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There are several different ways to improve your photography capabilities. They say practice makes perfect, so that’s one way you can enhance your skills. You could also pay a professional to spend some time with you. Or, you could take a photography course.
Another option that’s becoming increasingly popular is online classes. These are trending due to their affordability, flexibility, and convenience. However, there are many online classes and courses available, so there’s no shortage of choices.
For this post’s purposes, I’m going to focus primarily on KelbyOne and Lynda, which is now called LinkedIn Learning. We’re going to take an in-depth look at both of these online photography course providers so you can determine which one makes the most sense for you.
With a deep, expansive catalog, users have access to all the photography content they could want on ANY platform! Makes a great one-of-a-kind gift and we have a special offer just for you!
EXCLUSIVE: Save 20% on the KelbyOne Pro Annual Plan
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With that said, let’s jump right in!
Main Differences Between KelbyOne vs Lynda
The main differences between KelbyOne vs Lynda are:
- KelbyOne offers a membership plan, allowing users to pay upfront for the courses they want or subscribe to a monthly plan, whereas Lynda operates solely on monthly subscriptions
- KelbyOne offers a free membership plan, whereas Lynda does not
- KelbyOne focuses entirely on photography, whereas Lynda offers courses across various industries
- KelbyOne offers amazing app integration capabilities, whereas Lynda is not as streamlined at this point in time
- KelbyOne has a UI that looks good and is easy to use, whereas Lynda could use some improvement
- KelbyOne does not offer a free one month trial, whereas Lynda does
KelbyOne
One of the most popular online course platforms in the world of photography is KelbyOne. Whether you’re a novice, an intermediate, or an expert, KelbyOne is sure to have something for you.
With KelbyOne, you’ll have a wide range of courses available for students of all levels, you might have a difficult time knowing where to begin. However, you’ll quickly notice that the site is easy to navigate and well-organized, so you’re not going to get overwhelmed if you’re new to KelbyOne.
So, let’s talk about exactly what it is that KelbyOne has to offer.
Subscription Plans
One of the things I really like about KelbyOne is that it doesn’t force you to follow a certain path. No matter what topic you want to learn more about, KelbyOne offers flexible choices through its membership plans. Here’s a quick rundown of what KelbyOne’s membership plans.
Plus Plan
The Plus Plan gives users access to more than 300 courses, adding new topics to the membership every month. If you’re a beginner, this is a great way to get into learning more about photography without spending a lot of money.
If you decide that you knock things up a notch, you don’t have to sign up with KelbyOne again. All you need to do is pay a prorated fee, and the platform will immediately grant you access as soon as you do.
Pro Plan
The Pro Plan is KelbyOne’s highest plan. It’s the next level up from the Membership Plan, giving you access to all the services, products, and courses that the platform has to offer. KelbyOne releases new courses almost every week, and currently, there are more than 800 classes available.
This includes classes that teach you how to shoot, edit, and improve your photographs. Plus, the site offers training tools, along with an interactive community that’s ready to help out and provide support when you need it.
KelbyOne doesn’t require a contract, which means you can cancel anytime you want. The platform also gives you the first month free, no matter which membership plan you use. That way, you can get a good idea of what the platform offers.
Show off your content
Another great thing I like about KelbyOne is that it gives you the opportunity to show off your work. The site puts on four gallery shows every year, encouraging members to submit their artwork and photography for consideration.
If chosen, your work will be displayed alongside other artists’ photography and artwork on the platform. You never know, your work might stand out above the rest, giving you an in into the world of photography.
Application integration
One of the biggest reasons people like to use an online learning platform is the convenience of it all. That’s great for KelbyOne since it focuses on ways to make their content available through application integration.
What does that mean? If means if you don’t have access to a computer, KelbyOne wants you to still have the ability to use its platform. Whether you’re using a tablet, a smartphone, or a smart TV, you’ll have a way to view your content on KelbyOne.
With a deep, expansive catalog, users have access to all the photography content they could want on ANY platform! Makes a great one-of-a-kind gift and we have a special offer just for you!
