Top Photography schools in New York, United States

Just taking a moment to admire the New York Film Academy from the outside, dreaming of one day being a part of this incredible place.

Sometimes, dreams feel improbable, Here’s to manifesting the impossible in the city where anything is possible! 🎬✨

#DreamBig #NYC #NYFA #ManifestingDreams

They’re game Design degree is useless, I learned more from YouTube videos then they’re worthless teachers.

We got the big "Kids modelling Photoshoot package" with NYCPhotographers and were super happy with both the photo shoot and the result. The photographer was young, energetic and clicked perfectly with the kids. Professional and very talented as well. The make-up artist stayed with us for the whole photo session, doing and re-doing the make-up and hair of the kids. The studio was big and professional, with great lighting and backdrops. Complementary drinks and sweets as well, and the session lasted as long as WE lasted. The photoshopped and color-corrected photos were excellent. The team is open to negotiate special wishes and whatever you may want from the shoot. All in all a great experience and absolutely well worth the price.

My daughter Kate was in the summer camp at New York Film Academy Paris. It was expensive but I was most devastated by the final performance. All the students were using absolutely inappropriate language, cursing, and profanities. I am not sure if only the teachers at the Paris location teach this but I can assure you this is not the model in the U.S. and NYC. In America, it is absolutely irresponsible to teach profanities to young students. The boarding in Paris location is absolutely ridiculous. No supervision and students are smoking and even taking drugs. For my deepest regret, this was the place where my daughter was introduced to drugs and this is my biggest regret to send her to NYFA Paris summer camp.

I booked this for a recent trip to NYC with my boys and we had a BLAST with our photographer Valery! From the car service to her knowledge of the city's amazing spots went beyond our expectations. The images were returned quickly, and the quality of work was excellent. FYI I am a portrait/family photographer and so it takes a lot to impress me LOL I was THRILLED with the images we received & will be booking other sessions in the future.

I was in NYC for the marathon last week and set up a session to take a few pictures for social media. I met with Valery in Central Park and we had a fantastic shoot. The pictures came out great and I was impressed by the professionalism and turn around time. I would definitely use them again!

This photography company is phenomenal! We've used their services for corporate team and headshots twice now, and they have consistently exceeded our expectations. The team provides light hair and makeup touches pre-shoot upon request, adding a fun and team-oriented element to the experience. The photographers are not only great at what they do but also incredibly patient, ensuring we get the perfect shots. Kassie, in particular, is exceptional in setting everything up ahead of the shoot and promptly addressing any inquiries. We'll definitely be returning for future photography needs. Highly recommended!

NYC Photographers was very response and professional. Maria and Yana were great at directing and making everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. Would 100% recommend.

Photouno is a great place to learn photography. I have taken many of their courses and every class there's always a lot to learn. The teachers are amazing and always willing to share their knowledge so you can improve your photography skills! Would definitely recommend it!

Love digital composition I so I started composition II. I've learned so much already. You definitely need to take this class if you are wanting to jump start your new career or hobby. Patricia is wonderful. Very hands on and great vibe. Class sizes and times vary.

I am beyond happy with the two-part, individualized portraiture class I took with Photo Manhattan in March, 2023. I’m a mid-level photographer when it comes to skill, and not commercial. But I had very specific lighting aesthetic that I wanted to achieve, and knew little about directing a subject. Martina was skilled, attentive, and analytical. I’m really appreciative of her work and of all the staff and have signed up for a formal class in June.

Travel photography class is awesome. I enjoyed visiting new places and photographing with the group makes it easy to capture candid images. Our Instructor is very helpful and pays attention to each student. I am absolutely happy with my progress since I started taking classes at PhotoUno Photography School.

Don´t share your personal information unless you like being bothered right away. I was about to enroll. Had just entered my personal information but not finished the process as both me and my brother were going to enroll and I was just waiting for him to call me to do it at the same time. They called the next minute bothering me. Long story short, we went for a different school in CA instead.

Cancelled class twice at the very last minute, they don’t seem to have replacement teachers. Also they make it quite hard for you to get your money back - if they cancel on you it should be automatic! Not very impressed with professionalism…

We hired NYC Photographers for an in-house product photoshoot. The photographer was professional, friendly and super easy to work with. It was a stress-free experience, and we received the edited photos back within a week. I would highly recommend their services and look forward to working with them again down the road!

My experience with NYC Photographers was phenomenal. The entire team was so professional and made me feel extremely comfortable even though I can feel a little awkward on camera sometimes. The photos turned out great and the production team worked quickly to get my edits back very quickly. If you're looking for a kind, professional, and easy photo shoot experience, this is for you!

