• Career Opportunities
• Learning Outcomes
• How To Get Started
• Entrance Requirements
• Information Sessions
• Cost
• Curriculum
• Contact

Commercial Photography

AAS-T, Certificate

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 4x5 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:

1. 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



2. 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.

How To Get Started

• Complete the Standard Procedure for Admission to the College
• After completing the above test(s), you must take your results or copy of your college transcript to the Communications and Design Division counselor room BE 3176, to determine eligibility to enter the program. Please call 206 587-3830 for an appointment.
  Counselor: Dale Zeretzke, DZeretzke@sccd.ctc.edu

Once admission requirements have been met, students are accepted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis until maximum enrollment is reached.
Students may choose to graduate either under the program of study requirements stated in the college catalog at the time they first enter this program, or under the requirements listed in the catalog in effect at the time they apply for graduation-unless more than five years have elapsed since the student entered the program, and providing that the courses required for completion are still offered.

Estimated Training Costs

• Tuition
• Photo ID Card (one-time fee)
• Student Activity Fee (per quarter)
• Transportation Mgmt Fee (per quarter)
• Computer Lab Fee (per quarter)
• Universal Technology Fee (per quarter)
• Materials Fee (per quarter) $27.75
• IMC Fee (per quarter) $27.75
• Student Materials (per quarter) $1,000 - $1,200.00
• Supplies and/or equipment required to begin program approx $4,500.00***

Curriculum

NOTE: This curriculum is being revised. Please check with the Communications and Design Division Office at 206 587-3830 for current information.

Students must maintain a grade of 2.0 or better in every class to remain in this program.

In order to receive a two-year degree in this program from Seattle Central Community College, all students will be required to complete the following additional requirements:

Related Instruction Course 12 credits

Related instruction courses are those offered in areas related to the student's major area of study. For this program, related-instruction courses would be chosen from the following:

• Courses in other visual arts programs
• Courses in business-related areas
• Courses in the arts or liberal studies
• Other courses approved by the Dean, Communications and Design Division

For Further Information:

Commercial Photography Program
Business. Information Technology & Creative Arts
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway, Room 2BE3176
Seattle, WA 98122
PHONE: (206) 587-3830
FAX: (206) 516-3130