The all in one platform for photographers to master your craft and build a thriving business you love.

 
 

Courses, Templates, Presets, Workbooks, Community, Coaching Calls & More

Rise has you covered with everything you need to know to book your dream clients, shoot and edit like a pro, stay organized, and take your business to the next level.

 

What People Are Saying

 
Testimonials
PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHER

Seriously, WOW. You have provided an unbelievable amount of information for photographers, on such an easy-to-use and organized platform. All of the lessons within the course are amazing, useful, and so overly informative for ANY photographer-- new or experienced! You could watch the course over and over again and probably learn something new every time, there's just that much information to take in. The editing videos are so helpful and really walk you through what Lightroom can do and what each tool is capable of, which especially as a beginner photographer is incredibly helpful and oftentimes looked over-- but even as an experienced photographer, it's never too late to learn it all!

KYLIE MORGAN

PHOTOGRAPHER

WOW. I think every photographer looking for one place for all-inclusive education experience needs to be a part of this. I’m so impressed with how Dawn has addressed so many of the nitty-gritty details that us as photographers have to learn when we start our businesses. She’s covered everything from where to start and set up your business, finances, camera settings, marketing, pricing... the list just goes on. You won’t be disappointed.

-ANNI GRAHAM

"Dawn’s academy is an industry game changer! RISE allows you to learn at your own pace and will give you confidence in every area of your craft. I highly recommend the program to anyone committed to growing their brand and expanding their skill set.”

— COURTNEY PAIGE

DAWN FREAKING CHARLES. WOWOWOW, you can see right off the bat how much you've put into this. Seriously mind blown at all this content. It's amazing to see that someone who I look up to and consider successful cares about me and wants to see me and others thrive.

Rise has not only helped me grow and has empowered my business but it's also made me realize how much work goes into our businesses and it's given me a sec to say "I'm proud of me.”

— ZOE T.

 
 

Your complete roadmap to the photography brand, business, and life you’ve been searching for.

Learn the fundamentals of
photography and business.

Elevate your work, master
shooting, editing, posing, client experience & more.

Develop your unique voice,
brand, and style.

Take your business to the next
level, and scale with productivity,
passive income & more.

Wondering what you'll learn in Rise Photo Academy?

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR COURSES:

  • The ultimate course for photographers and videographers who strive to capture authentic moments and genuine connection.

    This 10 part course combines live shoots, studio chats, Q&A and prompt cards to provide you with a complete resource on prompting, posing, and storytelling. The Posing Course dives deep into everything you need to know when it comes to making your clients feel comfortable, capturing your subjects in a natural and impactful way, and feeling confident doing it!

    MODULES:

    - Introduction
    - Philosophy & Goals
    - Preparing Clients for the Shoot
    - Setting the Mood
    - Starting the Shoot
    - Shooting, Prompting, and Posing
    - Adjusting for Different Types of Shoots
    - Posing Q&A
    - Live Shoot : Couples Session
    - Live Shoot : Styled Elopement Pt. 1
    - Live Shoot : Styled Elopement Pt. 2

  • Deep dive editing course, covering everything you need to know about Lightroom. Learn how to make adjustments for any type of image, discover your unique style, and create consistent edits you love.

    MODULES:
    - Editing Intro
    - Basic Color & Tone
    - Advanced Color & Tone
    - Effects
    - Profile Corrections
    - Selective Editing
    - Cropping, Straightening & Transforming
    - Spot Removal
    - Lightroom Shortcuts
    - Lightroom Importing, Organizing & Exporting
    - Watch Me Edit

  • This course walks you through my entire system from file upload to gallery delivery. I include all my tips on organization, efficiency, and my fool proof backup system so you never have to worry about lost images again.

    MODULES:

    - File upload, Organization & Backup
    - Culling
    - Lightroom Import & Organization
    - Lightroom Rating
    - Export Client & Delivery
    - BONUS: Syncing Capture Times Between Multiple Cameras

  • Covering all the photo basics for both professional and non-professional photographers. Everything from camera and iPhone basics, settings, composition, lighting, backgrounds, and capturing everyday moments.

    Covering all the photo basics for both professional and non-professional photographers. Everything from camera and iPhone basics, settings, composition, lighting, backgrounds, and capturing everyday moments.

    MODULES:

    - Intro
    - Basic Elements of Photography
    - Gear & Settings
    - Backgrounds & Lighting
    - Composition
    - BONUS: Capturing Kids, Life, and Everyday Moments
    - BONUS: Additional Resources

  • Learn the ins and outs of your camera settings, and master shooting in manual in any scenario.

    I'll walk you through the basic components of your camera and cover aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and flash in depth. I'll give my sweet spots for each setting and tips for how I customize my shooting based on my subject matter and lighting. We'll cover how to decide when to use flash vs. high ISO, and how to shoot in the trickiest lighting including low lighting, low lighting with movement, dancing, sparkler exits, and harsh sun light. This video is yours to watch as many times as you'd like and you'll be able to access it whenever is convenient for you.

