Mission: To provide the education and experience for an exciting career in professional digital photography.

Commercial Photography Technology consists of two programs: Commercial Photography Technology 1 – K610100 (700 hours) and Commercial Photography Technology 2 – K610200 (950 hours).

Students must complete Commercial Photography 1 or demonstrate mastery of the program outcomes prior to enrollment in Commercial Photography 2.

These programs consist of a planned sequence of courses.

Commercial Photography Technology 1

Photographic Imaging Specialist, 1 of 2 – Course PGY0180 (250 hours) – Includes training in the areas of operation of cameras, using Windows Explorer and Adobe Photoshop, the camera’s creative controls, and determining available light exposure.

Photographic Imaging Specialist, 2 of 2 – Course PGY0181 (250 hours) Includes training in the areas of composing the subject, compositional leading lines, using portable flash, developing photographic rates, and marketing and advertising your work.

Photography Specialist/Lab Technician – Course PGY0182 (200 hours) – Content includes training in the following areas: Adobe Photoshop, making prints, scanning images, and outputting digital images.

Commercial Photography Technology 2

Portrait Photographer, 1 of 2 – Course PGY0183 (250 hours) – Content includes training in basic portrait lighting, lenses and their effects, creating low and high key portraits, and posing men, women, children and pets.

Portrait Photographer, 2 of 2 – Course PGY0184 (250 hours) – Content includes training in photographing business portraits, groups, couples, model composites, window light portraiture, and environmental portraiture.

Commercial Photographer – Course PGY0185 (450 hours) – Includes training in computer tethered digital cameras, commercial lighting, multimedia presentations, table top product photography, architectural, and product photography and preparing a business plan.

Distance Education: PTC offers the Commercial Photography program in a traditional classroom or online format.  Prospective students should have proficient computer skills to enroll in the online (distance education) program.  Distance education students are expected to complete a required number of online lessons every week and, if possible, attend a few scheduled campus-based activities throughout the program. For additional information go to the 'Online Programs and Courses' page.

Articulation Agreement(s):

• St. Petersburg College Photographic Technology, A.S. Degree
• St. Petersburg College Industrial Management Technology, A.S. Degree

Industry Certification(s): Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA)

Related Links

Tampa Area Professional Photographers Association - www.tappa.org
Florida Professional Photographers - fpponline.org

Minimum Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement:  70%

Minimum Attendance Requirement:  70%

Basic Skills Entrance/Exit Requirements:  Student's competency in reading, math, and language is pre-assessed using the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE).  Required basic skills grade levels are:Reading-9, Math-9, and Language-9.