HNC Certification Course

Learn to shoot the HNC way

A free, practical course for every HNC photographer: camera foundations, photographing people and reels, editing and delivery, and how HNC works. Anyone can read it. To save your progress and take the certification assessment, sign up as a photographer.

The HNC Certification Course

Eleven lessons that take you from holding the camera to delivering the finished work, each with real shoot examples.

1How to Hold Your Phone or CameraA steady grip is the cheapest upgrade in photography. Learn the two-hand grip, why elbows go in, and when to turn the phone.7 min
2Focus: How It Works and How to Control ItWhat tap-to-focus really does, how to lock it, why a moving subject goes blurry, and when Portrait mode helps.9 min
3Distance and DistortionWhy shooting too close makes faces look wide and noses big, and the 4 to 6 foot distance that flatters almost everyone.8 min
4Light: Finding It and Using ItPut the light on your client's face, use golden hour, avoid harsh midday sun, and find good light indoors.9 min
5Composition: What to Put WhereThe rule of thirds, breathing room, and how to decide what stays in the frame and what gets cut out.9 min
6Camera Angles and What They CommunicateEye level feels natural, high feels small and safe, low feels powerful. Choose the angle on purpose.7 min
7Working a Shoot: The First 5 MinutesHow to greet the client, confirm three priorities, explain the plan, and start with something easy so they relax.8 min
8Capturing a Complete SetWide, medium, close, detail and vertical: why you need all five types, and how many shots to aim for.8 min
9Editing: The Right OrderFix brightness first, then color, crop last, and always compare with the original before you export.9 min
10Delivering on HNCWhat to upload, the file size limits, what "delivered" means in the app, and what happens after the client confirms.8 min
11Professionalism and HNC StandardsPunctuality, what to wear, how to handle an unhappy client, and the rules about what you can and cannot do on HNC.9 min

Shoot Recipes

Printable one-page checklists to use on every booking.

12Shoot RecipesUse these original HNC recipes with any camera, phone, or editing app. Learn the control and the result, not a fragile menu path.

Ready to get certified?

The course is free to read. To take the assessment you need a photographer account, and you need to finish every lesson first.

Ready to get certified? Take the Assessment