Where Should Beginners Start on Software Cinema?

Updated

Beginners on Software Cinema should start with a foundational photography or Photoshop course rather than a specialized one. The catalog lists entry-level titles such as Perfect Exposure for Digital Photography, Perfect Composition for digital photography, and Photoshop CS6 for Digital Photographers at $49.99–$99.99, all taught in plain English by working professionals. If you are new to editing rather than shooting, begin with a Photoshop course; if you are new to the camera, begin with exposure or composition.

How the catalog is organized

Software Cinema groups its training around a handful of subject areas, listed on the homepage as Photoshop, Lightroom, Photography, Lighting, Digital Art, and Video Design. Within those areas, courses range from general foundations to narrow specialties. That structure is the main signal for a beginner: pick a broad foundation course first, then move into a specialty once you know which direction you want.

Foundation-level titles

These are the courses whose titles and descriptions suggest no prior experience is assumed:

  • Perfect Exposure for Digital Photography – $49.99
  • Perfect Composition for digital photography – $49.99
  • Photoshop CS6 for Digital Photographers – $99.99 (discounted to $59.99)
  • Art For Photographers – $49.99
  • The Finelight Series Volumes 1–5 – $49.99

Specialty titles to save for later

Courses such as Compositing secrets in Photoshop the story art method, Portrait retouching, advanced techniques, Shooting and processing HDR panoramas, and the DJI drone courses assume you already understand your camera and your editing software. They are better as a second or third purchase.

A practical starting sequence

  1. Choose your entry point. If you shoot but don't edit, start with Perfect Exposure or Perfect Composition. If you edit but want a structured workflow, start with Photoshop CS6 for Digital Photographers.
  2. Check the current price before buying. Several titles show a struck-through original price next to a lower one — for example, Compositing secrets in Photoshop at $59.99 reduced to $49.99, and Introduction to Cinematic Portraiture at $99.99 reduced to $59.99. Discounts change, so confirm the price on the product page rather than assuming a listed sale price is permanent.
  3. Add to cart and complete checkout. Each course page has an Add to cart button; purchases are digital downloads.
  4. Watch on your own device. The site states that all digital downloads can be copied to iPads, iPhones, and Android devices, so you can follow along away from your computer.

What makes it beginner-friendly

Software Cinema emphasizes that its instructors "teach clearly and in plain English," and the trainer roster includes recognizable names in photography education — Dean Collins (the site's founder, described by strobist.com's David Hobby as "probably the best lighting instructor there ever was"), Colin Smith of PhotoshopCafe, Dave Montizambert, and retoucher Kristina Sherk. For a beginner, the value of a course like this is usually the instructor's ability to explain a concept without assuming background knowledge, which is exactly what the site claims.

Two other policies matter when you're buying your first course:

  • 30-day money-back guarantee. The site advertises a full refund within 30 days if you don't like the course, which lowers the risk of picking the wrong starting point.
  • Download-based delivery. Because courses are downloads rather than subscriptions, you keep access to what you buy.

Common sticking points

  • Don't start with a bundle or series. The Finelight Series Volumes 1–5 and multi-part courses cover a lot of ground; they're more useful once you have a foundation.
  • Match the course to your actual gap. Buying a retouching course when your problem is exposure wastes money. Identify whether your weak point is capture or post-processing first.
  • Watch for version-specific titles. Photoshop CS6 for Digital Photographers is built around an older Photoshop version. The techniques largely carry over, but menu locations may differ from current releases.
  • Confirm what you're getting. Prices and discounts are shown per course on the site; check the individual product page for the current figure before checkout.