Gain practical photography skills and begin building your professional photography portfolio, and see if a career as a photographer is right for you.

This program is focused on students gaining highly practical photographic skills with a strong emphasis on collaboration, professionalism and hands-on industry knowledge

You will initially study all areas of photography in the Certificate IV and upon successful completion, advance to areas of specialisation in the Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging.

The one-year Certificate IV is designed to reflect the role of individuals working as photographers' assistants. You will learn to apply a broad range of skills in lighting, image capture, enhancements, manipulation and output.

Upon successful completion, you are encouraged to apply and advance into areas of specialisation in the Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging. This is also a one-year program, where you’ll produce highly professional folios of work both on location and in studio and gain technical skills to plan, carry out and evaluate photo imaging services.

Study areas include advertising, industrial, portrait, documentary, video, design, business practices, compositing, digital retouching, photojournalism, illustrative, fashion, wedding, and fine art photography.

You will learn from teachers who are working professionals, focused on developing each students’ own individual aesthetic approach and practice.

Our staff, as industry practitioners, are able to support networking opportunities with industry and alumni to help guide you in gaining employment upon graduation. As part of the program, you will not only learn creativity and theory but also the business skills you need to help you freelance or start your own career. Flexible study options are available for those who currently work or are aiming to work in the industry while studying.

Career Outcomes

Many of our graduates gain employment soon after they complete their studies and often win local, national and international awards.

You may find work as a photographer, technologist or paraprofessional in areas including advertising, commercial, industrial, photo journalism, wedding and portrait photography.

Many of our graduates go on to establish and run successful, independent practices due to their strong business and problem-solving skills, and their ’can do’ attitude. Graduate pathways include articulation to the Bachelor of Arts (Photography), Bachelor of Fine Art (Photography) undergraduate programs.

This program has a strong emphasis on becoming an expert user of industry standard software and practices. This helps ensure you are industry ready upon completion of your studies.

Possible job outcomes include:

• commercial/advertising photographer
• domestic portrait photographer
• fashion photographer
• industrial/architectural photographer
• media photographer
• educator/photographer
• sports photographer
• wedding photographer
• photographic assistant
• digital retoucher
• photojournalist
• digital compositor

Professional recognition and accreditation

This program is accredited by the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP).