- Urban iPhone Photography is a city photography masterclass from iPhone Photography School — 66 lessons across 6 modules covering cityscapes, architecture, street scenes, street photography, and portraiture.
- Taught by Clifford Pickett (same instructor as Landscape Mastery and Drone Mastery), filmed on location in New York City with a practical, in-the-field approach.
- Covers golden hour cityscapes, architectural photography, street scenes with long exposure and reflections, and street photography including approaching strangers for portraits.
- At ~$49-$99 (discounted from ~$199), includes lifetime access, a B&W photography eBook, photoshoot planning bonus, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Best for city dwellers and travelers who want to capture stunning urban photos with their iPhone.
Urban iPhone Photography is Clifford Pickett’s city counterpart to his landscape course. While iPhone Landscape Mastery was filmed in the Italian Dolomites, this course was filmed entirely in New York City — from golden hour skylines to late-night street photography.
With 66 lessons spanning 4 hours and 36 minutes, it is packed with practical techniques for four distinct urban photography genres: cityscapes, architecture, street scenes, and street photography/portraits.
A city photography course by Clifford Pickett covering cityscapes, architecture, street scenes, and street photography/portraits. Filmed in New York City with 66 lessons (4.5+ hours). Covers golden hour shooting, night mode, long exposure, blue hour, reflections, silhouettes, architectural geometry, street portraits, and approaching strangers. Includes B&W eBook and photoshoot planning bonus.
Normal Price: ~$199 Discounted: ~$49-$99 USD- 66 lessons covering 4 distinct urban photography genres — the most comprehensive city photography course on the platform.
- Cliff’s signature in-the-field teaching shines in NYC — watching him work busy streets in real time is both educational and entertaining.
- Street photography module includes the sensitive topic of approaching strangers (8:08) — practical advice most courses avoid.
- Night photography coverage is excellent — blue hour, light trails, night mode, and using artificial light for creative effects.
- Many lessons are very short (2-4 minutes) — feels like some could be combined into longer, more substantial videos.
- NYC-specific content may feel less relevant for photographers in smaller cities without dramatic skylines or subway systems.
- No dedicated editing module — the single Lightroom lesson (5:36) is minimal compared to the landscape course’s editing bonus.
Course Overview: What’s Inside
Urban iPhone Photography contains 66 lessons across 6 modules totaling 4 hours and 36 minutes. The lessons are notably shorter than in Landscape Mastery — averaging 4 minutes each — which makes them quick to watch but means each covers a single focused technique.
- Module 1: Cityscapes – 15 lessons on skylines, golden hour, long exposure, blue hour, light trails, and hyperlapses (69 minutes)
- Module 2: Architecture – 16 lessons on angles, symmetry, geometry, negative space, patterns, and interior photography (72 minutes)
- Module 3: Street Scenes – 14 lessons on color, reflections, blur, shadows, abstract photography, and Lightroom editing (53 minutes)
- Module 4: Street Photography – 16 lessons on fishing/hunting techniques, silhouettes, night shooting, subway, leading lines, and approaching strangers (68 minutes)
- Bonus: Photoshoot Planning – 4 lessons on planning and executing portrait sessions in urban settings (12 minutes)
- Bonus: B&W Photography eBook – Downloadable black and white photography guide
Module 1: Cityscapes — Night Photography Excellence
The cityscapes module is where Cliff’s expertise with light truly shines. “Shooting Magical Golden Hour Cityscape Photos” (10:13) opens with the same light-focused philosophy from Landscape Mastery, applied to urban skylines. The night photography sequence is particularly strong:
- Beautiful Long Exposure Urban Photos (5:37) — creating silky smooth water or light streaks in the city
- Capturing Long Exposure Cityscapes During Blue Hour (6:07)
- Light Trail Photos (6:18) — turning car headlights into dramatic streaks
- Night Mode for Blue Hour Skylines (2:52)
Students noted: “I had never considered using long exposure” and asked practical questions about gear: “Where is this tripod from? I like that it is magnetic.”
