CreativeLive is one of the world’s leading online education platforms for creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners. Since 2010, the platform has empowered more than 10 million students across the globe with access to world-class instruction in photography, design, business, music, and more, all from the comfort of home.
Whether you’re a photographer looking to refine your craft, a designer building a freelance career, or an entrepreneur launching your next venture, CreativeLive provides the skills and inspiration you need to do what you love.
Our Story
CreativeLive was founded in 2010 in Seattle by photographer and entrepreneur Chase Jarvis and Craig Swanson. The founders saw a gap in online education: high-quality creative instruction was either prohibitively expensive or simply unavailable to most people.
What began as a small experiment in live-streamed learning quickly grew into a movement. CreativeLive raised over $50 million in venture funding and attracted a community of millions who tuned in to watch, learn, and connect in real time. The platform pioneered a social video approach to education, sitting at the intersection of the future of creativity, the future of learning, and the future of work.
In December 2025, CreativeLive entered a new chapter when it was acquired by CourseHorse, an online marketplace of live classes, workshops, and experiences. Under CourseHorse’s stewardship, CreativeLive continues to serve its global community of creators, now with expanded access to CourseHorse’s network of over 1,500 class providers across New York City, Los Angeles, and beyond.
What We Teach
Photography & Video
From portrait and wedding photography to drone videography and documentary filmmaking, CreativeLive’s photography and video classes cover every genre and skill level. Topics include adventure and sports photography, commercial work, food photography, mobile photography, editing workflows, and more.
Art & Design
Build skills in graphic design, UX/UI design, branding, typography, logo design, web design, and creative thinking. These classes are ideal for aspiring designers and seasoned professionals looking to sharpen their visual toolkit.
Music & Audio
Learn music production, audio engineering, songwriting, and performance techniques from industry professionals who’ve worked with top artists and studios.
Business & Entrepreneurship
Master the business side of creativity with classes on freelancing, entrepreneurship, marketing, social media, sales, personal finance, and online business strategy. These courses help creators turn their passions into sustainable careers.
World-Class Instructors
CreativeLive’s faculty of over 700 instructors includes some of the most accomplished professionals in their fields. The roster features Pulitzer Prize winners, Grammy and Oscar recipients, New York Times best-selling authors, legendary entrepreneurs, and celebrated thought leaders. Every instructor is selected for both mastery of their craft and the ability to teach it effectively.
This commitment to instructor quality ensures that students aren’t just watching lectures; they’re learning directly from people who have built real careers and achieved measurable success in the creative industries.
How It Works
CreativeLive was built on a simple but powerful idea: the best education should be accessible to everyone. The platform uses a freemium model that allows learners to access content with minimal barriers.
- Self-Paced Learning: Purchase individual courses and learn at your own speed, with lifetime access to your enrolled classes.
- Expert Curation: Every class is professionally produced in CreativeLive’s studios, ensuring broadcast-quality video and audio.
- Global Access: Learn from anywhere in the world, on any device, with on-demand streaming.
- Expanded Offerings: Through the CourseHorse partnership, learners now have access to an even broader catalog of live classes and workshops from providers across the country.
Our Mission
CreativeLive’s mission is to unleash the creative potential of millions. The platform exists to help creators and entrepreneurs at every stage gain the skills, confidence, and community they need to thrive, whether they’re picking up a camera for the first time, launching a freelance business, or leveling up a lifelong passion.
From its founding in 2010 through its current chapter, CreativeLive has remained committed to the belief that creativity is not a luxury; it’s essential. And that everyone, everywhere, deserves access to the tools and teaching that make creative careers possible.