KelbyOne offers high quality wildlife photography instructional video courses for with respected instructors like Moose Peterson.
KelbyOne is best known as an online instructional resource for learning photo editing with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. I had no idea that they had over 135 instructors and over 800 video courses in areas such as wildlife photography, who knew. They also have course content for just about every other genre of photography like landscapes, weddings, sports, food, aviation, automotive and more. I have come to conclude that KelbyOne has something for everyone.
The year is drawing to a close, so you’re probably feeling a little introspective. As you review where your photography has taken you in 2020, you should be creating a plan for what you can do better next year. You might even aspire to learn a new skill, such as through an educational resource like KelbyOne. What is KelbyOne?
If you’re new to KelbyOne, then you probably have more questions. What exactly can you learn through their program? How do you learn? Most importantly, how much does KelbyOne cost? Is it something only beginner photographers should use or intermediates and even seasoned pros as well?
I will answer those questions in today’s in-depth review. Ahead, I’ll discuss KelbyOne in more detail, including an introduction to some of my favorite instructors. I’ll also cover what the photography courses entail so you can decide whether ending your year with some instructional lessons from KelbyOne is within your best interest.
Let’s get started!
What Is KelbyOne? A Closer Look
If you want to learn Lightroom or learn Photoshop, KelbyOne is a great resource to consider. Their team is comprised of teachers, artists, builders, writers, designers, and photographers. Altogether, you have access to more than 800 classes and over 6,500 course lessons with an average lesson length of about 10 minutes. All lessons are videos.
The KelbyOne team follows three core values: education, quality, and community. For that first core value, education, the KelbyOne instructors want to help you learn photography and photo editing through their guidance. KelbyOne says that with their courses, you can “create the type of images you’ve always dreamed of” and “move past the hurdles and bring to life the images that are stuck inside you.”
I quite like that phrasing, that images are stuck inside you!
The second core value of KelbyOne is quality. They frame their lessons in such a way that the instruction is easy to learn and comprehend. You might even find yourself having fun with your online courses, which is the point when using KelbyOne.
The last KelbyOne core value is community. The KelbyOne team seeks to unite photographers of all levels, from beginners to experts, so everyone can share their experiences and get the most out of the online courses.
Who Are the KelbyOne Instructors?
KelbyOne has more than 140 instructors (and counting) in almost every area of photography you could possibly think of. Each instructor brings different experiences to the table so you can learn to use software like Lightroom and Photoshop in unique ways. This link will take you to a full listing of over 135 instructors and give you a real feel for the type of quality instructors that are part of KelbyOne.
I want to highlight a few of the instructors I think you’d be most interested in as a reader of this wildlife blog.
Moose Peterson
Of course, I have to start with Moose Peterson, a wildlife photographer that I have followed and learned from for years. Over the course of his illustrious career, Peterson has published 28 books and had his work featured in more than 140 worldwide magazines.
Moose is also a Lexar Elite Photographer and a Nikon Ambassador as well as a prior winner of the John Muir Conservation Award. His wildlife photography focuses are endangered animals.
Here’s a list of some of Moose Peterson’s KelbyOne Courses:
- Photographing Montana Big Skies
- The Science of Wildlife Photography
- Capturing the Natural Beauty of Yosemite National Park
- The Secrets to Capturing Super Sharp Images
- How to Use the Nikon D850 Like a Pro
- Mastering Nikon Wireless Flash
- The Ultimate Guide to Sensor Cleaning and Camera Care
- Using Light to Bring Emotion into Your Images
- Camera Bag Essentials for Photographers
- Master Black & White Landscape Photography
- A Beginner’s Guide to Wildlife Photography
- Nature Photography – Shorebirds
- The Nikon D3S Power Session
- Yellowstone Big Game Photography
- Photographing Florida Birds
Scott Kelby
If Scott Kelby’s name sounds familiar, it’s because KelbyOne is named after him! Kelby is the CEO, president, and co-founder of KelbyOne, but he’s not teaching you online photography lessons for those accolades alone.
