Welcome to the ultimate collection of totally FREE photography eBooks! Whether you’re after some general digital photography advice, looking to increase your photo editing skills, want some specific street photography tips, or even have a desire to take amazing shots of dragonflies – whatever you’re looking for, we have you covered.
As well as all of the below ebooks being offered at the fantastic price of zero, they are all in PDF format, and thus viewable on PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone and, well, anything else that can read PDFs. They’re all full ebooks, too – no ‘preview’ or ‘sample’ books here.
I’ve mostly linked to the pages on the corresponding websites where you can download the eBook – that way their website is getting the much-deserved exposure and publicity, rather than you being able to download the book directly from this post without ever visiting their site (although a few sites have updated their links, so have had to include some direct downloads as the number of broken links was getting silly!). Seems fair to me! I’ve only linked to sites where the eBooks are explicitly stated as being free – I did come across more books in my search, but I couldn’t vouch for the legality of some, so I didn’t include them in this post; download any of the eBooks below safe in the knowledge that they are all available online for free, and legally so.
By the way, if you know of any more free photography ebooks that I may have missed, please let me know in a comment below, by email, twitter, or on our Facebook page.
General Photography eBooks
Using Your Digital SLR
This is a really nicely illustrated guide from the folk at Photoanswers. It contains lots of handy hints on starting out with your DSLR.
Download ‘Using Your Digital SLR’ for free.
Using Your Lenses
Everything you need to know about lenses, from sharpness, to telephoto, wide-angles and more.
Download ‘Using Your Lenses’ for free.
Shooting RAW On Your DSLR
Want help on how and why you should be shooting RAW? Check out this guide – it contains lot of great info that’ll have you using RAW in no time.
Download ‘Shooting RAW On Your DSLR’ for free.
Shooting Black & White
Improve your black and white photography skills with another great eBook from Photoanswers. Includes info on filters, RAW conversion and Photoshop.
Download ‘Shooting Black and White’ for free.
Creative Lens Techniques
Learn to make the most of your lenses, including focal length facts, aperture answers, selective focus skills and more.
Download ‘Creative Lens Techniques’ for free.
Get More From Your Digital SLR
Take your photography skills to the next level with more great advice from Photoanswers – including focus points, metering modes and more.
Download ‘Get More From Your Digital SLR’ for free.
Vision by Scott Bourne
Scott Bourne writes about inspiration, creativity and ‘vision’ in his free ebook. A great ebook from one of the most-followed photographers on Twitter.
The Top 5 Creative Photography Techniques
Requires a free sign-up to PhotoExtremist’s newsletter (top-right of his site) to get an instant download. Recommended, as the book is lengthy and full of creative ideas.
Download ‘The Top 5 Creative Photography Techniques’ for free.
My 5 Easy Steps To Shoot In Manual
Want to shoot in Manual mode but not sure where to start? This great eBook by Kimberley Gauthier will get you up to scratch in no speed.
Download ‘My 5 Easy Steps To Shoot In Manual’ for free.
The Essential Guide To Digital Photography
Requires a free sign-up to Makeuseof.com – very easy, and registering enables you to download instantly. This ebook is a great overview of digital photography.
Download ‘The Essential Guide To Digital Photography’ for free.
Street Photography eBooks
Going Candid: An Unorthodox Approach to Street Photography
Thomas Leuthard shares his tips, tricks and advice on street photography, including lots of examples of his stunning work.
Download ‘Going Candid: An Unorthodox Approach to Street Photography’.
Collecting Souls: What Street Photography Means To Me
Leuthard’s second book about street photography goes deeper into the subject, including more advanced techniques and thoughts.
Download ‘Collecting Souls: What Street Photography Means To Me’.
Street Photography For The Purist
160 pages of great street photography insight and images. Note the download link is at the top-right of the page.
Download ‘Street Photography For The Purist’ for free.
Lighting eBooks
Lighting 101
David Hobby’s (aka The Strobist) fantastic Lighting 101 series of posts, compiled into one great ebook. Essential reading for anyone interested in flash photography.
Download ‘Lighting 101′ for free.
Tinker Tubes Personal Lighting System
A great DIY guide to building your own studio lighting rig. Includes step-by-step guides and diagrams.
Download ‘Tinker Tubes Personal Lighting System’ for free.
Introduction To External Flash
A great guide to using your flash to get professional results. Including bounce flash, the use of reflectors and more.
Download ‘Introduction to External Flash’ for free.
Good Photos In Bad Light
Darwinn’s great guide on how to make the most of any lighting condition, coming away with a great photo everytime.
Download ‘Good Photos in Bad Light’ for free.
