Certificate of Achievement (Transcripted): Commercial Photography

Below is a sample academic plan that shows you how you can complete your Certificate in a timely manner. Your path may look different depending on your circumstances?for example, if you attend part-time, choose to take Intersession or Summer courses, or have earned prior credit (Credit for Prior Learning, Dual Enrollment, Transfer Credit). You are required to meet with a counselor to set up a comprehensive education plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals.

The Certificate of Commercial Photography provides students with the fundamentals of client-based digital photographic practices from a technical, administrative, creative and professional standpoint. Industry-level commercial photography camera techniques, experience utilizing professional photographic studio equipment, practice lighting a variety of subjects and engagement with editing and tethering software will provide students with the vision to create their own portfolios demonstrating a personal voice. This certificate prepares students for a successful start to a business in client-focused photography. Students will learn and employ photography business and marketing techniques to ground their work administratvely in a professional sphere. 

Apply professional image tethering and editing software to professional photography sessions and images.

Operate the manual functions of an industry-level professional digital camera and acquire an array of experiences using lighting equipment and other essential tools in a studio and on location.

Plan and implement client-oriented photography sessions with a team of professional creatives, on location and in a studio setting.

Understand, prepare and utilize commercial photography legal documents, client engagement strategies and marketing techniques.

Create a portfolio of client-focused photographic work demonstrating a personal vision.

Program Map

GE General Education Course
M Major Course
E Elective Course
SI Summer/Intersession Course *
* Course is appropriate for Summer and Intersession, which are accelerated terms.

Getting Started

Comprehensive Education Plan: You are required to meet with a counselor for a comprehensive educational plan that is tailored to your individual circumstances and goals. Please schedule an appointment with a counselor in your first semester.

First Semester

6 units
PHOT 150
History of Photography
A survey of the history, aesthetics, and technical evolution of photography including an in-depth view of artistic styles and individual photographers' contributions from the 19th century to the present.
    Plan 2: 3A. Arts
    PHOT 180
    Beginning Photography
    This course provides a firm foundation in digital photography using manual exposure functions on digital single lens reflex and mirrorless cameras. Professional editing techniques and inkjet printing will be taught according to industry standards.

      Second Semester

      6.5 units
      PHOT 194
      Digital Workflow
      This class provides a foundation for professionally selecting, capturing, organizing, processing and printing digital photography files with industry-level tools, from camera to computer to printer.
      • Prerequisite: PHOT 180
      PHOT 009
      Photography Lab
      Sign-in/out supervised laboratory. Work on assignments from other photography courses or on independent projects. Completion of new and more advanced assignments each semester. Accumulation of 24 hours earns 0.5 unit. Requires concurrent enrollment in a photography course.
      • Corequisite (Concurrent): another photography course
      PHOT 185A
      Landscape Photography
      This course concentrates on landscape photography using available light and industry-level camera techniques. Students will learn to control image quality from camera to computer to printer in a variety of outdoor settings to document manmade and natural environments.
      • Prerequisite: PHOT 180

      Third Semester

      9 units
      PHOT 196
      Commercial Photography
      This course covers lighting techniques and equipment commonly used by industry level commercial photographers to create client-driven work in a studio and on location. Students will practice different genres of commercial photography such as portrait and product to craft a portfolio communicating a personal vision. Commercial photo editing software for tethering camera to computer will be taught.
      • Prerequisite: PHOT 180
      PHOT 191
      Commercial Studio Business Practices
      Commercial Studio Business Practices instructs students in the industry-level techniques and business practices of commercial studio photographers. Emphasis will be on creating a refined, professional portfolio with a personal voice and an array of business and marketing materials in preparation for client-driven work.
      • Prerequisite: PHOT 180
      PHOT 291
      Wedding and Quinceañera Photography
      This course presents the fundamental concepts, industry-level equipment requirements, photographic techniques and business practices used by professional wedding, Quinceañera and event photographers. Students will learn to create and edit photographs that thoroughly describe the story of an event through candid and portrait photography coverage.
      • Prerequisite: PHOT 180