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Cinematography Online Courses 2025: Platforms, Duration, Fees & Careers

JI
Jyoti • 5 Mins read • 27 Aug 25
Cinematography Online CoursesCinematography Online Courses

Cinematography Online Courses are for the learner who wants to study the art of visual storytelling, cameras, video editing and lighting. The online course duration can be 4 to 8 weeks or 6 to 12 months. It can vary as per the platform.  The distance learning course will help you understand about Cinematography. Some of the online platforms provide the free course with a certificate to the learner. But on some platforms,  you need to pay the fee to get the certificate or take video tutorials. The online course fee can be different as per the platforms, but the average fee is ₹5,000 to ₹80,000. Many top platforms like Udemy, Skillshare, edX and Coursera provide the Cinematography Online Courses. The course is flexible for learning, while sitting at home, you can study cinematography.  


Cinematography Online Courses: Quick Highlights

The table has all the information about the Cinematography Online Courses: 

Category

Details

Course Level

Beginner to Advanced

Duration

1 week to 6 months

Platforms

  • Coursera
  • Udemy
  • edX
  • Google

Average Fee

₹2,000 to ₹50,000 (varies by platform)

Certificate

Available on most platforms

Skills Learned

  • Camera handling
  • Lighting setup
  • Storyboarding
  • Editing
  • Visual storytelling

Job Roles

  • Cinematographer
  • Videographer
  • Film Editor
  • Director of Photography

Top Recruiters

  • Netflix
  • Amazon Prime Video
  • Yash Raj Films
  • Warner Bros
  • Advertising Agencies


Best Cinematography Online Courses

Top online learning platforms provide cinematography courses for different levels. Here are the top 4 online platforms that provide the course: 


Google Cinematography Online Courses

Google, with its other online partner, provides the cinematography online course to learners: 

Course Name

Trainer

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Basics of Cinematography

Google Experts

Self-paced

Free

4.5

Storytelling with Camera

Google Creator Academy

4 weeks

Free

4.6

Lighting and Composition

Google Experts

6 weeks

Free

4.4


Coursera Cinematography Online Courses

Coursera provides the cinematography online course for learners with different levels: 

Course Name

Trainer 

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Filmmaking: From Script to Screen

University of London

3 months

₹3,500 to ₹10,000

4.7

Camera, Sound & Editing Basics

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)

2 months

₹3,000 to ₹8,000

4.6

The Language of Film

Wesleyan University

4 weeks

₹2,500 to ₹7,000

4.5


Udemy Cinematography Online Courses

Udemy provides the cinematography online course for learners with different levels: 

Course Name

Trainer

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Cinematography Masterclass

Patrick O’Sullivan

10 hours

₹499 to ₹2,000

4.8

Lighting Techniques for Film

David Miller

8 hours

₹699 to ₹2,500

4.7

DSLR & Mirrorless Filmmaking

John Peterson

12 hours

₹999 to ₹3,000

4.6


edX Cinematography Online Courses

edX provides the cinematography online course for learners with different levels: 

Course Name

Trainer 

Duration

Fee

Ratings (Out of 5)

Introduction to Filmmaking

University of London

6 weeks

Free / ₹4,000 for certificate

4.7

The Art of Visual Storytelling

HarvardX

8 weeks

Free / ₹6,000+ for certificate

4.6

Lighting and Camera Techniques

University of California

10 weeks

Free / ₹7,000 – ₹12,000

4.5


Instructors of Cinematography Online Courses

These are the instructors for cinematography online courses on the different online platforms. They will help the learner to understand about the elements of cinematography.

