Studies & Degrees in Photography
Photography Study Programs
Photography is the practice of making images with a camera, for art, for information or for commerce. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics describes photographers as people who use technical expertise and creativity to produce and preserve images of people, landscapes, merchandise or other subjects. A photography course teaches both sides: how to use cameras, lighting and other equipment, and how to build an image that says something.
Students learn composition, studio and location lighting, the history and theory of the medium, and digital editing with image processing software. Many programmes still teach film and darkroom work next to digital practice, and newer ones add video. The Institut d'Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya (IEFC) in Barcelona, for example, covers analogue photography and laboratory techniques, artificial intelligence tools in post-production, and moving image and video. Students also build a portfolio, which photographers use to show their work to clients and employers.
Qualifications and levels
Formal education is not always required to work as a photographer, so the routes are varied.
- Bachelor's degrees. Universities and art schools offer degrees in photography or in fine arts with photography. One example is the Photography BA (Hons) of London Metropolitan University, which is accredited by the Association of Photographers (AOP), treats photography as an expanded medium that includes analogue and digital practice, and ends with a dissertation.
- Spain. An official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits, and photography is usually studied inside a broader degree. ERAM, a university arts centre in Salt, teaches photography within its official Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual y Multimedia and also has a specialisation course in photography. Outside the university there are two official higher-level qualifications: the Técnico Superior de Artes Plásticas y Diseño en Fotografía, an art-school programme of 2,000 hours and 120 ECTS credits, and the vocational training (FP) title Técnico Superior en Iluminación, Captación y Tratamiento de Imagen, also 2,000 hours.
- Specialised photography schools. The IEFC offers a two-year professional programme with classes from Monday to Friday, from October to June, for students aged 18 or over, as well as postgraduate, online and introductory courses. Ask each private school what recognition its qualification has.
- Associate degrees and certificates. In the United States, many universities, community colleges, vocational-technical institutes and private trade schools offer photography classes. Pasadena City College, for instance, offers a Certificate of Achievement and an Associate in Science in photography, with courses from beginning to advanced level.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 91 active schools for photography. The United States has 48, the United Kingdom 12 and Spain 10, followed by Mexico with four and Australia, Canada and Ireland with three each. In Spain the list includes the IEFC in Barcelona, ERAM in Salt and the Escuela de Diseño CEADE Leonardo in Seville. In the United Kingdom and Ireland it includes the University of Westminster, London Metropolitan University, Cornwall College and Griffith College Dublin. Other examples are the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico, Massey University in New Zealand, FUA, Florence University of the Arts in Italy, and Purdue University, Duke University and the University of Florida in the United States.
Courses are normally taught in the language of the country. Before enrolling, check the language of instruction, the equipment and studio access included in the fees, and whether a portfolio is required for admission.
Careers
Photographers work in portrait and wedding photography, advertising and commercial work, press and documentary photography, fashion, architecture and fine art. The Spanish FP title lists photographer, stills photographer, press photographer and digital retoucher among its job profiles.
Many photographers are self-employed, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that business, marketing and accounting classes may help them. It adds that photographers often start as an assistant to a professional. The outlook is tight: in the United States, employment of photographers is projected to decline 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,700 openings a year that come from people leaving the occupation. The same source expects some work, such as stock photography, to be partly replaced by images generated with artificial intelligence, while employment of self-employed photographers is projected to grow.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a degree to become a photographer?
No. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, photographers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation, although some employers require or prefer a bachelor's degree in photography, photojournalism or a related fine arts field. A course gives technique, feedback and a first portfolio.
How long does it take to study photography?
It depends on the route. The official Spanish art-school and FP programmes each have 2,000 hours, a Spanish bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, and the professional programme of the IEFC in Barcelona lasts two years. Short and online courses are also available.
Which official photography qualifications exist in Spain?
Outside the university, the Técnico Superior de Artes Plásticas y Diseño en Fotografía and the FP title Técnico Superior en Iluminación, Captación y Tratamiento de Imagen. At university, photography is taught inside official degrees such as audiovisual communication or fine arts.
Is photography a good career choice?
It is a competitive field in which most people work for themselves. Official US projections show a small decline in total employment to 2035, so business skills and a specialism, such as portrait or commercial work, matter.