Photography
Degrees offered: B.A., B.A.(Hons), B.E /B.Tech, B.F.A., B.M.M., B.Sc., B.V.A.
What is Photography
Photography is a fast-emerging and popular career choice for this generation. With the advancement in advertising, media and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option to many Indian youths. Previously the masses regarded photography as a hobby only, but now it has emerged as a big profession.
As a Photography graduate, there shall be no shortage of job opportunities in India as well as abroad. The demand for photography has gone up with ever-expanding social media platforms. Hence, it is a fascinating career to pursue at the moment.
Photography is both a science and an art. It is an artistic means of expression, while the camera, editing and composition are the technical aspects of the profession. Many colleges across India offer Photography courses like BFA in Photography, B.Sc. in Photography, MFA in Photography and M.Sc. in Photography. A career in photography will be rewarding with feasible working hours, job satisfaction and a secure lifestyle.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Photography
The eligibility criteria for admission into photography courses are more or less similar to other undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the field of creative arts. The eligibility criteria which candidates interested in pursuing the course need to fulfil are listed below.
For Undergraduate Photography Courses
Photography can be pursued as both arts and science. The undergraduate photography courses are BFA in Photography and B.Sc. in Photography, for arts and science respectively.
To pursue BFA in Photography or B.Sc. in Photography, a student needs to pass his Class XII (10+2) boards from a recognized board.
A minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in the Class XII exams are required by students to qualify for admission. The percentage may vary according to different institutions.
Admission to most colleges and universities is based on entrance exams and personal interviews.
For Postgraduate Photography Courses
Candidates aspiring for admission in the MFA in Photography or M.Sc. in Photography courses need to have attained their BFA in Photography or B.Sc. in Photography degree from a recognized university or institution.
They must have attained a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. The minimum percentage of marks can range between 45-60%, depending on the college.
In various colleges and universities, an entrance exam and personal interview is conducted for the admission. The candidate's portfolio and internship work are also taken into consideration.
Photography Entrance Exam
JNAFAU FADEE- Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU) is a popular university in Hyderabad, Telangana. It conducts Fine Arts and Design Entrance Examination (FADEE) for admission into the four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Design courses.
The various courses offered through this examination are photography, interior design, visual communication, animation, painting and sculpture and applied arts. For photography, candidates have to sit for two papers. They are composition and visual communication for 100 marks and objective type paper for 50 marks.
Other Entrance Exams
There is no such common entrance-based exam for students interested in photography courses in India. However, each university or college conducts their aptitude tests for selecting candidates during the admission process.
Scope of Photography in India and Abroad
With the rise of social media and advertising, the Photography career has reached great heights. You can work as a wildlife photographer, fashion photographer, wedding photographer, travel photographer, commercial photographer and much more. Photographers can work in the advertising industry for newspaper publishers, press and magazines. Food photography is a relatively new concept but is becoming increasingly popular.
This opens up job opportunities for photographers in the food production industries. A photographer can even start his or her studio or do freelancing work. They can teach photography courses and act as mentors for interns and graduate students. These jobs offer not only handsome salaries but also in prestigious positions. Photography is an internationally acclaimed art form. Employment opportunities for photographers are plenty abroad. The average salary for a Photographer in the United States typically ranges between $52,263 and $74,321. In the United Kingdom, it is £22194.
Course Fees Photography
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG |
17.22 K
B.Voc. in Photography at Shri Shivaji Arts and Commerce College, Amravati
|
63.80 K
B.F.A. in Photography at Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer
|
13.20 Lakhs
B.A. in Photography at Symbiosis School of Photography, Pune
|
6.01 Lakhs
B.A. in Photography at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune
|
| PG |
1.04 Lakhs
P.G.D in Photography at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University, Navi Mumbai
|
75.32 K
M.V.A. in Photography at University of Lucknow, Lucknow
|
10.20 Lakhs
M.A. in Photography at Arch College of Design and Business, Jaipur
|
9.35 Lakhs
M.Des in Photography at National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar Campus
|
| DIPLOMA |
6.00 K
Diploma in Photography at Bareilly College, Bareilly
|
4.70 K
Diploma in Photography at UP Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad
|
2.00 Lakhs
Diploma in Photography at Udaan School of Photography, Mumbai
|
1.50 Lakhs
Diploma in Photography at Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune
|
Course Subjects
The undergraduate program for photography is expanded over 3 or 4 years, depending on the nature of the course. The post-graduate program is expanded over 2 years, which is further divided into 4 semesters. Each year's syllabus is designed for encouraging the study of diverse topics related to the field. Some of the subjects are listed below.
Photography, its origin and history
Basics of Digital Photography
Applications of Portrait Photography
Glamour and Fashion Photography and its basics
Applications of Digital Photography
Sports Photography
Social documentary and Photojournalism
Photographing Fine-art
Automobile Photography
Photography of Architecture and interiors
Factory and Corporate Photography
On-Location Photography
Digital Printing
Nature Photography
Designing software
Conceptual Photography
Introduction to Food Photography
Careers & Portfolio Making
Careers in Photography
There was a time when photography was considered nothing more than a hobby. But now it has emerged as one of the most popular career choices of the generation. With the required skill sets and hard work, you can enjoy a successful and rewarding career in the photography industry. If you choose photography as your career, chances are you are passionate about your work.