Kelby calls himself the “original Photoshop guy” who worked as a publisher and editor for Photoshop User Magazine. He’s also acted as the Conference Technical Chair at the Photoshop World Conference. He’s certainly someone you can trust to learn the ins and outs of Photoshop!
Take a look at some of Scott Kelby’s Best KelbyOne Courses:
- Mastering the New Camera Raw Environment
- Lightroom Q&A
- Getting up to Speed Fast in Lightroom 2020
- What’s the Right Canon Lens for the Job? Scott’s Top Picks, When and Why
- Getting Your Portfolio Online Using Adobe Portfolio
- Get up to Speed Fast on the New Photoshop 2020
Joe McNally
Another KelbyOne instructor to pay attention to is Joe McNally, a master of flash and portraits. His photography work has appeared in such publications as National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Fortune, and Newsweek.
McNally also has more than 30 years of experience in photography, and his work has seen him travel to 70 countries. Let’s go over some of his top courses:
- An Analysis of Light Shaping Tools
- Photographing Your Sense of Humor
- Photographing Motion Outdoors
- Making Great Photos in Bad Weather
- Setup and Shoot: Location Lighting for Challenging Situations
- Photographing with One Light
- Working with Nikon SB-900 Flashes
- Light Shaping Tools
Rick Sammon
Last but certainly not least is Rick Sammon. I’d recommend studying Sammon if you want to improve your travel photography chops. Sammon has more than four decades in the biz, and he happily gives back by sharing his wealth of knowledge through online courses, workshops, and seminars.
Here are some courses Sammon leads through KelbyOne:
- One Photograph, 22 Photo Tips
- Idea to Image
- Exploring the Five Ps of Travel Photography: Planning, Packing, Photographing, Processing, & Being Prepared
- Catching Butterflies with Your Camera
- Making Images with Impact
- Giddy-Up! It’s Time for Amazing Horse Photographs
- Uncovering the Magic of the Rainforest: Costa Rica
- Keys to Successful Seaside Photography
- Breathtaking Bird Photography: Pro Settings and Techniques
- Photographing in Chilly Conditions
- 10 Cool Ways to Control Light
- The 20 Time Proven Rules of Composition
Which Types of Courses Does KelbyOne Offer?
As I said before, KelbyOne is for all types of photographers looking to learn a thing or two (or several). That includes areas such as aviation, children, family, dogs, weddings, fashion, landscapes, portraits, travel, food, sports, and of course, wildlife.
I’ll start with the wildlife photography courses and then delve into a few other course areas you can master through KelbyOne. By no means is the list I am presenting below exhaustive for wildlife. You can actually filter on course content for any specific content including wildlife specific courses from the KelbyOne website to see all 16 wildlife courses in one that are offered at the time of this writing in one view.
Wildlife Photography Courses
The Art of Zootography with Steven Gotz
Steven Gotz is a renowned zoographer whose work has been featured at California’s Oakland Zoo, on television networks, and even on AP International news. In The Art of Zootography, Gotz covers such areas as why you should photograph in a zoo and what kind of gear you need.
You’ll also learn how to identify photo opportunities in zoos, the ideal camera settings for getting great shots, and how to shoot through glass without pesky reflections ruining your photos. In Lesson 9, Getting Your Photos Noticed, Gotz will even help you stand out amongst the photography din.
The Art of Zootography is broken up into 10 lessons in all.
The Secrets to Creating Super Sharp Images with Moose Peterson
Moose Peterson’s The Secrets to Creating Super Sharp Images includes a trailer and is critical to your success as a wildlife photographer. Over 9 lessons, Moose will teach you how to use tools like Photoshop to sharpen up photos of birds in flight and more.
He also delves into how you take a photo matters in regard to the image’s sharpness, especially in Lesson 3, Proper Hand Holding and Long Lens Technique as well as Lesson 7, Depth of Focus.