    This course is created to provide something for all experience levels. Whether you just have a nice camera and have never figured out how to use it properly, or you're a pro, but would love to feel more confident with the perfect settings when under pressure, it’s full of valuable information for everyone!

A look at all the courses in the Rise Library:

  • Includes:

    • How To Transition Your Photography Hobby Into A Successful Business

    • The Complete Guide To Camera Settings

    • What’s In My Camera Bag (And How I Use It)

    • A Step By Step Guide To Shooting Your First Wedding

    • HoneyBook: How To Set Up Templates, Onboard New Clients And Send Invoices

    • How To Set Yourself Up Legally & Financially With Michael Hendricks

    • Productivity Hacks With Hannah Murphy

    • The Value Of Outsourcing

    • Effective & Organized Emailing

    • How To Convey You’re Worth Your Price

    • Enhancing Client Experience With Emily Magers

    • Branding & Design Tips With Studio Antheia

    • Client Workflows & Implementing Them In HoneyBook

    • Elevating Your Instagram With Dawn Jarvis

    • How To Craft Engaging Captions For Instagram

    • Tips To Upgrade The Copy On Your Website With Kelsey O’Halloran

    • The Power Of Marketing With Max Sadik

    • Strategically Planning A Captivating Instagram Feed

    • All Things Destination Elopement Photography With Anni Graham

    • Introduction

    • Philosophy & Goals

    • Preparing Clients For The Shoot

    • Setting The Mood

    • Starting The Shoot

    • Shooting, Prompting & Posing

    • Adjusting For Different Types of Shoots

    • Posing Q&A

    • Live Shoot: Couples Session

    • Live Shoot: Styled Elopement

    • Live Shoot: Styled Elopement (Part 2)

    • Prompt Cards

    • Editing Intro

    • Basic Color & Tone

    • Advanced Color & Tone

    • Effects

    • Profile Corrections

    • Selective Editing

    • Cropping, Straightening & Transforming

    • Spot Removal

    • Lightroom Shortcuts

    • Lightroom Importing, Organizing & Exporting

    • Watch Me Edit

    • File Upload, Organization & Backup

    • Culling

    • Lightroom Import & Organization

    • Lightroom Rating

    • Export & Client Delivery

    • Intro

    • Basic Elements of Photograph

    • Gear & Settings

    • Nailing Your Background & Lighting

    • Composition 101

    • BONUS: Capturing Kids, Life & Everyday Moments

    • BONUS: Additional Resources

    • Welcome To The Instagram Course

    • Discovering Your Purpose On Instagram

    • Aesthetics Aren’t Everything…But They Do Matter

    • Turning Your Following Into A Community

    • Account Growth & App Strategies To Help You Reach The Masses

    • The Basics Of Influencer Marketing & How It Can Skyrocket Your Revenue

    • Followers To Buyers: Getting The Conversions You Want Via Social Media

    • All Things Writing: How To Create Captions, Copy & Content

    • Bonus Features

    • Intro To Client Experience

    • Vendor - Client Relationships

    • Going Above & Beyond And Serving Clients Well

    • Showing Up As The Expert

    • Streamlined, Professional & Polished

    • A Step-By-Step Walkthrough Of My Client Experience

    • Building A System That Works For You

    • Reviews, Reflection & Growth

    • Welcome To The Passive Income Course

    • Passive Income Pre-Course Pep Talk

    • Step One: Choosing Your Topic

    • Step Two: Choosing Your Path

    • Step Three: Preparing To Launch Your Product

    • Step Four: Marketing Your Products

    • Step Five: Balancing Your Service Based & Product Based Workload

    • Tips For Affiliate Commissions & Brand Partnerships

    • A Look At My Course Building Process

    • BONUS: Behind The Scenes Of My Digital Product Suite

  • with Hannah Murphy

    • Dawn’s Journey With Productivity & Work/Life Balance

    • Creating Your Business Plan

    • Brain Dumping Your Tasks

    • Constructing Your Schedule

    • Giving Your Schedule A Home

    • Dawn’s Takeaways & Tips

    • Final Thoughts

    • Welcome To The Mentorship Course

    • You Don’t Have To Fit A Mold

    • You Have What Someone Else Needs

    • You Don’t Have To Do It Alone

    • You Have To Spend Money To Make Money

    • You Don’t Have To Be In Competition

    • Welcome To The Brand Course

    • What Is Branding?

    • Creating A Brand Foundation

    • How To Know You’re Ready To Invest In Brand Identity

    • What To Do If You’re Not Ready To Hire A Brand Designer Yet

    • Implementing Your Branding

    • Common Branding Mistakes

    • 5 Easy Ways Photographers Can Up-Level Their Branding

    • Live Branding Q&A

  • A behind the scenes, vlog style look a the planning, shopping, styling, shooting, directing, and editing that goes into a creative studio portrait sesion.