I just got my first iPhone after being team Android ever since I got my first HTC smartphone circa 2010. I'm still getting used to doing things the “Apple way” and PhotoUno's “2-hour iPhone photography class” is an excellent way to accelerate the learning curve of learning to harvest the capabilities of the iPhone camera. We had Francisco (Lyons) as the instructor of the class. We had a small class (4 students) which probably made for a better experience before we all got my individual attention. The class seats up to 9 people.
We started the class off with short introductions, then we got into the very basics of photography. Think ISO, shutter speed, aperture, the rule's of 3rd's etc. I already knew most of this, but this was a greater refresher and I felt it was taught at an adequate level for the uninitiated. We got into shooting actually objects and learning about the multiple settings and functions that the stock iPhone camera app makes available.
The class is laser focus on the default camera app, and the instructor didn't make mention of any 3rd party apps at any point. Overall, I felt that it was well worth the money. Francisco was great and was excellent at breaking down somewhat complicated subjects to a beginner level. I felt a lot more comfortable using the camera after taking this class.

This is not a course but this is an OCEAN OF KNOWLEDGE of Photography .
I am doctor and doing this course for my happiness but everyone who wants to be professional photgrapher having the prestigious tag of NYIP , should do this course . This course have amazing knowldge beyound EXPOSURE TRIANgle that other courses teaches you .

We came to NYC for my Dad’s 75th birthday, and there were so many celebrations we missed during COVID, I wanted to do something extra special. I booked with NYC Photographers and the entire experience was magical and phenomenal. Coordinating with Kassie via email was a breeze, and Julia met us at dinner and walked with us to our evening show—snapping fun shots along the way. It was the perfect combination of posed and candid, our ideas and hers. I love every single one of the 143 shots that were Dropboxed to me twelve hours later. I will absolutely TREASURE these forever. One of my friends commented on one, “this might be the best photo I’ve ever seen!” We will do this again!

Excellent Professional Conservatory to learn Film, Acting and Musical Theatre. Awesome teachers, wonderful environment. Pic is from one of NYFA's room.

I was a former summer student at the Teen Animation Program and made wonderful friends and had great lectures. The program itself was a great experience

It's a wealth of information delivered. The course curriculum is massive from the history of photography to the technical stuff. I haven't had trouble getting in touch with the school. When I email them I receive a quick response. My only issue it's a lot of material to read and not very interactive. I split up reading the printed material in small assignments, taking notes going over them a few times , and then do the exam. It's impossible to complete one unit quickly because they deliver a massive amount of information. it's hard to study for long periods. If you can master the professional photographer Course as I plan on doing then you will have a pretty sound education in photography to get you started. Self-paced and affordable for a working professional like me. I completed a course through Cornell and paid a lot more money for a lot less information. NYIP WORKS FOR ME AS I PLAN ON TAKING The WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY course TOO.

The (limited) number of students that actually care is the only reason this school gets 2 stars. I attended the Masters Cinematography program in Los Angeles, and I am here to tell you that for that program- I can't speak to the others with as much in depth knowledge- the school is a joke, and serves to print money for itself.
I was to attend for two accelerated semesters, and during the first, I found work doing what I was going to school to study and basically checked out mentally. When time came for my second semester, I had done very little for my classes, and went to our instructor to tell him I was leaving. The part that confused me was when he said that I was one of the best students in class, which made me laugh, as I had been working on set for the proceeding two months, hadn't attended class, or screened any projects for the class.
I pointed out these facts to him, went to the bursers office with my story, and within 5 minutes I was holding a check for 40 thousand dollars: a complete refund of my tuition for both the previous semester, and the upcoming semester.
My question is this: if they don't know they are scamming all their pupils, why were they so eager to hand over so much money and bid me farewell? Seems like an admission of guilt, and an effort (which admittedly worked) to prevent me from commenting on my experience.
All you need to do is look at the top 5 most common jobs for degree holders from NYFA. The most common is elementary school teacher. The rate of alumni body working in thier field of study is a jawdropping .008%.
Yea. Not worth it. Do yourself a favor, and watch all the films on AFI 100 greatest films list, then learn how blender and composition work, buy yourself a camera, and make a film.

I highly recommend PhotoUno’s iPhone class.
My group of friends and I met with Francisco in Central Park for a private lesson. We learned more than we could possibly have anticipated—not only on how to set up and plan shots, but also on how to navigate the individual settings on the phone’s camera to maximize the end result. Francisco is polite, responsive, and a pleasure to work with.

I'm so in love with this course! I don't remember the last time I've been so excited for something, probably when i I was a child. Oh no wait, the first time that I set foot in NY. But anyway I love it I love it I love it 😍. The lessons are structured in a very clear and comprehensible and succinct way, very smart, and they are so inspirational! I've also appreciated the suggestions that I received when I asked advice about the camera: clear but detailed and fast. And the price is fair. I totally recommend this school!

