The Level Up — Free Photography Series
Sheikh Tanveer Ahmad
Free Photography Series
Master the fundamentals of photography
Want to take better photos? You're in the right place. The Level Up is five fun episodes with the Pexels team to get you there.
What you getHow it works
What you get
A crash course on photography from a friendly crew
Our resident photographer duo is taking you under their wing. They'll share what they've learned the hard way, and what they wish someone had told them when they started out.
Bonus tips straight from our curation team
Every episode comes with a bonus from the Pexels curation team, who decide what gets featured on our popular homepage. They'll let you in on what they're looking for, and how to give your photos the best shot.
A certificate to brag about
Make it through all five episodes and we'll send you a shareable Level Up certificate to call your own. Pop it on your portfolio, your bio, or wherever your work lives online.
A chance to win a starter photography kit
There's more to play for. Finishing the series unlocks an exclusive challenge, where ten winners will get featured on the Pexels homepage every month, and one lucky person walks away with a full starter photography kit at the end of the year!
Jump right in 👇
Episode 01
Foundations
We're starting where every photographer starts: the building blocks. The first episode is all about composition, light, and framing, so you can begin reading a scene before you raise your camera.
Bonus
How Pexels curation really works (& how to stand out)
Episode 01Bonus Episode
Episode 02
Camera Essentials
Time to get to know your camera properly. We'll walk you through aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and show you how to use the three of them to get sharper photos in any kind of light.
Bonus
How to make it to the Pexels homepage
Upload 10 photos or videos to Pexels to unlock
Episode 03
Storytelling
This is where photos start telling stories. You'll learn how to find one in everyday surroundings, bring your subject and scene together, and grow a little braver about taking portraits of strangers.
Bonus
How Pexels challenges help you grow
Join any Pexels challenge to unlock
Episode 04
Editing
Now we get into editing. We'll cover the basics of Affinity, how to use colour to set the mood, and what's different about working with a RAW file.
Bonus
What to avoid to get featured on Pexels
Upload 20 photos or videos to Pexels to unlock
Episode 05
Finding Your Style
This one's all about you! We'll help you grow your Pexels portfolio, find inspiration when you need a bit of a spark, and start spotting what makes your photos feel like yours.
Bonus
How to get more views and downloads across your Pexels work
Add a photo or video to your profile highlights to unlock
Meet the team
Three of our favourite people on the Pexels team are leading the series. Between them they shoot, build communities, and direct the work that makes Pexels feel like Pexels. Say hello!
Airam
Pexels Community Manager // APAC
Airam runs photography communities across APAC and has strong opinions about what makes a photo work. His one big rule: photography is light and lines. You'll hear it more than once.
Ali
Pexels Content Creator // Photographer
Ali has spent years shooting and editing for Pexels. He treats composition as a decision you make on purpose every time you raise the camera, until one day you stop having to think about it.
Arthur
Pexels Creative Director // Videographer
Arthur is Pexels' Creative Director and the one setting the briefs each episode. He directs the series and keeps Ali and Airam honest. If anyone knows what makes a photo stand out on the platform, it's him.
Ready when you are
Episode 01 is live now. Grab your camera and we'll see you in there.
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Posted Aug 1, 2026
Five-episode free video series teaching photography fundamentals, editing, storytelling, and finding your style; includes bonuses, a certificate, and a chance to win gear.
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