The Commercial Photography Program offers a two-year multimedia A.A.S. program, which provides comprehensive training for individuals seeking employment in both traditional and digital commercial photography. The program develops strong basic skills in black and white photography, color photography, large format camera techniques, contemporary lighting techniques, studio illustration, digital photography, and electronic imaging. Students learn high quality lab procedures including black and white and color processing as well as digital output, manipulation, and enhancement applications. Students gain experience with 4×5 digital backs, a digital service bureau, and our electronic darkroom of networked Power Macs equipped for large electronic image files.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this program have training for entry-level or higher employment positions as photographers, photographer’s assistant or laboratory/digital technician in areas of professional photography, including: the general consumer fields of wedding/portrait photography and the commercial fields of advertising, corporate/industrial, and editorial/stock photography. Graduates work as employees of other photographers or in their own business as freelance photographers. There are many opportunities for successful careers in photography, but it is a very competitive profession.
Previous photographic experience is not required, but any art, photography or design experience will contribute to student success in the program.
Learning Outcomes (AAS)
By the end of the program, successful students will be able to:
Communicate visually, verbally and in written form with a variety of client and/or companies in formats including:
Web design skills and presence
Technical materials and terminology
Professional business forms and procedures
Marketing research, strategies and promotion
Estimation and negotiation
Demonstrate the ability to:
Survey history, careers, styles and trends in professional photography
Operate all camera formats and techniques
Execute a wide range of technical and creative lighting solutions
Execute a wide range of darkroom techniques and processes
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of computers, software and digital imaging skills
Develop and expand a personal creative voice with pre visualization conceptualization skills
Develop pre-production shoot and planning methods
Execute shoot production in both the studio and on location
Demonstrate post production technical and creative solutions
Develop a marketing plan, materials, and support process
Develop a small business plan and organizational structure
Produce the products required for graduation in the sixth quarter, attached in Appendix I
Information Sessions
Information sessions are conducted each quarter so students interested in this program can meet faculty and learn more about the program. Please call 206 587-3830 for a schedule of information sessions for this program.
Entrance Requirements
ASSET test and writing sample (eligibility for ENG 101 and MAT 081).
Entry into this program is for fall quarter only.