Photography & Digital Imaging

There’s a huge range of job opportunities within Photography & Digital Imaging it is a varied, skilled and rewarding career that can take you from photographing weddings to live events and everything in-between.

This two-year course will allow you to experiment with a range of techniques while building a comprehensive portfolio of photography work. It is equivalent to three A Levels and successful completion will provide you with the same UCAS points to enter university.

UCAS Tariff - Earn up to 168 UCAS points for university entry

On this course you will follow a full-time Study Programme made up of the following four compulsory elements to best prepare you for progression to employment, apprenticeships, further study or applying to university:

• The main subject qualification
• Work experience for a minimum of 37 hours or, on some courses, up to 50 days over an academic year. You will be expected to find placements by researching companies, contacting employers and speaking with college staff. 
• English and maths where students have not yet achieved GCSE grade 4 or above in these subjects
• Additional enhancing activities such as tutorials and work-related learning, including careers fairs, site visits and guest speakers, to help further develop the personal skills relevant to your progression goals

The Photography & Digital Imaging qualification

On this course you will learn a variety of photography skills and techniques from our industry expert teachers both in our modern studio and out on location. 

It is highly practical and studio based but does also include theory classes, visits to galleries, exhibitions and museums and written work in the form of sketchbooks and essays. You will get to showcase your work to the public, local employers and higher education institutions at our end of year art exhibition.

Year 1 (Foundation Diploma)

• Working with Nikon and Canon DSLR Cameras
• Shooting images on location using reflectors and location lighting kits
• Learning Flash and continual lighting techniques in our state of the art photography studio
• Batch Processing and manipulating digital images using Adobe Lightroom
• Showcasing your work at the end of year exhibition

If you successfully complete the first year of study you will gain a Level 3 Diploma qualification. In order to progress to the second year you will need to pass the first year of study.

Year 2 (Extended Diploma)

• Advanced studio techniques
• Retouching digital images using Adobe Photoshop
• Developing and processing film in the darkroom
• Using a range of additional resources to enhance your creative potential
• Showcasing your work professionally at the end of year exhibition

Trips, visits and activities

As part of the course you will also take part in industry trips and activities including networking events, visits and guest lectures. Previous events have included:

• Visiting artists
• Gallery trips
• Industry networking opportunities through work experience and a dedicated industry week
• Guest lectures from a wide range of industry professionals
• Exhibition hosted at an external gallery

• Well equipped art studios
• Large and fully equipped photography studio
• Photography dark room
• Suite of Apple Macs
• Gallery exhibition space

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Course assessed by:

• 100% coursework

5 GCSEs grade 4 or above (including English and maths)
OR
Level 2 in Art & Design (merit or distinction grade) including GCSE English and maths grade 4 or above
AND
Portfolio of photography

You will need to attend a College interview. Find out more about How to Apply

May not meet the entry requirements?

Check out our Level 2 Creative & Visual Arts course.

• HNC/HND in Photography
• Photography Degree at university
• Work as a freelance photographer, photographic assistant, picture editor, trainee photo journalist, image curator

If you will be aged 19 before the start of the second year of this course, you will be liable to pay a fee for that year. Please contact us for more information.

Equipment

• Drawing set, including a range of pencils, charcoal, colour marker pens in a range of sized nibs, a sketchbook, watercolour paints, and a range of paint brushes.

It is useful, but not essential, to have your own:

• D-SLR camera – We offer a range of Canon and Nikon D-SLRs and Film cameras that can be loaned out if needed
• Graphics tablet (Mac and pc compatible) – We do have some available at college to use, but they are in high demand