Digital Editing eBooks: Photoshop
Getting Started With Photoshop
Requires a free sign-up to All-Things-Photography’s's newsletter (top-left of their site) to get an instant download. It’s a nice, beginner’s guide to Photoshop.
Download ‘Getting Started With Photoshop’ for free.
An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop
Requires a free sign-up to Makeuseof.com – very easy, and registering enables you to download instantly. A great Photoshop ‘how to’ guide for beginners.
Download ‘An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop’ for free.
An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop: Edition 2
Requires a free sign-up to Makeuseof.com – very easy, and registering enables you to download instantly. Covers more advanced Photoshop skills.
Download ‘An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop: Edition 2′ for free.
Digital Editing eBooks: Lightroom
Lightroom Tips and Tricks: Volume 1
A great collection of Lightroom tips and tutorials – can’t believe this is free! Over a year’s worth of Lightroom guides and advice, compiled in one great ebook.
Download ‘Lightroom Tips and Tricks: Volume 1′ for free.
Lightroom Tips and Tricks: Volume 2
More fab Lightroom guides from Joe Barrett. Includes workflow, rating, sharpening, mask adjustments and more.
Download ‘Lightroom Tips and Tricks: Volume 2′ for free.
Travel Photography eBooks
Take Better Travel Photos
Improve your travel photography with the great advice and examples in this eBook. Includes a nice section on creative composition techniques for iconic places.
Download ‘Take Better Travel Photos’ for free.
Following The Light
A lovely photobook and journal; covering the authors’ trip to the Glacier National Park – lovely landscape photography.
Download ‘Following The Light’ for free.
World Effect: All The Way Around
Requires a free sign-up to their newsletter (top-right of site) in order to download. Beautiful photos and stories from around the world.
Download ‘World Effect: All The Way Around’ for free.
Nature Photography eBooks
13 Tips For Better Wildflower Photography
Exactly what the title says! Includes tips on getting the right exposure, composition, how to get butterflies in your photos and more.
Download ’13 Tips For Better Wildflower Photography’ for free.
Dragonfly Photography
Want to photograph dragonflies? Then this is the eBook for you! Includes info on equipment, composition and behaviour.
Download ‘Dragonfly Photography’ for free.
Food Photography eBooks
How To Take Stunning Food Photos
Requires you to ‘Like’ their page on Facebook to get instant download. A fantastic guide on getting great food shots.
Download ‘How To Take Stunning Food Photos’ for free.
Business eBooks
Technique
Advice and tips on how to earn money from photojournalism. First half of an eBook; the second half is yet to be written!
Download ‘Technique’ for free.
Picture Perfect: Set Up Your Own Photoblog
Requires a free sign-up to Makeuseof.com – very easy, and registering enables you to download instantly. Learn how to set up your own photography website.
Download ‘Picture Perfect: Set Up Your Own Photoblog’ for free.
Portrait Photography eBooks
Mirror, Mirror: An iPad Photobook
Our very own free Self-Portrait eBook, made in conjunction with 28 Flickr photographers. Viewable on PC, MAC, iPhone & iPad.
Download ‘Mirror, Mirror: An iPad Photobook’ for free.
Do you know of any other free photography eBooks? If you do, please let us know by leaving a comment below, sending us an email, writing on our wall on Facebook, or sending us a tweet.
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Thanks for this list of free photography eBooks! Just downloading “5 Easy Steps To Shoot In Manual”, will let you know how it goes.
No problem, Elliot – enjoy the eBook; it’s a really helpful guide to shooting in Manual.
非常感谢你的书，正在学习lightroom，我会查字典去学习的
thanks for your book .i am learnning lightroom ,i will lean it with a dictionary
Just brought my new camera this week and these will help heaps thanks!
Great; have fun with your new camera!
Well done, excellent resources!
Thanks, was fun compiling the list!
Thank you so much for compiling this list! I purchased my first DSLR last spring and there’s no way to take classes right now. So this list is a great resource. Thanks again:D
No problem, Sherri!
thank you.
cool, just bought a camera last sunday & gonna maximize it will all of these. thx a lot
No problem; hope you’re enjoying your new camera!
This is fantastic! Thanks for sharing these awesome resources!!
Thank you! U R AweSome!
No problem; thanks for your comment!
Thanks, Jenn!
thank u sir…………
Thank you for the resourceful collection of e-books.
By the way, I have added your site to my Blog list of which I follow.
Thank you,
John Ragai
No problem, John, and thanks very much for adding the site to your blog list!
thank u
this collections of e-books will help lots of people those who are interested in photography field THANKS A LOT and pls regularly update this website thank uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu GOOD DAY……….