About the Art Photography Academy
A dedicated creative space where creativity is nurtured, ideas are shared, and artists grow together. Through mentorship, community, and unique teaching, we help you enjoy photography as a powerful modern art form.
There is an artist in Everyone
Why The Art of Photography Matters to Us
We believe photography is one of the greatest modern art forms!
Photography is an incredible medium — one that nurtures creativity, expression, and well-being. It is a reality-driven art form that can powerfully stand on its own, capturing truth and beauty in ways nothing else can. At the Art Photography Academy, we see the camera as far more than just a technical tool. It becomes part of a larger artistic journey, blending seamlessly with handcrafted methods, mixed-media approaches, and personal interpretation. When combined with traditional art mediums, photography can skyrocket creativity to an entirely new level — opening doors to fresh perspectives, deeper connections, and the joy of bringing imagination vividly to life.
How It All Began
From a simple idea to a global creative academy started from a need to connect, grown into a space to create
The Art Photography Academy grew out of a simple challenge: how to keep students connected. While teaching multiple groups of art and fine art photographers, Martin Osner found himself managing scattered WhatsApp groups and struggling to keep communication flowing. A past student and friend, Ralf Armbrüster, stepped in to build a dedicated communications platform where students could connect with Martin — and with each other.
What started as a small network quickly evolved. Classes that began in person, then moved to Zoom, transformed into a complete online academy. Today, people from around the world can learn in their own time and at their own pace, while still receiving personal mentorship. This journey of connection, innovation, and teaching forms the DNA of the Art Photography Academy as it exists today.
Meet the Team
Ralf Armbrüster
Based in Germany, Ralf heads up the academy’s head office with a dedicated team, ensuring everything runs to world-class standards. He oversees student onboarding, administration, and the structure of programs — guiding the academy much like a principal and making sure every learner’s journey is smooth and supported.
Samantha Lee Osner
A fine art exhibiting photographer in her own right, Samantha leads marketing and branding at the academy while also teaching digital courses. From Photoshop for the Artist to practical editing support, she brings her expertise into the classroom, combining her artistic eye with a gift for guiding others in their creative process.
Martin Osner
Founder, educator, artist and creative mentor, Martin has been teaching photography and art for 30 years. His unique programs, developed from years of practice and exhibitions, form the foundation of all teaching at the academy. From pure photography to fine art photography, his approach blends technical mastery with creativity.
A Real Academy, Run by Real People
The Art Photography Academy is more than an online platform
Guided by Real Artists with Real Success
The Art Photography Academy is not just a digital platform — it is a real academy with a solid foundation in both Europe and South Africa. In Germany, Ralf Armbrüster and his team run the administration office, ensuring that programs are structured, supported, and delivered to world-class standards. In Cape Town, Martin and Samantha lead from dedicated recording and content studios, where courses are filmed, monthly challenges are created, and the community is actively supported by their on-the-ground team.
Beyond the academy itself, their work is exhibited in three art galleries across the Western Cape, where the very techniques taught here are showcased and sold. This real-world presence demonstrates that what we teach is not only practical, but tried, tested, and celebrated by collectors and the public alike.
Photography, Art Photography & Fine Art Photography
At the Art Photography Academy, we honour photography in all its forms
We see it as a modern art medium — whether analogue or digital — capable of standing proudly on its own or, when combined with traditional art techniques, unlocking entirely new creative possibilities. Our programs are designed to guide students through these channels — from the foundations of photography, into art photography, and onwards to the more advanced practice of fine art photography
Photography
Photography is a reality-driven art form that captures truth, beauty, and experience with power and precision. It allows us to preserve moments as they are, while still allowing the artist’s vision to shine through.
Art Photography
Art Photography uses the camera as part of a broader creative process, often blending with handcrafted methods to produce decorative and visually engaging works.
Fine Art Photography
Fine Art Photography moves into the expressive and emotive, where the focus is on creating artworks with a voice, often intended for exhibition and deeper artistic communication.
Why Our Courses Are Unique
Our courses are built on teaching methods and creative techniques developed by Martin Osner over decades of experience
Unique programs and knowledge you won’t find scattered across public platforms. Each program is carefully structured into short, easy-to-follow videos that cover every step: from the inspiration behind a technique, to the materials you’ll need, to a guided process with examples that spark ideas. Every lesson includes a ‘snag list’ of pitfalls to avoid, making it easier to succeed the first time.