Yellowstone Big Game Photography with Moose Peterson
Moose Peterson’s Yellowstone Big Game Photography nicely complements Rick Sammon’s course Uncovering the Magic of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. Peterson approaches this course from a more technical perspective, such as how to handle weather changes at these national parks, how to compose your scene, and the importance of timing. I suggest you catch the trailer included in the link above to dive in a little more.
Peterson also talks about what should go in your camera bag, how to find great places at these national parks to shoot after dark, and how to incorporate the background into breathtaking photos. There are 16 lessons in all.
Breathtaking Bird Photography: Pro Settings and Techniques with Rick Sammon
Another lesson to check out on KelbyOne if you want to boost your bird photography game is Breathtaking Bird Photography: Pro Settings and Techniques. This is another one that includes a trailer and Rick Sammon’s course covers all sorts of birds, not just those who fly, but swimmers and walking birds as well.
In 13 lessons, Sammon will guide you through proper bird photography techniques, including when shooting in the gorgeous glow of the morning sunrise or the evening sunset. If you want to see what kind of gear Sammon uses or learn more on the importance of HDR in bird photography, then this is one course you won’t want to miss.
Uncovering the Magic of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons with Rick Sammon
Here’s another Rick Sammon course I’d quite recommend called Uncovering the Magic of Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. If it’s a goal of yours to visit these acclaimed national parks someday, Sammon will transport you to both Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons with his immersive, captivating lessons. I include this course under wildlife because having an eye to shooting the surrounding scenery plays a huge part in shooting environmental wildlife images. Next time you’re shooting wildlife give some thought to not just filling the frame with the bird or animal, turn an eye towards including the habitat the animal or bird is living in.
Although this is a shorter course with only 6 lessons, every minute is worthwhile. The trailer will tease you a little as you learn more about the landscape and wildlife in both national parks so that when you someday visit, you’ll know just which animals to photograph.
Moose Peterson’s Safari Adventures with Moose Peterson
You’re now on safari with Moose Peterson and be sure to check out his trailer! In Moose Peterson’s Safari Adventures, you’ll see such creatures in the eyes of Peterson as birds, baboons, wild dogs, white rhinos, zebra, hyena, giraffe, leopards, and elephants. Moose helpfully discusses what photography gear he uses when on safari, which you can replicate.
This course is spread out across 16 lessons, with many of them dedicated to one safari animal apiece. Don’t miss Lesson 6, Telling a Story with Landscape Photography so your landscapes can become as impressive as your wildlife photography.
A Beginner’s Guide to Wildlife Photography with Moose Peterson
We were all beginners at one point. If you still are, that’s more than okay! Moose Peterson’s course called A Beginner’s Guide to Wildlife Photography will help you build your confidence around your camera over 11 lessons.
Such subjects that Moose covers in this expansive course include how to select a good background, learning to understand your subject, and when to use flash and how. You’ll get a lot out of Lesson 3, Advanced Camera Gear as well as Lesson 9, Uncommon Photographs of Common Subjects.
Capturing the Wild: Safari Photography with Rick Sammon
An awesome follow-up to Moose Peterson’s Safari Adventures is Rick Sammon’s Capturing the Wild: Safari Photography. This course is much in the same vein, although it’s more about preparing for the shoot rather than focusing on each different animal you might see on your safari.
Sammon will teach you how to research for a safari shoot, what your daily routine might encompass, and how to photograph the landscape, wildlife, and even nearby villages. There are eight lessons in all.