EXCLUSIVE: Save 20% on the KelbyOne Pro Annual Plan
Use Code "OCR20" at Checkout and SAVE!
Pros and Cons
There’s a lot to like about KelbyOne’s online photography platform, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Here are some of the pros and cons of the KelbyOne program.
Pros
- Great discounts for members
- Downloadable content so you can watch offline
- Industry trends are recognized and addressed in the site’s blog
- More than 800 courses with over 10,000 classes and lessons
- New courses available every week
- One-on-one seminars available
- Flexible membership plans
- Cancel anytime you want
Cons
- May not be a good fit if you want to focus solely on one topic
- Can be challenging to locate the free trial membership option
Is KelbyOne Right For You?
If you’re looking for an online photography platform that gives you lots of courses, features, and great value for your money, KelbyOne might be the right choice for you. With access to hundreds of courses and new classes available weekly, KelbyOne is an excellent option.
Or, if you’re the type of person who prefers to take the wait and see approach, you can sign up for the platform using your email address and tour the site for free. You’ll get access to 10 free courses, so you can determine how KelbyOne works for you.
KelbyOne offers plenty of high-quality content delivered by top-of-the-line instructors. The platform also has a great online community so that you can help others, and they can help you anytime you run into problems or need additional information.
Overall, the platform is great for anyone who wants to learn a lot of photography in a single place but doesn’t have the time to sit through one-hour classes. It’s affordable, easy to use, and intuitive. If you want my opinion, KelbyOne is tough to beat.
Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning)
Another popular online learning platform is Lynda.com, also known as LinkedIn Learning. This versatile platform offers content for a variety of industries, including photography. Other markets available through Lynda.com include business, technology, and software development.
This training tool is often used by corporations for employee use, but you can use to learn more about any skill you want, including photography. Like KelbyOne, there are plenty of photography courses available, perfect for any skill level.
So what makes Lynda a good option? Let’s take a closer look.
Subscription Plans
For the entire time, you’re a member of the Lynda.com platform, you can take any course available. That means you’ll have access to more than classes about photography. There are also topics that focus on career building, so you can continue to develop and build a career for yourself.
One nice thing about Lynda is that you can take multiple courses at the same time. So you can take your photography courses while you learn about business management and parlay those two things into a single idea. It could be something as simple as starting a business or discovering a better way to run your current business.
Customized course recommendations
Before you decide on a membership plan, you can request that Lynda assess your skillset and provide recommendations based on the information provided. This lets Lynda suggest the best courses to prioritize as you begin your learning journey.
With this type of customization, you can spend your valuable time on the courses that make sense for you instead of wasting your resources trying to determine where to begin or whether or not a class is right for you.
Monthly Plan
The Monthly Plan is perfect if you only want to take a short-term class. You can select the course you want to take each month. Once you complete the class, you can either select a new class or choose to unsubscribe from Lynda.
Premium Monthly Plan
This is the plan you choose if you want to have access to all the courses across all the various industries. The cost isn’t much more than the monthly plan, and you can choose from hundreds of courses, taking as many as you want.
Playlist capabilities
Lynda offers its users thousands of courses, so finding the right course can take up a lot of time. With the playlist feature, you can organize courses, making it easier to find exactly what you need. Just add the course to your playlist. Then, you can track your progress as you make your way through the lessons.
Certifications and credentials
If you’re looking for a program that provides certification and credentials upon course completion, Lynda might be the platform for you. You have to pass a final assessment before earning your certification, but once you do, you can quickly connect it to your LinkedIn profile so potential clients or businesses can view your achievements.
Pros and Cons
Like KelbyOne, Lynda has its share of advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a quick rundown of what I discovered while using Lynda.
Pros
- Course lessons have high-quality video
- Mobile app for learning on the go
- Download content for viewing at your leisure
- Translate courses into several different languages
- Thousands of courses available
- Receive certification when course is complete
Cons
- Could be overwhelming if you’re not used to online learning
- Signup is pointless if you only plan to learn about a single topic
Is Lynda Worth It?
This really depends on what you expect to accomplish. Lynda is a great choice if you plan to learn many different topics and boost your general knowledge. This type of education can really help boost your potential if you plan on running a business with the knowledge you gain from photography.