    • Syncing Capture Times Between Multiple Cameras

    • How I Edit My Mobile Photos

+ NEW COURSES ADDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

To support you in your journey, you’ll also get access to:

WORKBOOKS & RESOURCES

COMMUNITY & SUPPORT

DC FILM PRESETS

LIVE COACHING CALLS

PRODUCT DISCOUNTS

Meet your instructor

I'm Dawn Charles, an Oregon-based wedding photographer turned educator with over 100 weddings shot and 25,000+ digital products sold. Named among the top 100 wedding photographers in the world, I now balance motherhood with educating creatives worldwide. Since shooting my first wedding in 2009, and officially launching my business in 2013 after graduating with my Bachelors in Photography, I've hosted photography workshops, spoken at global summits, started a podcast, and opened a photo studio.

To be honest…

It’s uncomfortable for me to share my achievements. It' feels like just yesterday I was struggling to figure out my business, and imposter syndrome can still set in from time to time. I tell you these things not to boast, but to give you a glimpse into my journey and share the vast potential for growth you can experience by investing in yourself.

It wasn’t always like this…

In my initial years in business, I grappled with navigating financial challenges, fearing a lack of credibility, and the stress of living paycheck to paycheck during slow periods. I felt the weight of capturing significant moments while juggling the complexities of business ownership.

But once I stopped trying to figure it all out on my own…

I found freedom to concentrate on my passion for photography. This shift led to attracting high-paying clients, a surge in online visibility, scaling my business to six figures, establishing passive income, and gaining time for family and pursuing my true passions.

I created Rise Academy because I wanted you to experience the same success and freedom in your business. I believe we have nothing to gain by holding back, and when we share what we’ve learned with others, we all win.

Tired of overpriced courses that only cover a topic or two and leave you to figure out the rest on your own?

Me too. That’s exactly why I created Rise... I wanted to provide you with an affordable way to access education on any topic you need. You’ll get access to an ever-growing library of practical, self-paced educational content, resources, worksheets, presets, coaching calls, and a community of creative professionals who are eager to help you grow.

Don’t just take it from me…

HERE’S WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING:

Testimonials 2

"Dawn is a goddess of photography and everything related. She knows her crap as an educator, and I’m blown away by this academy. This is a GOLDMINE of education and the price is a freaking STEALLLL. Seriously, RUN DON’T WALK.

- EVIE RUPP

“I absolutely adore Rise.”

It’s so easy to navigate! I am really bad at staying focused with long videos but you are SO good at keeping the videos exactly what they need to be so I’m informed but still entertained so they’re fun to watch.

AND I love being able to meet other photographers through the Facebook chat, I’ve met so many friends already!!! It feels so uniting.

Thank you Dawn. You really have no idea how much I look up to you and love all your work and all you do.

- TYLER NEWCOMB

I LOVE everything I’ve watched so far."

I learned so many things from the editing course that I didn’t know that I’ve felt like has really helped take my editing to the next level. I also have my first wedding in photographing coming up so watching your step by step guide has helped prepare me so much and I don’t feel as nervous! I also love that you keep adding things, the education doesn’t stop when you finish all the modules.

- BRITTANY BRADLEY

Choose the plan that works best for you:

Still not 100% sure about the Academy?

Let’s talk about what’s on your mind...

  • I gotchu! While the Academy is packed with helpful courses and trainings, it’s completely self-paced, so you’ll never have to worry about falling behind the rest of the group.

    If you're new around here, we've actually re-designed Rise to serve you better. Instead of rolling out brand new mini-courses each month, we've opted for bigger, more in-depth courses on a quarterly basis. With this model, you can focus on taking your time and implementing each topic fully to maximize your results (and your investment)!

  • Whether you’re a newbie, a hobbyist, or a seasoned pro, The Academy is for you! I designed these trainings and courses for photographers of all experience levels so you can learn and grow no matter where you are in your career.

    Plus, I’ve invited experts from outside the photography industry so you can learn more about branding, productivity, marketing, finances, and more!

    You’ll be able to pick and choose from the huge (and always growing) library of educational content to find actionable tips that will help you take your business to the next level, whatever that means for you.

  • I get it – there are a lot of overpriced programs, courses, and memberships out there full of fluffy, surface-level content just to make them appear more valuable. Not cool.

    That’s why I created the Academy; it covers everything you need to know to run a successful photography business, and you’ll get access to brand new content every quarter, for as long as you’re enrolled!

    On top of that, it’s available at a super affordable monthly rate and you can cancel at any time, so you don’t have to sweat about handing over thousands of dollars – you can simply start learning and growing your business.

  • Yes, cancel anytime with no strings attached!