Composition Courses
Whether you’re a wildlife photographer like me or one of the other photography areas is more your forte, any photographer can benefit from a composition course. Here’s what you can learn in this area courtesy of KelbyOne:
- How to Infuse YOU into Your Photography with Karen Hutton
- Shooting and Compositing Commercial Projects with Tim Wallace
- How to Critique Your Own Photos with Scott Kelby
- Using Light to Bring Emotion into Your Images with Moose Peterson
- The 20 Time Proven Rules of Composition with Rick Sammon
- Building Your Own Studio in Not So Big Locations with Frank Doorhof
- Photoshop In-Depth: Mastering the Composition with Pete Collins
- Behind the Lens: In-Depth Portfolio Reviews with Joe McNally and Scott Kelby
- Learning to Shoot Photographically with Bill Fortney
- Composition: The Strongest Way of Seeing with Rick Sammon
- Crush the Composition with Scott Kelby
Courses for Photo Editing
Scott Kelby is best known for his books and video’s on Lightroom and Photoshop. The training on Lightroom and Photoshop available on KelbyOne is offered by the biggest names in photo editing, among them Scott Kelby, RC Concepcion, Dave Cross, Ben Wilmore, and other Photoshop hall of famers. Regardless of the type of photography you do your photo editing skills can make all the difference in creating images that pop off the screen.
Photoshop
Here’s a sampling from the 212 Photoshop courses available on KelbyOne:
- Photoshop Layers for Beginners with Terry White
- Photoshop Compositing Basics: Tips Every New User Needs to Know with Kristina Sherk
- Classic Text Effects in Photoshop CC with Dave Clayton
- Pro Techniques for Retouching Clothing with Viktor Fejes
- Jaw-Dropping, Heart-Stopping, Eye-Popping Photoshop Effects with Unmesh Dinda
- Learn Photoshop in One Hour with Scott Kelby
- The Essential Elements of Retouching with Viktor Fejes
- Mastering Layers: Beginner Techniques with Dave Cross
- Electrifying Eyes – Retouching Eyes in Photoshop with Kristina Sherk
- Perfecting Selections in Adobe Photoshop with Dave Cross
- How to Remove Distracting Stuff in Photoshop with Scott Kelby
- Designing with Type with Scott Kelby
- From Flat to Fabulous with Scott Kelby
- Add a Splash to Your Photos Using Photoshop with Corey Barker
- Navigating Photoshop with Mia McCormick
- High End Skin Retouching – Start to Finish with Kristina Sherk
- Clone and Healing Crash Course with Pete Collins
- Motion Graphics in Photoshop CC with Corey Barker
- Photoshop CC Basics for Beginners with Matt Kloskowski
- Photoshop In Depth: Channels with Corey Barker
- Photoshop In Depth: Tools with Pete Collins
Lightroom
If Lightroom courses are what you’re looking for KelbyOne has you covered with 37 courses at the time of this writing. Here’s a smattering of KelbyOne courses on the topic:
- Lightroom Workflow on the Go with Clifford Pickett
- Client Proofing Like a Pro Using Lightroom Classic with Terry White
- Scott Kelby’s Simplified Lightroom Image Management (SLIM) System with Scott Kelby
- How to Make Beautiful Prints in Lightroom Classic with Scott Kelby
- Learn Lightroom CC in One Hour with Scott Kelby
- Lightroom Classic Presets: Killer Looks with Just One Click with Serge Ramelli
- Using Photoshop & Lightroom Classic to Create Amazing Cityscapes with Serge Ramelli
- Lightroom Mobile From Start to Finish with Scott Kelby
- Everything Else in Lightroom Classic: Part One with Scott Kelby
- Scott Kelby’s 7-Point System for Lightroom Classic with Scott Kelby
- Portrait Retouching in Adobe Lightroom Classic with Kristina Sherk
- Lightroom Classic Killer Tips with Scott Kelby
- Adobe Lightroom Classic In-Depth: Unlocking the Power of the Adjustment Brush with Scott Kelby
- Lightroom Classic: In Depth: Importing with Scott Kelby
- Making Great Prints in Lightroom Classic with RC Concepcion
- Creating a Photo Book in Lightroom Classic with Scott Kelby
- Lightroom Classic In Depth Presets with Pete Collins
- Lightroom Classics: Basics for Photographers by RC Concepcion
Sports Photography Courses
Do you aspire to take historic, much-loved photos in the realm of sports? KelbyOne has many sports photography courses to get you started. Here’s a list:
- Essentials for a SPORTS Photography Business with Scott Kelby and Dave Black
- Sports Photography: The Tools and Techniques to Get the Shot with Dave Black