Module 2: Architecture — Seeing Geometry Everywhere
The architecture module (16 lessons, 72 minutes) is the most lesson-dense. Cliff teaches you to see buildings as compositions of lines, shapes, and patterns. Key techniques include:
- 3 Easy Ways To Capture Powerful Architecture (9:15) — the foundational approaches
- The “Lookup” Technique (2:36) — pointing your camera straight up for dramatic perspectives
- Symmetry, Geometry, and Patterns — three separate lessons teaching you to find visual order in buildings
- Planning for Perfect Architecture Photos (9:57) — using apps and research to find the best time and position
Students appreciated the approach: “Wow. Amazing photos. It is interesting how changing angles and position gives such a wide range of photos.”
Module 4: Street Photography — The Brave Module
This is where Urban iPhone Photography truly differentiates itself. Street photography is a genre many photographers are curious about but intimidated by. Cliff covers both the technical and emotional sides:
- “Fishing” technique (3:41) — finding a great background and waiting for someone to walk into your frame
- “Hunting” technique (4:24) — actively seeking interesting subjects while walking
- Approaching Strangers for Portraits (8:08) — perhaps the most valuable lesson in the course. Cliff demonstrates how to respectfully ask strangers for photos, handle rejection, and create authentic street portraits
- Being Discreet (3:29) — ethical candid street photography techniques
- Night Street Photography (3:26) — using the city’s artificial lighting
The Halloween Parade lesson (3:11) shows Cliff in his element — working a chaotic, fast-moving event while capturing compelling images. It is pure entertainment with practical value.
About the Instructor: Clifford Pickett
Cliff Pickett brings the same relaxed, enthusiastic teaching style from iPhone Landscape Mastery to the urban environment. His background with Apple, Google, and National Geographic gives his street photography advice real weight. Students consistently note his energy: “The music in the background of the lessons is great!” and “So looking forward to this course!”
Who Is This Course For?
City dwellers: If you live in a city and want to capture its beauty beyond tourist snapshots, this course teaches you to see photographic opportunities everywhere.
Urban travelers: Planning a city trip? The techniques for cityscapes, architecture, and street photography will help you return with photos that stand out.
Aspiring street photographers: The fishing/hunting techniques and the lesson on approaching strangers address the biggest barriers to starting street photography.
Who might not benefit: If you primarily shoot nature, landscapes, or rural settings, most of the content will not apply to your environment.
Pricing and Value
Listed at ~$199, typically $49-$99 discounted. At 66 lessons covering four distinct urban genres, it offers strong value. 30-day money-back guarantee included. The All-Access Pass bundles it with all other courses.
Get Urban iPhone Photography (Discounted)
What Could Be Better
Very short lessons: Many lessons are 2-4 minutes. While focused, they sometimes feel like they end just as the topic gets interesting.
No editing module: Unlike Landscape Mastery’s comprehensive editing bonus, urban photography editing gets a single 5-minute Lightroom lesson. Urban photos — especially night shots and architecture — benefit enormously from editing.
NYC-centric: Techniques are universally applicable, but the dramatic NYC skylines and busy streets may make the course feel less relatable for photographers in smaller cities.
Final Verdict
Urban iPhone Photography is Cliff Pickett at his best — enthusiastic, practical, and full of creative ideas. The four-genre structure (cityscapes, architecture, street scenes, street photography) covers nearly every urban photography scenario. The street photography module, particularly the lesson on approaching strangers, provides genuinely rare and valuable instruction.
If you pair this with iPhone Landscape Mastery, you have Cliff’s complete photography philosophy for both natural and urban environments.
Rating: 4.5/5 — Comprehensive urban photography course with excellent street photography instruction. Docked slightly for very short lessons and minimal editing content.
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Is this course only for New York City photography?
No. The techniques are universal — they apply to any city. Cliff happens to use NYC as his classroom, but the principles of light, composition, architecture photography, and street photography work anywhere.
Is street photography legal?
In most countries, photographing people in public spaces is legal. The course covers both ethical candid photography and how to approach strangers for portraits, which is always the recommended approach.
How does this compare to iPhone Landscape Mastery?
Same instructor, different environment. Landscape Mastery covers natural scenes (mountains, lakes, forests); Urban iPhone Photography covers cities (skylines, architecture, streets). Together they form a complete photography education.
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