They just take your money and won't let you finish your curriculum. When you try to cancel they want more money to do so after they have already taken your money and won't let you proceed with the course. Please save your time and money go with a more reputable place of study\school. I really think they should be investigated and shut down. They're a waste of time and money.

NYFA is one of the leading schools in singing, acting, dance, film and performing arts in the US. Classes are intense but super helpful, and graduates get a solid preparation for a future on Broadway or in the movie business as actors or director alike. everyone is very helpful and supportive towards each other and right now, it's maybe one of the "Covid safest Schools" in NYC that I'm aware of. the administration is excellent and extremely responsible, making sure that everyone can be/stay safe and healthy while learning. A must school for every artist 👍🏼

Francisco hosted a free online course on 'how to choose a camera' which my girlfriend and I attended. Not knowing much about the landscape of cameras, both of us found the insight he was able to offer on various technologies and specific models at our price point really valuable.

She's now signed up for one of PhotoUno's beginner courses and can't wait to get started.

Thank you!

I signed up for my first photography class ever at PhotoUno at the beginning of this year. For a beginner course (Photography I), I had a very good experience with everything: from the instructor (Francisco), the class size, the learning material, and last but not least the homework. After taking that course, my inner photographer voice screamed for more knowledge, so I decided to sign up for more courses at PhotoUno, and at this very moment, I have taken a total of six courses with the school. Yes, they are that good, and I can’t wait to take more courses in 2020!

Of all the courses that I have taken (Photo I, II, Street, Portrait, Studio Lighting, and Flash), all of them were quite well developed. I can guarantee that if you take your time to do all the homework, your photography skill will be much improved in no time. And the staffs from PhotoUno are very good too. They’ll try to help you troubleshoot your problems, and they always encourage you to be at your best by having a little contest for “Pic of the Week.”

In conclusion, if you want to learn photography, look no further than PhotoUno. I’m sure you’re going to have a very good experience with them!

What an excellent experience to learn more about my camera. Skye, the fashion photographer of 20 years, knew how to read the class and adapt the materials towards the students. I knew a few simple things, but even the first class has taught me a lot about my camera that I never knew about. I usually use automatic, but when we went deeper in learning about the each item separately and how it affects the settings and when to use the settings, it made me even that more skillful. Why didn't I know this before. I definitely want to take more classes in the future and recommend for you to take these, especially if you have never taking a digital camera class before. Although the description mentioned about not having to know your camera, you should at least know a few things like the location of ISO, aperture, shutter-speed, exposure, in order to optimize your monies for the class.

The instructor was knowledgeable about photography and cameras and taught the class in a coherent manner. I liked the analogies that he used and I found the class to be informative, even though I knew a lot of the content. He also took the time to show students some things individually. However, he brushed away questions that the students had that (in my opinion) would help understand the subject matter better. I had a specific question that I later realized had a very simple answer I could have Googled for, that he did not know the answer to. Also, he was not prepared for the class. The handouts had missing pages and the class was bigger than he had expected, rendering not enough space and people coming in later. This should have been taken into account. The classroom was also pretty cold, although that was attributed to the renovation that was going on at the time.

I took a one time DSLR workshop with an instructor named Sky, and it was great! Sky knows exactly what he’s talking about and I’ve learned so many new things in his course! Definitely looking to return!

Worst place. The most unprofessionalism I have encountered. Do NOT go here!!! Not worth the money or the time. Even though the ladies on the phone were always nice and had a welcoming tone, they never followed up like they said they would. After signing up they said that everyone except me dropped out of the course when in reality PhotoManhattan canceled it. I got referred to 3 private lessons with Skye who did not teach me anything and only put me down while praising himself. Made fun of my photography skills and pictures, made me feel like an awful photographer and he never had a nice word to say. Every time he told me to take some pictures he would always end up taking my camera and taking pictures himself which he later showed me and said "You can see the difference. This is mine, this is you". Said how his photos were "much better". This ended 2 months ago and I still haven't gotten a Letter of Completeion after asking for it multiple times.
Never had such a disappointing experience that left my self esteem so bruised.

Very disappointing. Impossible to get ahold of anyone. I emailed quite a few times in the beginning about canceling and no one ever got back to me. Signed up for the photography course but I felt the class to be entirely too basic for me so I figured it wasn’t the right school for me. Now they are expecting me to pay the balance when I contacted them in the appropriate timeframe to cancel. They’ll respond when they want their money but if you need any help you’re SOL.

