How to Choose a Craft Maker Photography Course: NYI Book Set vs National Geographic Video

Quick take

If you want to learn craft maker photography at your own pace, the decision usually comes down to how much you want to read and how much you want to watch. The NYI set gives you multiple illustrated paperback volumes built around a professional curriculum. The Keith Brookes paperback is the smallest cash outlay and works well if you enjoy learning from a book. The National Geographics guide-and-DVD bundle adds a brand-new printed guide to video lessons. And the 2014 Masters of Photography DVD is a standalone video course in a standard DVD case.

At a glance

Decision matrix

Product notes

The Complete Course in Professional Photography by NYI (Books 3-6)

For a book-first learner, this set gives you several volumes of professional photography instruction in an illustrated paperback format. The course is written in English and aimed at a wide audience, so the material stays approachable while still covering professional technique. It makes sense when you want a broader curriculum rather than a single guide. The trade-off is that this package contains only books 3, 4, 5, and 6; books 1 and 2 are not included. If you prefer pristine copies, the used set may show some light wear, so it is best for someone who cares more about content than condition.

The Complete Video Course by Keith Brookes

If your priority is keeping the budget tight while still following a complete course, this paperback is the lowest-priced option here. Despite the name, it is a used paperback rather than a video disc, so treat it as a reading-based course with a video-originated structure. The book is from Boxtree and the ISBN is 9781852831332, which makes it easy to identify a specific copy. A used paperback may show some creasing from previous use. Choose it when you want a low-cost introduction and are comfortable with a physical book instead of a screen-based lesson.

National Geographics Masters of Photography Course Guide and DVD

This option combines a printed course guide with a DVD video series, and it arrives brand new. National Geographic photographers are the credited authors, so the lessons come from working photographers rather than a single instructor. If you like having a physical guide open beside you while watching video demonstrations, this two-part set supports that workflow. The format includes a book and a DVD, which means you will be juggling two pieces instead of one; plan to keep them together while you study. It is a good match when you want both a reference and moving examples in one purchase.

Masters of Photography DVD 2014 National Geographic 12 Masters

If you want video lessons but not a printed guide, this used National Geographic DVD course gives you a standalone learning tool. It comes in a standard DVD case and the DVD carries a Region 1 code. The course features 12 masters and covers areas like adventure, wildlife, landscapes, and people in their environments, which fits a craft maker who photographs a variety of subjects. As a used item, you get the structured curriculum without paying for new packaging. The limitation is that there is no companion book, so all your learning happens on the screen.

Final recommendation by use case

Choose the NYI Complete Course when you want a multi-volume text-first curriculum and you can accept starting at book 3. Choose the Keith Brookes paperback for the lowest-cost complete course in print. Choose the National Geographics guide-and-DVD bundle when you want a new book-and-video mix. Choose the 2014 Masters of Photography DVD when you want a pure video course on disc and do not need a book. Prices here run from $11.07 to $43.99, so the decision is less about budget than about whether you want to read, watch, or do both.