In that case, your job as a photographer won't disappoint. Not only does it provide security and a handsome salary, but it also satisfies your drive for creativity. It lets you express your passion and emotions through your photographs. So, let your creative juices flow, pick up the camera and make a profession out of it.
Upcoming trends
Times have changed. This is the 21st century, and now every other person has a powerful DSLR camera and is interested in photography. This art is no longer a thing for a limited number of selected people – it's a popular hobby of millions of skilful ones. Camera and editing technology have changed rapidly over the past decade. And innovations have influenced the photography industry at every turn. Some recent trends, innovations and breakthroughs of the pharmaceuticals industry are listed below:
Phoneography
Macro Photography
HDR Photography
Retro-Style Photography
360 Panorama
Point and Shoot Size DSLRs
Drones
Selfie
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Some job profiles under the photography career are: -
Job Profile | Job Description |
Digital Image Specialist | Digital Image Specialists deal with the correction of colour and manipulation of images digitally to print them or to archive them. It also involves creating digital renderings of film, video, photographs, or graphic design images. |
Portrait Photographer | A Portrait Photographer works at a studio or on location and takes pictures of individuals or groups to make the time permanent, at least in the photograph. For example –pre-wedding and maternity photoshoots. |
Photojournalist | Photo Journalist, also known as news photographers, create images in a news format to cover stories for different platforms from news outlets, to websites and even including blogs. They usually work as freelancers for multiple news outlets or even for a major photography company from where news outlets get their photos. They shoot photographs that capture news events. Their job is to tell a story with pictures. In addition to shooting pictures, they also write captions or other supporting text to provide further detail about each photograph. |
Fashion Photographer | A Fashion Photographer works at numerous different companies ranging from an advertising agency, to print media and fashion houses to capture pictures of people or clothing which defines fashion. They take pictures of models, do portfolio shoots of models, and fashion event coverage, etc. They work closely with fashion houses and their designers to ensure the proper portrayal of the image the brand desires to imply. They work during the shoot on location as well as in indoor in studios. |
Sports Photographer | A Sports Photographer will capture any live sports or adventure sports events while being ready for the perfect moment to be forever captured in their photos and becoming permanent They take pictures related to different sports, sporting events and athletes. |
Event Photographer | An Event Photographer captures special moments at any occasion and which captures the essence of the moment, they need to be there before something of interest happens. They discuss the requirements with clients, take photographs during festivities, compose shots, edit photos after the event, and deliver the final product. |
Still Photographer | ‘Still Photographers’ take the most essential photos of the movie props, sets, cast, crew which are used to create the press and publicity for feature films. These are usually quite critical for a film's box office and success in International sales. |
Top Recruiters
The Photography industry offers a wide range of employment opportunities ranging from Academic Institutions, Event Management Companies, E-commerce companies, Photography Studios, Artefacts Shops, Advertising Agencies, New Channels to Print Media. Some of the most popular companies with job prospects for photography are listed below:
National Geographic
Food Panda
India Times
Imageskart.com
Snapdeal
Cosmopoliton.com
Netflix
Average Salary
The Indian photography industry is growing at fast rates since the last decade. Students need to know the expected earning capacity before deciding their course of study. A few job profiles with their average annual incomes are mentioned below:
Job Profile | Maximum Salary |
Digital Image Specialist | Rs 4.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Portrait Photographer | Rs 4.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Photojournalist | Rs 6.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Fashion Photographer | Rs 6.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Sports Photographer | Rs 5.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Event Photographer | Rs 4.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Still Photographer | Rs 5.0 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Photography
A career in photography is both fascinating and challenging. There is a lot of hard work involved, but it can be highly rewarding for people who possess the personality traits and abilities to pull it off. Some essential skills are:
Creativity: Creativity is the secret ingredient for all creative arts. Photography not only requires the basic composition or technical aspects, but it also needs attention to detail, an eye for storytelling and passion for your work.
Technical Photography Skills: A photographer is expected to possess technical skills while also expected to know the way around their camera equipment and how it operates. They are expected to know the basics of photography along with its principles, i.e. lighting, exposure and focus. Along with being able to supersede frequent mistakes like overexposing a shot, severe camera shake, and the focus being blurry. Moreover, you must be familiar with visual editing software as digital photography nowadays has become the standard, and so has been edited on your computer.
Attention to Detail: Photographers must have good attention to detail when taking photographs. They should be able to capture light and colour and think carefully about all components of each image and adjust them accordingly. Patience and concentration on the smallest details are what makes one a great photographer.
Strong Networking Skills: In photography, your work and skills have to be advertised. You must know how to speak with potential clients or customers. Strong networking skills to sell your work is essential.