I am currently working on landscapes class. I've been into photography since 1981. I took this class more or less as a refresher course. Plus I have very little experience in the digital format. There not very good at getting back to you. Also they are in New York so the time change is hard to get a hold of anyone. I am neutral about this class. I am considering taking the photojournalist class. But at $1,000 a class i could buy a brand new lens. In my opinion if you don't know anything or a novice take the classes. I am not a novice to photography and I'm not sure if ill continue the classes.
Update: I had the entire amount off and win in weeks was dropped from the program because I didn't have the money to buy an extention due to my illness.

Great location for photography classes with great teachers. I have also used their facility to rent a photo studio for a yoga and dance shoot. Definitely the best deal in Manhattan to rent a photo studio.

Great Experience! I have taken several photography classes in the past but PhotoUno excelled my expectations. I learned very innovative tricks and the learning experience was very fun. The classes are very comfy and nice. Also the number of students in each class is perfect to create a interactive environment. Thanks PhotoUNO!!

After posting a thoroughly negative review of this school, I want contacted by the President of the School, who resolved my problems to my satisfaction.

I am pleased with the outcome. I am presently taking the classes and I find them very helpful in learning professional photography. Based on the receptive way they dealt with the former problems, I will recommend them as a cost effective way to study.

The lessons are very thorough and cover a lot of information you don't get in other classes on photography I have taken. It is still a bit difficult to get someone in the office to answer questions, and you can't ask questions of the "instructor" you are assigned to evaluate your work, so that is why I only give it 4 stars.

I attended a free workshop there and I was amazed by how friendly, clear and careful the teacher was. I am a beginner in photography and I never felt bad about it while being there. The staff at the reception was also helpful and friendly (and it was a Sunday afternoon!).

The school is conveniently located at 14th Street, close to Union Square.

I took the 1-year online screenwriting course. In theory it sounded perfect for me, since I wasn't in a position to go to school full-time. I had high hopes.

On the positive side, I did learn the basic principles of screenwriting. Also, I finished a first draft of a film script, which was pretty cool. The discipline of meeting weekly to report on my progress helped me achieve my goal. I wish my review could end there, on a positive note.

But on the negative side, I found the instructor extremely rude to anyone who didn't agree with their opinions 100%. The person often ridiculed students and dismissed their contributions. The surly attitude shut down conversation more than once. I have a Masters degree, and have been a student in several schools as an adult - and I have encountered only a few instructors as abrasive as this person. (That's saying a lot, considering how arrogant many professors are!)

Also, the instructor was late to class more than once. To be fair, the person did make it up, by extending the classroom time. Still, when you've arranged for child-care, it's a drag to sit and wait in front of your computer, while your instructor fumbles around, making half-baked excuses why they were late. I have kids at home who play the same tricks in an attempt to evade their responsibilities, I don't need my screenwriting instructor doing the same!

Worse yet, the instructor once shared personal information about their family of origin that was unnecessary to the classroom context. (We paid a hefty tuition fee to learn screenwriting skills, not to hear sad facts about this person's childhood. Hey, we all have a few sad memories about childhood! Get over it! An online classroom is not the place for a paid instructor to share personal memories). I would have been more sympathetic to their plight if they had been a nice human being from the beginning. They weren't nice, so I'm not sympathetic.

Finally, the instructor went back on a promise they had made to me during a classroom session. Another student hadn't come to the online class, and we were scheduled to read their script. So I volunteered to submit my rough draft - with the understanding that I could re-submit my script once it was finished, for another classroom review. The instructor agreed to those terms - but went back on their agreement a few weeks later.

When I questioned the instructor about it, my concern was dismissed. So, I copied the transcribed conversation in which the instructor made the promise. They replied that they were way too busy to give each student individual attention! (Then why make the promise in the first place?).

My poor rating is entirely based on the habitually unprofessional conduct of the instructor. The actual course content was very, very good. Had someone else - with a good work ethic, a sense of punctuality, and a commitment to personal and professional integrity - taught the course, then I would have given NYFA a perfect score.

So, although I'm indebted to NYFA for helping me acquire basic screenwriting skills, and giving me the opportunity to complete a rough draft, I found the personal conduct of the instructor a very serious obstacle to the learning experience.

My suggestion to anyone who wants to enroll in an online screenwriting course:

- Make sure the educational institution has a professional code of conduct

- Make sure the school holds their instructors to that code

If you can't afford the cost of tuition:

- Buy a good book on screenwriting. It will give you the exact same info about skills that this course provided, at a fraction of the cost

- Enroll in a writing class at your local community center, where you can find like-minded people who will hold you accountable as you write your next project

-Keep writing! Don't give up.

Update: After a number of years, I continue to uphold my opinion of the school.

Update: It's now 2023 and I still stick to my original assessment. I continue to stand by this review.

UPDATE: It's July 2024. What I wrote nearly five years ago continues to be relevant today.