Instructor Name

Platform

Specialization

Patrick O’Sullivan

Udemy

Cinematography Masterclass

David Miller

Udemy

Lighting Techniques

Prof. Sarah Jones

Coursera

Film and Media Studies

Ryan Booth

Skillshare

Natural Light Shooting

Prof. James Clark

edX

Visual Storytelling


Top Indian Colleges Offering Cinematography Online Courses

Many top Indian colleges provide cinematography online courses to learners. Check the India cinematography online course:

College 

Fee 

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune

₹40,000 to ₹80,000

Whistling Woods International, Mumbai

₹35,000 to ₹70,000

Amity University Online

₹30,000 to ₹60,000

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

₹25,000 to ₹50,000

Jain University

₹20,000 to ₹45,000

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

₹25,000 to ₹55,000


Free Cinematography Online Courses

Many online platforms provide the course but some ask for the learner to pay for the course. Here is the list of online platforms that provide free cinematography courses:

Course Name

Platform

Basics of Filmmaking

Coursera

Cinematography for Beginners

Udemy

Visual Storytelling

FutureLearn

Lighting for Film

Alison

Digital Cinematography Basics

edX


Cinematography Online Courses Free with Certificate

Check the online courses platform that provides free courses with certificates: 

Course Name

Platform

Basics of Cinematography

Alison

Introduction to Filmmaking

Coursera (Free with Financial Aid)

Visual Storytelling

SWAYAM

Camera & Lighting Mastery

NPTEL

Digital Filmmaking Essentials

FutureLearn


Eligibility Criteria for Cinematography Online Courses

If you want to do online courses in cinematography, you need to enroll yourself in the platforms. Check the online course:

Criteria

Details

Education

10+2 or Graduate (no strict requirement)

Age

No age limit

Skills

Creativity, storytelling interest, basic technical knowledge

Language

English understanding required


Why is it Important to Learn Cinematography Online in 2025?

Here are some important points about why it is important to learn cinematography online in 2025:

  • Learn filmmaking skills from anywhere at your own pace.
  • Affordable compared to film schools.
  • Growing demand for content creators in OTT, films, and ads.
  • Access to global industry experts.
  • Certifications add weight to professional portfolios.
  • Useful for YouTubers, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs.
  • Provides practical knowledge with real-world projects.


Job Opportunities after Completing Cinematography Online Courses

After completing the course, you can get a job in various sectors. Check the table, which has details about job opportunities:

Job Role

Average Salary 

Cinematographer

₹4 to ₹10 LPA

Videographer

₹3 to ₹7 LPA

Film Editor

₹4 to ₹8 LPA

Director of Photography (DoP)

₹6 to ₹15 LPA

Lighting Designer

₹5 to ₹12 LPA

Creative Producer

₹8 to ₹18 LPA


Cinematography Online Courses: FAQs


Ques: What are the best online cinematography courses for beginner learners?

Ans: These are the best online cinematography courses for beginner learners: 

  • Udemy: Cinematography Basics
  • Coursera: Filmmaking Specialization
  • Skillshare: Camera Angles and Shots
  • MasterClass: Werner Herzog Filmmaking
  • LinkedIn Learning: Cinematography Foundations


Ques: What are the Udemy cinematography courses?

Ans: These are Udemy cinematography courses: 

  • Cinematography Basics
  • Cinematic Lighting Techniques
  • Videography and Cinematography Course
  • DSLR Filmmaking for Beginners
  • Mastering Camera Angles and Shots


Ques: What are the free courses for cinematography?

Ans: These are the free online course lists that are provided by the best online platforms:

  • Coursera: Filmmaking Courses (audit mode free)
  • FutureLearn: Digital Storytelling and Filmmaking (free access for limited time)
  • Alison: Diploma in Digital Photography and Cinematography
  • Skillshare: Free Trial, Camera and Lighting Basics
  • OpenLearn: Digital Film School Basics 


Ques: What are the Coursera cinematography courses? 

Ans: These are the Coursera cinematography courses: 

  • Filmmaking Specialization
  • Camera, Exposure, and Photography
  • The Language of Hollywood: Storytelling, Sound, and Color
  • Script Writing and Storytelling for Film
  • Creative Video Production


Ques: Will I get a certificate after completing the courses? 

Ans: Yes, after completing the online course, learners will get the certificate of course completion. The certificate will help you to get a job and it will be good for your career.