Cuny La Guardia Community College
Our Commercial Photography Program, part of the Humanities Department, offers a one-year certificate and an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree to students.
Basic and intermediate photography techniques are incorporated in one-year certificate course of photography and provide a well-rounded orientation of commercial laboratory techniques. It is in particular designed for those desiring an employment opportunity in a commercial photography lab. Making use of fully automated professional equipment, students will process color transparencies, color negative film, and print color photographs. Furthermore, besides working with color photography, the curriculum also provides students with extensive training in such black & white photographic techniques as lighting, mathematics, photochemistry and basic techniques of the commercial photographer.
The goal of the two-year associate of arts in science degree program is to provide the students with the ability to begin work for entry-level positions in commercial photography. The first year of the program is almost identical to the certificate curriculum. Once completed, the students move on to focus on advanced ideas and techniques of commercial photography, which includes 4x5 camera, electronic flash, and tungsten illumination in their second year of study. Students will also be provided essential data on business practices, self-promotion, and portfolio development, as well as determine the ways and means of securing a job as either a Photographer's Assistant or Staff Photographer. This course also strives to improve computer graphics as needed for digital imaging, theory of color, design in two dimensions and the study of Photo Journalism in the urban area. In obtaining an AAS degree, students become well prepared to transfer to a number of colleges that offer four-year degrees in professional photography.
