Digital Photography

Combine your creativity with the technical and composition skills to get a start in photography. Photographers capture images that can tell a story or record an event. Gain foundational skills to create or expand your photography portfolio while you prepare to transfer for a fine arts degree program or start a career in the field.

Typical job opportunities are sports photographer, school photographer, news photographer, advertising work, small business owner in photography, designer, illustrator or portrait photographer.

Learn both digital photography tips and how to use today’s popular photo and design software, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign.

Program Requirements
Earnings & Outlook
Cost

Digital Photography Certificate

The Digital Photography Certificate will provide students with the foundational skills to expand their photography portfolio and help them develop skills needed to apply to a fine arts degree program or a career in the field.

Sample Courses

This course demonstrates how to use and handle a digital camera, capturing the image, editing and processing images for output – such as printing, or preparing images for upload to the Internet for websites or social media platforms. The class will include techniques and instruction on layout, composition, rules of design, history of photography, and Photoshop® or image-altering program applications.

Learn the intricacies of scanning and editing images for producing practical and expressive images on a computer using Adobe® Photoshop® software.

The elements and principles of design and color are introduced to create prints in a studio setting. Emphasis is given to techniques using a variety of media and technologies. Critical thinking skills such as problem solving, understanding the creative process (from idea to finished product), and addressing visual and conceptual themes are essential parts of the course, reflected in the studio projects. Gallery trips, as well as other field experiences, are key aspects of this course. Students work with the instructor to mount an end-of-semester exhibition showcasing their artistic growth and development.

Complete Program Details

Earnings

Median wages for photographer is $18.73 per hour, or about $38,950 annually.

Outlook

Employment of photographers is projected to grow 17 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average.

Certificate

Jackson County

If you reside in Jackson county, Michigan.

$8,818

In Michigan

If you reside in the state of Michigan.

$9,577

Out of Michigan

If you reside outside the state of Michigan.

$11,722

Estimated program costs include tuition, fees and digital textbooks based on 2022-2023 tuition rates. Please note that these costs are only estimates and an individualized financial plan will be created when a student meets with their Student Success Navigator.

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