- Sports Photography: Make Your Pee Wee Look Like Pros with Rob Foldy
- Shooting Sports Physiques on Location with Glyn Dewis
- Lightroom Classic Sports Photography Workflow with Scott Kelby
- The Art of Digital Photography: The Inspirational Series with Dave Black and Mia McCormick
- What Makes a Great Sports Photo with Peter Miller
- Beginner Sports Photography with Scot Kelby
- High School Football Photography with Dave Black
- Creative Composting: Professional Techniques for Composite Photography with Matt Kloskowski and Joel Grimes
Travel Photography Courses
I talked before about Rick Sammon, a treasured travel photographer, but he’s not the only one on KelbyOne who offers travel photography courses. Here are some other instructors and courses you can rely on to sharpen up your photos:
- Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to Chicago with Larry Becker and Scott Kelby
- The Photographer’s Guide to Traveling Right: What Gear to Take, How to Pack It, and Killer Accessories for Travel with Larry Becker and Scott Kelby
- Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to New York City with Scott Kelby
- Rick’s Top Tips for Taking Incredible Travel Photos with Rick Sammon
- Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to Venice with Scott Kelby
- Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to London with Scott Kelby
- Photographing Cityscapes with Matt Kloskowski
- Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to Rome with Scott Kelby
- Travel Photography: A Photographer’s Guide to Paris with Scott Kelby
- Shooting Travel Photos Like a Pro with Scott Kelby
- Travel Photography – Post Processing with Scott Kelby
Landscape Photography Courses
Landscape is all around us, but do you know how to harness the power of your camera to bring landscapes to life? If not, these courses will help you get there:
- Milky Way Landscape Photography Tracking and Stacking with Erik Kuna
- Insiders Look to Capturing Timeless Landscapes with Ramtin Kazemi
- Landscape Photography Preplanning Post-Processing with Richard Bernabe
- Night-Time Photography Techniques with Gabriel Biderman
- 10 Essential Tips Every Landscape Photographer Should Know with Scott Kelby
- Landscape Photography: Post-Processing in Camera Raw with Moose Peterson
- Under the Milky Way with Dave Black: Lightpainting and Photographing Stars
- Material Compositional Class for Landscape Photographers with Richard Bernabe
- Landscape Photography: Mountains, Lakes, and Waterfalls with Matt Kloskowski
- How to Make a Living as a Travel Photographer with Colby Brown
- Photographing the Moon, Stars and Milky Way with Jennifer Wu
- Long Exposure Photography with Matt Kloskowski
- Fall Photography Field Guide with Matt Kloskowski
- Beginner Basics: Landscape Photography with Matt Kloskowski
- Romancing the Landscape, Part 1 with Moose Peterson
- Landscape Photography – Ground Work with Moose Peterson
Wedding Photography Courses
Weddings are full of once-in-a-lifetime cherished moments. You can someday capture them all as a wedding photographer. First, start with these KelbyOne Wedding Courses:
- A Photographer’s Guide to Shooting Wedding Videos Like a Pro with Justin Wojtczak
- Retouching Essentials for Wedding Photographers with Kristina Sherk
- Designing Beautiful Wedding Albums in Lightroom Classic with Scott Kelby
- Retouching Brides with Scott Kelby
- Wedding Photography Systems with Justin Wojtczak
- Wedding Photography Essentials with Frank Salas
- Picture-Perfect Lighting Techniques for Wedding Photographers with Jerry Ghionis
- Perfect Posing Techniques for Wedding Photographers with Jerry Ghionis
- Wedding Photography: Photographing Couples with David Ziser
- One Flash Wedding Photography with Cliff Mautner
- Wedding Photography: Searching for the Light with Cliff Mautner
- Wedding Photography – Shooting Around the Clock with Cliff Mautner
- How to Photograph Beautiful Brides with Cliff Mautner
- Wedding Photography: Rapid-Fire Tips and Tricks with David Ziser
- Wedding Portraits – Getting the Perfect Shot at Tricky Locations with David Ziser
- Wedding Photography: Stunning Off-Camera Photography Techniques with David Ziser
- Wedding Photography – 15 Ways to Improve Your Photography Using On-Camera Flash with David Ziser
How Much Does KelbyOne Cost?
