless Express Course. Three hours, on foot through Melbourne CBD, on your own camera. You learn full manual mode - shutter speed, aperture, and ISO - with a maximum of two students per session. It runs Fridays or Saturdays and costs $499.

Google
4.9

135 reviews

TripAdvisor
5.0

95 reviews

Airbnb Experiences
4.85

79 reviews

WeTeachMe
5.0

126 reviews / 371 students

A Photography Course Shot Across Melbourne CBD

The three hours are spent on foot through Melbourne CBD, shooting laneways full of street art, glass-roofed arcades, grand heritage architecture, and wide-open Melbourne cityscapes. Each spot calls for different settings, which is the point: you set exposure by hand, see the result, and adjust. Taught by Daniel Bilsborough, who has been teaching photography in Melbourne since 2011.

Sessions are capped at two students. Every question gets answered on the spot, and the instruction follows your camera and your photos rather than a fixed slideshow. The course has 414+ reviews averaging 4.9 stars across four platforms.

Two students and Daniel Bilsborough in a Melbourne CBD laneway during a photography course

Mid-course in a CBD laneway, July 2026.

Students photographing grand heritage architecture during a photography course in Melbourne CBD

Working the arches for leading lines and low light.

What You Learn: Full Manual Mode on Your Own Camera

By the end of the session you are setting shutter speed, aperture, and ISO by hand and reading the light yourself. The exposure triangle stops being a diagram and becomes the way you operate the camera.

  • Full manual mode on your own camera, including your specific dials and menus
  • Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO - what each does and when to change it
  • Reading light in real conditions, from dark laneways to bright sun
  • Composition on location: leading lines, reflections, street scenes
  • What to do with your photos next, including RAW and editing

A Photography Course in Melbourne for Beginners

The course is built for beginners. No prior experience is required, and most students arrive having only ever shot in auto mode. Any camera with a manual mode works - DSLR or mirrorless, any brand, including the kit lens it came with. Students have learned on everything from entry-level Canon R100s to medium-format Fujifilm bodies; the student stories show real sessions on real cameras.

Still choosing a camera? The best camera for beginners guide covers what to buy, and you can bring whatever you end up with. There's also a dedicated beginners photography course Melbourne page covering how the course works when you're starting from zero.

What Students Say About the Course

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

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!

Y

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.

S

Sass

9 February 2026

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.

A

Amber

7 April 2026

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.

D

Danielle

15 August 2025

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.

J

Jennifer

5 September 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.

S

Simba

22 July 2025

Dates, Price, and Where It Runs

When

Fridays or Saturdays, morning start. Live dates are on the booking page.

Where

Melbourne CBD, starting near RMIT University. The exact meeting point is sent when you book.

Price

$499 per person for the full 3-hour session.

Class size

Maximum 2 students. Book both spots to make it a private session for two.

Bring

Any camera with a manual mode and a charged battery. No tripod needed.

Weather

Light rain is fine and often produces great photos. If it's too heavy, the group reschedules together - no one loses out.

More questions are answered on the FAQ page, or you can get in touch. The course is also available as a gift voucher.

After the Course

Most students leave shooting full manual and never go back to auto. The natural next step is developing your RAW files - the online Lightroom course covers the full editing workflow. If you want more locations to practise, the Melbourne photography spots guide maps eight CBD locations worth shooting.