Teamwork Skills: Teamwork is the key to success and productivity at any job, in any field. As a photographer, one must cooperate with his clients or seniors, take their feedback and improve their work.
Course Curriculum for Photography
A course on Photography will help by providing you with the opportunity to gain the theoretical, technical, conceptual, professional and visual aspects of Photography which is required to be successful in this field.
The course aims to develop and facilitate participants from most disciplines of photography utilising Advanced Photography, Software which deals with designing, and Exhibitions, Digital Photography, Video Editing, AV Applications, Videography, CG & MM(Multimedia), and Videography. This curriculum deals with a lot of on-location and hands-on work and provides the chance of getting to do an internship during the last semester.
Students may even have an option to choose a specialization in a more rigorous course. Some of the specializations offered by institutes include Fashion Photography, Photo-Journalism, Social Documentary, Sports Photography, Table Top & Product Photography, Business & Industrial Photography and Interior & Architecture Photography. However, not all institutes will offer these specializations.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: Q: What is the difference between the BFA photography course and B.Sc. photography course?
Answer :
A: The BFA or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is considered the most prestigious degree to pursue in the visual arts fields. The B.Sc. degree in photography is also rewarding. The two may have some differences in the curriculum but mostly polish you towards the same goal.
Question: Q: Where can I work after getting a degree in photography?
Answer :
A: Once you complete your degree in photography, the industry offers a wide range of employment opportunities ranging from Academic Institutions, Event Management Companies, E-commerce companies, Photography Studios, Artefacts Shops, Advertising Agencies, New Channels to Print Media.
Question: Q: What is the course fee for BFA in Photography?
Answer :
A:
Type | Minimum Fee | Maximum Fee |
Government/Public Institutions | Rs. 10,000 | Rs. 3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Private Institutions | Rs. 3 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) | Rs. 7 lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Question: Q: What are the courses for studying photography?
Answer :
A: The undergraduate courses for studying photography are BFA in Photography and B.Sc. in Photography, for arts and science respectively. Similarly, for post-graduation, the courses are MFA in Photography and M.Sc. in Photography. Admission is granted based on entrance exams and interviews.
Question: Q: Why should I choose photography as a career?
Answer :
A: The career of a professional photographer is thrilling and innovative. Creativity should be your reason for choosing photography as a career option. So, if you have the creative drive and passion in you, pick up the camera and make a profession out of it.
Questions related to Photography
Showing 95 out of 95 Questions
32 Views
How can I make my career in photography??
20th Aug, 2022
After completing 12th you can apply for various courses at diploma and degree level in the field of photography. The most popular courses Bachelor of fine Arts photography. The duration of the course is 3 years. Besides this you also need to have knowledge of Photoshop software.
After completing the course you can apply for various job opportunities such as photo reporter event photographer wildlife photographer fashion photographer etc.
Read more:
Answer later 54 Views
mdsu ajmer is it good for BFA (photography)?
10th Aug, 2022
Hello,
BFA Photography or Bachelor of Fine Arts Photography is an exceptional undergraduate study field generally extended to the duration of 3-5 Years. Bachelor of Fine Arts(BFA) Photography is a full-time three-year undergraduate degree course offered by the Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer.
The eligibility for the course is that the person, who has passed Higher Secondary/Intermediate (10+2) or equivalent examination with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.
It is a really good institute that offers great quality education for BFA photography. Their methods of teaching and training are really good. They offer this 3 year course at a affordable fee. The pass out students have had a great experience at this college. You can check out the link below for further information:
I hope this helps,
All the best
55 Views
iam now doing bachelor of fine arts in photography.after completion of course ..howll b job opportunities.mainly in fashion photography
From where are you doing bfa in photography?
35 Views
what is visual communication course. is it good to be done ?........btw i am much interested in photography will the course be beneficial for me?
4th Aug, 2022
Hello Aspirants
A visual communication course is a type of communication that uses images, diagrams, designs, charts, and graphs to transfer information that is received through an individual's eyesight.
It is all rounder courses. With this degree you can become a Creative Director, Typographer, Graphic Designer, Copywriter, Editor, Educator, Digital Producer, Exhibition Designer, Creative Assistant and Manager.
If photography and creative writing or sketching, film making is your hobby then you can pursue this Viscom course
for more information check the below link
https://www.careers360.com/courses/visual-communication-course
thank you
46 Views
Bsc in photography and cinematography colleges?
4th Aug, 2022
Hello!
These are some of photography and cinematography colleges in India-
- CMR University, Bangalore
- Xavier Institute of CommunicationsMahapalika Marg, Mumbai.
- MGR Government Film and Television Institute, Chennai.
- Whistling Woods International, Mumbai.
- Bennett University, Greater Noida.
- Asian Academy of Film And Television, Delhi.
- Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
- Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute
- Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata.
- IIMM - International Institute of Mass Media, Delhi.
- Mindscreen Film Institute, Chennai.
Hope this helps.
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