To support learning, summary notes are included alongside the videos, and all courses are added to your personal library with lifetime access. This means you can revisit lessons at any time, at your own pace, and continue growing in confidence and creativity.
Getting Started with Art Photography
Introduces eight practical techniques developed by Martin Osner that combine photography with artistic methods. A starting point for exploring creative approaches to image-making.
Going Further in Art Photography
Continues from the first art photography course with nine additional techniques. These lessons expand the range of processes available for creating expressive and decorative photographic artworks.
Photoshop for the Artist
Covers the use of Photoshop in a creative context. Rather than only focusing on editing, this course explores artistic applications that help integrate photography with other visual processes.
Essentials Photography Course
A foundation course that explains how cameras work and covers the basic mechanics of photography. It provides the technical groundwork needed before moving into creative practice.
Advanced Photography Course
A progression from the Essentials course, designed to explore more advanced camera techniques, creative use of light, and composition. It bridges technical understanding with artistic application.
Step Inside — An Invitation to Experience Our World for $1
Step inside and take a first look at the Art Photography Academy. Here you’ll find a curated collection of articles and conversations that reveal how we approach creativity and meaning in photography. We’ve also included a complimentary technique for you to try — a small but inspiring way to begin making art with your camera. This is your invitation to experience our world, to sense the difference in how we teach, and to decide if this journey is one you’d like to take further.
Be Our Guest — $1 to Experience the Academy →
Learning Together —Support, Mentorship, and Connection
At the Art Photography Academy, we believe creative photography cannot be practised in isolation.
Sharing ideas, giving encouragement, and learning side by side
Every student who joins a course is placed in a class group with peers on the same journey, creating a space for discussion, feedback, and connection.
Beyond the classroom, all members become part of the Inspire community — a larger network of photographers and artists from around the world. Here, conversations continue, images are shared, and inspiration flows. It is a place where mentorship, encouragement, and creativity come together.
More about our Inspire Community ⟶
Creative Challenges
Challenges That Grow Your Creativity
Every six to eight weeks, our Inspire Community members are invited to take part in a new creative challenge. These assignments are designed to stretch your skills, spark new ideas, and keep your creativity active. Each challenge is followed by a live mentoring session, during which work is discussed and feedback is shared in a nurturing and supportive manner.
We don’t believe in judging photographic art or issuing scores — instead, the focus is on mentoring through discussion. These sessions offer members the opportunity to learn from one another, gain new perspectives, and refine their own artistic voice.
More about our Creative Challenges ⟶Class Groups & Memberships
We believe you cannot practise creative photography in isolation. Our courses and memberships connect you with like-minded people, giving you the support and inspiration to keep growing.
There are different ways to take part in the Art Photography Academy. Enrolling in a course gives you access to a class group, where you learn alongside peers while receiving guidance and mentorship. Beyond the classroom, members can also join the Inspire community — a subscription-based network where photographers, art photographers, and fine art photographers from around the world connect, share work, and exchange ideas.
All of this is made simple through our community app, which keeps discussions, feedback, and inspiration at your fingertips. Whether you’re posting images, joining a conversation, or connecting with mentors, everything is accessible on your phone — keeping you part of the community wherever you are.
Importantly, the academy is not only for those who want to exhibit or sell their art. Many members are hobbyists who enjoy photography as a creative outlet. Whether you are exploring photography for pleasure or developing a serious body of work, you’ll find encouragement, inspiration, and belonging here.
The Creative Vision Gallery
Coming soon to the Art Photography Academy is the Creative Vision Gallery — a dedicated online gallery created exclusively for emerging artists from our programs.
A curated online gallery for our emerging artists
This is not an open platform where anyone can upload work. It is a carefully curated space that showcases selected artworks by Illuminae students and photographic artists in training. The gallery enables our members to showcase their work on a professional stage, reaching a global audience. Beyond showcasing, it also allows artworks to be offered for sale, creating a bridge between learning, creating, and sharing with collectors around the globe. The Creative Vision Gallery is the ultimate showcase — a place where new voices in photography, art photography, and fine art photography can be seen, appreciated, and celebrated.
There is an Artist in Everyone
The Art Photography Academy exists to help you discover and nurture that artist within. Whether you are just starting out, exploring photography as a hobby, or developing a professional body of work, our courses, community, and mentorship will support you at every stage.
Here, creativity is not practised in isolation but shared, encouraged, and celebrated. This is your space to learn, to grow, and to connect with others who share the same passion.
Start your Art Photography Journey Today ⟶ Be our Guest — Step in and Experience Our World ⟶