A photograph is conceived before the photographer presses the shutter. That means the photographer knows exactly what they are photographing, from which angle, how they are using the light, how they are setting the camera, what the final image will look like, how they will post-process it, and, most importantly, what they want to say through that photograph – and who it is addressed to.
This is the promise of our course: by the end, you will know what photograph you want to make and how to make it.
Photography Fundamentals is the first module of the Two-Year Photography Program (with diploma), CdRF's two-year professional photography qualification program. It can also be taken independently as a complete course in its own right, ideal for beginners and amateur photographers.
Course Details
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200 hours, more than half of them hands-on (photo walks, studio photography, practical classroom exercises, film developing, and image processing).
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Three classes per week: Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and Saturday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. The course runs from 15 September 2026 to 10 February 2027.
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Maximum 15 participants.
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Held at the Center of Photography Resources (CdRF), Popa Tatu 68, Bucharest.
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Required equipment: a digital camera with full manual controls, at least one 50mm lens (or an equivalent zoom lens), and a laptop with image-processing software installed (Adobe Lightroom).
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You'll have access to the CdRF library, with nearly 500 photography books, monographs, and magazines, as well as the CdRF studio for independent practice.
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The course concludes with a group exhibition.
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Participants may sit for the final examination. Those who pass receive a Certificate of Introduction to Photography. CdRF is accredited by Romania's Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity through the Bucharest Commission for the Authorization of Adult Professional Training Providers, and the graduation certificate is recognized throughout Europe. Anyone may attend the course, but a high school diploma is required to obtain the certification.
Payment options
Super early bird - 6000 de lei, until August 15, 2026
Early bird - 7500 de lei, between August 16 and September 5, 2026
Early bird
Full price - 9000 lei, between September 6 and September 23, 2026
Full price
Payment in installments - 10,000 lei, down payment 2,000 lei + 4 monthly installments of 2,000 lei; you pay the down payment now, and the monthly installments are paid for the current month, by the 10th of the month.
What You'll Learn
Photographic Technique (teacher: Andrei Păcuraru) – by the end of this module, you'll know how to use your camera in full manual mode and how to compose a photograph. A significant part of the course consists of shooting sessions alongside Andrei and the rest of the group, so you'll also leave with your first diverse body of photographic work.
Photo Processing (teacher: Alexandru Busuioceanu) – a complete Lightroom workflow, from importing, organizing, and selecting images to editing and exporting, plus an introduction to Photoshop. You'll work on your own photographs and learn how to take them from memory card to final file, ready for either online publication or print.
History of Photography (teacher: Cristina Irian) – from the camera obscura to digital photography and post-photography; from the major photographic movements and schools to the microhistory of photography in Romania. You'll learn to situate your own photographic practice within a broader tradition and to use these references in the way you photograph today. The course includes building a camera obscura and visits to museums and galleries, so you'll also discover where and how photography exists beyond the screen.
Building a Story Through Photography (teacher: Cornel Lazia) – how to tell a story through a single image and through a sequence of images, using framing, camera angles, point of view, and cinematic principles adapted to photography. You'll complete practical exercises in visual storytelling: conveying a narrative in a single frame, building photographic series, sequencing images, and combining photographs with text.
Introduction to Documentary Photography (teacher: Ioana Moldovan) – an introduction to storytelling and story editing in documentary photography. You'll create your own documentary photo series and develop it through image selection and sequencing until its final form. You'll leave with a completed personal project, taken from initial idea to finished work.
Introduction to Studio Photography (teacher: Ionuț Staicu) – studio equipment and fundamental lighting setups for portrait and product photography. Apart from the first, theory-based session, the course takes place entirely in the studio, working alongside a professional studio photographer. You'll leave with your own set of studio photographs.
Introduction to Personal Style in Photography (teacher: Natan Dvir) – an exploration of photographic history through the lens of the elements that shape a photographer's personal style, combined with guidance in identifying your own visual perspective. The course is taught online in English. Throughout the module, you'll receive ongoing feedback on your own images while developing your critical thinking and reflective approach to photography.
Introduction to Image Evaluation and Criticism (teacher: Panos Kasimis) – you'll build the theoretical foundations of photographic criticism and learn how to evaluate your own work more objectively, developing the ability to recognize what makes a photograph successful. The course is taught online in English and includes an individual review of each participant's selected images.
Fundamentals of the Photographic Project and Portfolio (teachers: Andrei Păcuraru & Toma Hurduc) – an introduction to long-term photographic projects and portfolio development, combining practical exercises with basic layout and presentation techniques. You'll leave with the concept for a photographic project and your first portfolio.
Street Photography Workshop (teacher: Toma Hurduc) – what street photography is and, more importantly, what it isn't. The workshop includes a street photography outing followed by image selection, printing, and identifying the visual thread that connects the work. You'll leave with your own street photography series.
Film Developing Workshop (teacher: Ionuț Staicu & Matei Dumitru) – you'll be given a film camera and shoot a roll of film while practicing studio portraiture with Ionuț. Afterwards, under Matei's guidance at ISOpatrusute, you'll develop your own film. You'll leave with your photographs, developed by you and professionally scanned.