Learn photography with me.

A six-week online course for complete beginners.

★★★★★ 4.9

12,400 students so far

Portrait of the course creator
that's me!

Hi, I'm Mila!

As featured in

FOCAL

Aperture Weekly

the shutter

LENS & LIGHT

Field Notes

Grain

As featured in

FOCAL

Aperture Weekly

the shutter

LENS & LIGHT

Field Notes

Grain

The trailer

See how I teach.

41 short lessons, about five hours of video, and a practice brief for every module.

I’m Mila.

(hi!)

(hi!)

Five years ago my camera lived on auto. I taught myself, then started teaching friends on Saturday mornings. Cascra is that class, filmed properly.

– Mila Novak

Prague, golden hour

where I edit

Saturday class

The course

Everything inside the course.

Open a module to see every lesson.

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We get you off auto and take the first photos of the course together.

  1. Welcome to Cascra3:10
  2. The three settings that matter7:45
  3. Holding the camera steady5:20
  4. Focus: point, tap, done6:30
  5. Your first 20 photos9:05

Where the light comes from changes everything. You'll learn to see it before you shoot.

  1. Window light at home8:15
  2. Golden hour and blue hour9:40
  3. Hard sun without the squint7:10
  4. Shooting at night8:55
  5. Practice brief: one lamp4:20

Aperture, shutter speed and ISO, explained with photos instead of maths.

  1. The exposure triangle10:20
  2. Aperture and soft backgrounds8:45
  3. Shutter speed and movement9:05
  4. ISO and grain6:15
  5. Shooting in manual12:30
  6. Practice brief: one street, three ways5:00

Simple rules for where to put things, and when to ignore them.

  1. Thirds and the centre7:40
  2. Lines that lead6:55
  3. Framing and layers8:20
  4. Getting closer5:35
  5. Practice brief: ten steps4:45

Portraits of friends and strangers that look relaxed, not posed.

  1. Talking while you shoot8:10
  2. Window-light portraits9:25
  3. Asking strangers7:15
  4. Candid moments8:40
  5. Practice brief: three portraits5:10

Street, travel and landscape photos that show what it felt like to be there.

  1. Walking a street slowly9:00
  2. Travel days8:30
  3. Landscapes at sunrise10:15
  4. Food and still life7:50
  5. Practice brief: your own street4:40

A calm, quick edit in Lightroom that you can repeat on every photo.

  1. Picking your best shots6:20
  2. The five-slider edit11:45
  3. Colour that looks real9:10
  4. Cropping and straightening5:30
  5. My presets, and how to make yours8:25

Plan, shoot and share a small set of photos you're proud of.

  1. Finding a subject7:05
  2. Shooting the series9:50
  3. Sequencing your photos6:40
  4. Sharing your work5:55
  5. What to learn next4:30
After
Before
Week 1Week 6

Student work

What you’ll make by week six.

Drag the slider. Same street, same camera, six weeks apart.

Dan O., self-paced

Dan O.

Street

Tom B.

Landscape

Priya S.

Food

Ana R.

Pets

Ruth M.

Portrait

Kenji T.

Architecture

Ruth M.

Still life

Kenji T.

Seascape

Dan O.

Street

Tom B.

Landscape

Priya S.

Food

Ana R.

Pets

Ruth M.

Portrait

Kenji T.

Architecture

Ruth M.

Still life

Kenji T.

Seascape

Reviews

What my students say.

4.9

★★★★★

from 2,100 reviews

I've had my camera for nine years. Week three was the first time I took it off auto.

Ruth M.

Self-paced, 2025

She explains things like a friend would. My street photos finally look like what I saw.

Dan O.

With feedback, spring group

The feedback calls were worth it. Mila spotted the same mistake in all my shots.

Kenji T.

With feedback, autumn group

I shoot the photos for my bakery now. They used to be dark and yellow.

Priya S.

Self-paced, 2026

Short lessons I could watch at lunch, then practise on the walk home.

Tom B.

Self-paced, 2025

I finally have photos of my dog that aren't blurry.

Ana R.

Self-paced, 2026

Is this course for you?

Yes, if

You own a camera, even an old one.

You shoot on auto and want more from it.

You can spare two hours a week.

Probably not, if

You already shoot weddings for money.

You want gear reviews, not practice.

Enrol

Two ways to take the course.

Early price ends in

03days
23hrs
59min
59sec

Self-paced

$149

was $199

The whole course, at your own pace.

All 8 modules and 41 lessons Practice brief for every module Lifetime access and updates

With feedback

18 seats left

$349

was $449

The course, plus me looking at your photos.

Everything in Self-paced 4 live feedback calls with me Photo reviews every week

30-day money-back guarantee

Email me within 30 days for a full refund.

Next feedback group starts 4 November.

Lesson 1 · Light · 12 min

Free lesson

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FAQ

Questions people ask me.

What camera do I need?

How long do I have access?

How much time does it take each week?

What if it isn't for me?

What do I get with feedback?

See you in class.

Enrol today. If it isn’t for you, I’ll refund you within 30 days.

Portrait of the course creator

See you in class!

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