If you’ve come to the conclusion that KelbyOne courses are right for you you’re going to want to know how much it costs.
Well, the cool thing about KelbyOne is that you can pay for an individual course and nothing more if that’s what you’d prefer. Individual course pricing starts at $29.
I’m sure you have more than one KelbyOne course you want to take, am I correct? If so, rather than dropping $60, $90 or more on individual courses, you’re better off with one of KelbyOne’s pricing plans. You’ll save money going this route.
KelbyOne PLUS is the first of the two plans. Monthly, this costs $9.99 and annually, $96. You can save $46 by opting for the annual plan. With KelbyOne PLUS, you gain access to more than 300 courses, including new ones. You can favorite any course that strikes your fancy. If you have to stop watching a lesson midway through, you can even resume at a later time.
The KelbyOne PLUS plan also includes guided learning tracks in a variety of genres so you don’t feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of content at your fingertips. This plan lets you augment your training with Photoshop reviews, tips, tutorials, and walkthroughs published through KelbyOne’s digital magazine too. Plus, you can cancel anytime!
The other plan is the KelbyOne PRO. Monthly, this plan costs $19.99, and annually, it’s $199, again letting you save money, this time $40. You have access to even more courses through the KelbyOne PRO plan, more than 800 of them.
As a new course gets uploaded each week, you can watch it first as a KelbyOne PRO member. You also get these exclusive benefits:
- Downloadable items such as eBooks, presets, brushes, backgrounds, actions, and other fun features to add to your Creative Toolkit.
- A backlog of KelbyOne’s digital magazines (with over 140 issues) as well as new magazines complete with Photoshop tips, walkthroughs, and reviews.
- Discounts through Perks, a dashboard area that lets you save money on all sorts of photo editing and photography programs and tools.
- Access to KelbyOne’s community, full of worldwide photographers, artists, and other creative types. Within the community, you can receive critiques, participate in contests, and ask questions.
- Over 20 guided learning tracks that make getting started with KelbyOne incredibly easy.
- More training tools to make the most of KelbyOne, including tutorials exclusive to KelbyOne PRO users as well as private webcasts.
- New courses every week rather than once a month like with the KelbyOne PLUS plan.
Is KelbyOne Worth It?
If you’ve gotten to this point of the review and you’re wondering whether KelbyOne is worth it, allow me to help you make up your mind with a resounding yes. KelbyOne is a comprehensive resource for learning all sorts of photography concepts, from camera techniques to advancing your skills in Lightroom and Photoshop.
The number of instructors available through KelbyOne is insane. Whether you want to learn more general photography or you have a hyper-focused niche, there should be an instructor who’s chock full of lessons to share with you.
The pricing of KelbyOne is fair too. You can buy courses individually for $29, which is not bad. The membership plans are priced monthly or annually so you can choose a plan that suits your budget. With all the added benefits available to you as part of the KelbyOne PRO plan, you more than get your money’s worth.
Conclusion
Everyone needs to be an expert when it comes to editing their photos, and who better to learn from than the gurus at KelbyOne? Not only can you become a better photographer, but a better photo editor as well. With those two skills as sharp as they can be, you’ll be unstoppable in the world of photography!