The pricing is great, and you can choose courses that make sense for you. Plus, the platform will customize a curriculum that fits your needs, so you don’t have to spend days wading through the thousands of courses Lynda offers.
Lynda is a great online learning platform if you want the content to supplement your photography education. So, if you plan on earning a living with your photography, you might consider enrolling in Lynda as soon as possible.
Similarities
We’ve discussed some of the differences between these two online education platforms and dug a little deeper into what they have to offer. Now let’s take a look at what KelbyOne and Lynda have in common.
Plenty of courses
Both platforms offer plenty of courses for their users. While KelbyOne focuses on photography, Lynda offers a wide selection of courses across multiple industries. Still, both offer excellent photography courses, including Lightroom and Photoshop tutorials, Landscape and Portrait Photography, and Commercial Photography.
Professional instructors
Teachers can be a big reason why an online education platform succeeds or fails. Both KelbyOne and Lynda employ professional educators with industry experience and the relevant skills to ensure students have the necessary tools and information.
Support
When it comes to online learning platforms, you want to find one that offers a community of people looking to accomplish the same goals. The benefit here is that you’re interacting with like-minded people who want to succeed while helping one another. Don’t be surprised if you wind up making a few new friends along the way.
Additionally, you need to find a platform that offers tech support. Since you’re participating in remote learning, there’s a chance you may run into technical problems. Both KelbyOne and Lynda offer support so you can get back to what you were doing: learning.
FAQs
Online education sites aren’t a new thing, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding them. Here are a few of the more common ones.
Answer: Courses you find on online platforms will be more affordable than paying for your classes one at a time. Typically you’ll spend less than $150 annually for a subscription membership. Do your research and stay patient. These platforms often offer discounts at certain times of the year.
Answer: LinkedIn offers its users a Lynda.com trial for 30 days when they sign up for a premium account. If you’re not a premium LinkedIn member, you can still try Lynda.com, but only for 21 days. If you don’t want to use LinkedIn at all, you can use Lynda.com for free for ten days.
Answer: So long as you choose the right online platform, you can definitely get a certificate upon completion of the course. You can download your certificate and share it as well. LinkedIn even lets you add a certificate to your LinkedIn profile if you complete the course through Lynda.com.
With a deep, expansive catalog, users have access to all the photography content they could want on ANY platform! Makes a great one-of-a-kind gift and we have a special offer just for you!
EXCLUSIVE: Save 20% on the KelbyOne Pro Annual Plan
Use Code "OCR20" at Checkout and SAVE!
Which is Better: KelbyOne or Lynda?
Now for the million-dollar question. Which one should you choose? KelbyOne or Lynda? You may have noticed that both of these online learning platforms are great choices. Even if you’re a novice in the world of photography, both platforms offer intuitive courses that will help you improve all your skills.
Both are convenient and easy to access, but when it comes to integration, I have to give the nod to KelbyOne. This is simply due to the multiple applications the platform supports, so you can take your classes anywhere you go.
On the other hand, if you want a platform that offers more than photography-related courses, then you might check out Lynda. There are plenty of classes available that focus on topics across multiple industries. KelbyOne focuses on photography and photo editing tools as well as other topics relevant to the photography industry, but LinkedIn geared Lynda to be helpful for professionals of all kinds.
You’ll find business courses, skill tutorials, and all kinds of other subjects beyond the world of photography.
Of course, some people might argue that too many options can cause more problems. KelbyOne is popular because it only offers courses specifically catered to photography. This lets users give their full attention to learning more about lighting, Photoshop, and how to create amazing pictures.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. It’s a win-win because both platforms offer high-quality courses, professional instructors, and affordable memberships. Basically, it boils down to whether you want a platform that’s all about photography or an online education site that offers courses across multiple industries.
Mastering photography takes a great amount of patience, determination, and effort. Finding the right online platform can make a huge difference in how your efforts progress. KelbyOne and Lynda can both provide a solid foundation when you’re ready to get started. You can’t go wrong choosing either of these platforms.