Teaches Photography

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz's iconic photographs have appeared in museums, books, and magazines from Vanity Fair to Rolling Stone—and now she’s your instructor. In introducing her class, Annie reflects on her career and the power of telling stories with photography.*

Introduction

Annie discusses portraiture and photojournalism, and what makes portrait photography so compelling for her as a medium. Learn why Annie loves the photo series and why a single image cannot truly "capture" a person.*

Portrait Photography

Annie breaks down her process for developing imaginative and creative concepts for her photo shoots, sharing examples from Tess Gallagher, Amy Schumer, Keith Haring, Whoopi Goldberg, and more.*

Creating Concepts

Annie discusses her philosophy around photography equipment, working with natural light, and the value of keeping your lighting kit small.

Working With Light

Annie talks about her approach to studio photography, her strong preference for shooting on location, and the role of environment in her portraiture.

Studio vs. Location

Annie shares how she approaches working with a subject for a photo shoot, including refuting the popular notion that it's a photographer's responsibility to put a subject at ease.

Working With Your Subject

Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Annie's photoshoot for Vogue magazine, where she captures the cast of Angels in America. Watch her and her team set up the photoshoot, effect her concept, and show the way she works with her subjects.

Case Study: Angels in America Photoshoot for Vogue Magazine

Annie discusses why your family and loved ones may be your best photography subjects and what opportunities come from photographing subjects who are close to you.

Photographing People Who Are Close to You

Annie discusses the importance of self-reflection and explains why it's so important for every photographer to look back at their work.*

Looking Back at Your Work

In this chapter, Annie shares how she approached transitioning from film to digital, and what starting out in the dark room can teach you. Annie also shares her perspective on focus and sharpness—and how above all else it's the content that matters.

The Technical Side of Photography

Annie sits down with students from her alma mater, the San Francisco Art Institute, to critique their work and share her own approach to core principles of photography.

Student Sessions

Annie brings you inside a photo shoot with the renowned chef Alice Waters. Learn how Annie built the concept for the photos, conducted research, and prepared for the shoot.

Case Study Part 1: Photographing Alice Waters

Annie gives you an exclusive look into her digital post-production process, and shares her thoughts about what it means to be a photographer and creative artist.

Case Study Part 2: Digital Post-Production

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Alfred Stieglitz, and Richard Avedon—Annie introduces us to the photographers who have inspired her, sharing the personal lessons she has derived from their work.*

Photographic Influences

Learn how Annie’s artistic journey impacted her evolution as a photographer—from the inspiration of family photos to the San Francisco Art Institute and Rolling Stone. *Lessons marked with an asterisk contain images with nudity.

The Evolution of a Photographer

Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography

membership

Non-Member

region

CCPA

country

GDPR

$opt_dummy_attribute

Optimizely-Generated Audience for Backwards Compatibility

Teaches Screenwriting

Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Teaches Filmmaking

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Directing

Ron Howard

Ron Howard Teaches Directing

Teaches Acting

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren Teaches Acting

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Parris Goebel

Parris Goebel Teaches Creativity in Choreography

Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys Teaches Songwriting and Producing

Teaches Comedy

Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Spike Lee

Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Ken Burns

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Mira Nair

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Art and Creativity

Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons Teaches Art and Creativity

Teaches Voice Acting

Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting

Teaches Film Scoring

Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer Teaches Film Scoring

Steve Martin

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Teaches Investigative Journalism

Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward Teaches Investigative Journalism

Teaches Adventure Photography

Jimmy Chin

Jimmy Chin Teaches Adventure Photography

Teach the Art of Magic

Penn & Teller

Penn & Teller Teach the Art of Magic

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Robin Roberts

Robin Roberts Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Teaches Writing

James Patterson

James Patterson Teaches Writing

Teaches The Art of Performance

Usher

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Teaches Singing

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Teaches Country Music

Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire Teaches Country Music

Teaches Electronic Music Production

deadmau5

deadmau5 Teaches Electronic Music Production

Teaches Writing for Television

Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Teaches Design and Architecture

Frank Gehry

Frank Gehry Teaches Design and Architecture

Teaches Dramatic Writing

David Mamet

David Mamet Teaches Dramatic Writing

Teaches Jazz

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Judy Blume

Judy Blume Teaches Writing

Teaches Dance Music

Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren Teaches Dance Music

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine Teaches Writing for Young Audiences

Teaches Creative Writing

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing

Teaches Electric Guitar

Tom Morello

Tom Morello Teaches Electric Guitar

Teaches Writing Thrillers

Dan Brown

Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers

Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana Teaches the Art and Soul of Guitar

Teaches the Art of Storytelling

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling

Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Timbaland

Timbaland Teaches Producing and Beatmaking

Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

Billy Collins

Billy Collins Teaches Reading and Writing Poetry

Teaches Violin

Itzhak Perlman

Itzhak Perlman Teaches Violin

Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

David Baldacci

David Baldacci Teaches Mystery and Thriller Writing

Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates Teaches the Art of the Short Story

Teaches Business Strategy and Leadership

Bob Iger

Bob Iger Teaches Business Strategy and Leadership

Teaches Storytelling and Humor

David Sedaris

David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor

Teach Advertising and Creativity

Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein

Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein Teach Advertising and Creativity

Teaches Drumming and Percussion 

Sheila E.

Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion 

Teaches ʻUkulele

Jake Shimabukuro

Jake Shimabukuro Teaches ʻUkulele

Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

St. Vincent

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Issa Rae

Issa Rae Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Teaches Storytelling Through Portrait Photography

Tyler Mitchell

Tyler Mitchell Teaches Storytelling Through Portrait Photography

Teaches Music Curation and DJing

Questlove

Questlove Teaches Music Curation and DJing