Digital Technician

This certificate prepares students for entry-level employment as a Digital Technician in photography. Coursework provides training in photo editing using industry standard software on macOS as well as tethered shooting in both a studio environment and on location. This includes retouching for beauty and commercial photography applications, image compositing, thorough color management, on-set asset management, and an overview of studio lighting. Students will also gain an understanding of industry trends, workplace demands, studio safety protocols, software troubleshooting, and expected professional etiquette.

919

The Photography program teaches the dynamics of visual communication to illustrate ideas, record events, articulate stories, express moods, sell products, and interpret a person’s character. Courses stress technical knowledge, proficiency in camera control, digital and analog capture methods, artificial and natural light control, and image manipulation. This program prepares students for careers in photography-related genres including advertising photography, food photography, architectural photography, editorial photography, portrait photography, fashion photography, and photojournalism. - For additional possibilities, explore the computerized career information systems and other valuable career resources at the Career Services Center on SMC’s main campus. SMC has articulation agreements in place with several 4-year institutions. Students planning to transfer should complete the lower-division major requirements and the general education pattern for the institution to which they intend to transfer. High school students in the 11th and 12th grades may begin this program concurrently with their high school program if approved by the high school principal. Information regarding the Photography program is available in the Photography Department, (310) 434-3547, and through the Photography Department’s website: www2.smc.edu/photo.

The ultimate goal of the Photography Department's Certificate of Achievement is to provide students with the skills necessary to begin successful careers in the commercial photography industry.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
PHOTO 5	Digital Asset Management, Modification, and Output	3	S1
PHOTO 30	Techniques of Lighting: Introduction	4	S1
PHOTO 39	Beginning Photoshop	3	S2
PHOTO 34	Capture to Composite	4	S3
PHOTO 42	Advanced Photoshop	3	S3

Photography and Fashion Department

LACC and Long Beach City College have Digital Photography and Digital Media certificates that have a little overlap, but are not directly targeted at the Digital Technician career path like our proposed Certificate. Mount San Antonio College has a "Digital Technician" certificate that includes a more broad array of classes when compared to our proposal. Cypress College offers an 18 unit Digital Technician Certificate, but details are not currently listed on their website.

Not sure how to find non-duplicative enrollment, but for the fall semesters of school years 2018, 2019, and 2020, average annual enrollment in Photography was 919 students.