Certificate of Achievement in Digital Photography Techniques

The Digital Photography Techniques Program provides opportunities for career preparation by providing courses that meet workforce needs and prepares students for work as a Digital Technician. Digital Technicians utilize digital image process and organization skills including the use of professional software, formatting of both cloud and onsite backup, processing of images and delivering files to clients. Digital Techs are needed in the photography industry and related industries, including graphic design, social media, and advertising.  The Digital Photography Techniques Certificate of Achievement provides a solid technical background in computer processing of images and optimization of applications, including capture, downloading, image selection, editing, and preparation for output and printing. The outcomes of the program align with industry standards for photography and digital imaging studios.  Furthermore, the courses in this certificate will scale up to additional transcriptable Photography certificates and the AA degree in Photography.

It is expected that 5 students will complete the program in the initial year; After five years we would expect about 5-10 students per year will complete the program. As this aligns with the AA degree and Certificate of Achievement, we expect some students will begin on this pathway and they decide to continue with these offerings.

 

Course #	Course Title	Annual Sections (Y1)	Annual Enrollment (Y1)	Annual Sections (Y2)	AnnualEnrollment (Y2)
PHOT 4A	Photoshop for Photographers I	4	152	4	102
PHOT 5	Introduction to Photography	13	523	10	389
PHOT 72	Lightroom & Photographic Composition	1	35	1	31
PHOT 74A	Studio Photography Techniques I*	N/A	N/A	2	29
PHOT 4B	Photoshop for Photographers II*	2	32	1	9

*Cancelled and/or impacted in 2020-21 due to COVID Pandemic; rebuilding enrollment in 2021-2022

This program prepares the student to be both be a digital technician/studio assistant or a commercial photographer and provides the opportunity to gain skills necessary to advance their careers. By completing the Certificate of Achievement in Digital Photography Techniques, the student will be able to work in a commercial photographic studio, assist in events or start their own photographic business. The position of Digital Technician is currently in high demand in the region.

 

Graduates will be able to: 

·       Employ principles of digital image adjusting and editing as well as workflow to process images from photographic shoots and events and prepare images to clients' specification for advertising, printing or website creation

·       Utilize digital hardware and software techniques to process images as a key team member for a photography studio or graphic design studio

·       Demonstrated ability to set up and adjust workflows for their own and other photographers’ digital images from capture to post-process through backup and client fulfillment

·       Illustrate skills in the proper implementation of business practices for fees, licensing, and copyright as follow current health and safety regulations.

 

 

 

Students will be required to take 12 core units and select one elective.

Requirements	Course #	Title	Units	Sequence
Core Courses (12 units)	PHOT 4APHOT 5PHOT 72	Photoshop for Photographers IIntroduction to PhotographyLightroom & Photographic Design	444	Yr 1, FYr 1 FYr 1 S
Restricted Electives(4 units)	PHOT 74APHOT 4BPHOT 4C	Studio Photography Techniques IPhotoshop for Photographers IIPhotoshop for Photographers III	444	Yr 1 WYr 1 WYr 1 S

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Phot 4A	Photoshop for Photographers	4	Y1 Fall
Phot 5	Introduction to Photography	4	Y1 Fall
Phot 72	Lightroom and Photographic Design	4	Y1 Spring
Select one elective
Photo 74A	Studio Photography Techniques	4	Y1 Winter
Photo 4B	Photoshop for Photographers II	4	Y1 winter
Photo 4C	Photoshop for Photographers III	4	Y1 Spring

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This is a new program at Foothill College. This program fulfills a need expressed by the industry advisory board.

There are colleges within reasonable commuting distance that offer a similar program but ours has a reputation of excellence and offers a pathway to our Associates Degree and transfer options for students who want to continue. We have contacted the following: De Anza College (5.9 miles) 21250 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino, CA 95014 No Full time Photo - Dean of Creative Arts Dean Daniel Smith smithdaniel@fhda.edu https://www.deanza.edu/photo/ https://www.deanza.edu/photo/noncredit.html (non-credit offered) City College of SF (36.2 miles) 50 Frida Kahlo Way, San Francisco, CA 94112 Erika Gentry (On our CTE Advisory Board) erika.gentry@mail.ccsf.edu https://www.ccsf.edu/degrees-certificates/photography (no noncredit indicated) Cabrillo College (40.6 miles) 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos, CA 95003 Lesley Louden (On our CTE Advisory Board) lelouden@cabrillo.edu https://www.cabrillo.edu/art-photography/ https://www.cabrillo.edu/art-photography/degrees-and-certificates/#noncredit-certificates (non-credit offered)