Photography
Program Overview
Humber's Photography diploma program is one of the most highly regarded and longest-running photographic training programs in the country. In this two-year diploma, you will develop a professional skillset and creative abilities to become job-ready for the visual communications industry.
Through four semesters of study, students learn advanced photographic techniques giving them the ability to bring their visual imaginations to life. Classes are hands-on, and you will develop additional skills in planning, production and post-production. These assets, along with skills in communications and networking, will give students the solid foundation needed for their career ahead.
From advertising photography to editorial, wedding and portraiture, to motion capture and e-commerce imaging, you will graduate from this program prepared to engage fully in a wide range of visual imaging career options. In this program, you will:
- be trained on DSLR, mirrorless and medium format digital cameras, along with professional studio and location lighting and grip equipment
- capture, process and edit content using current software applications such as Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One Pro and Premiere Pro
- create professional and archival digital prints
- learn historical and alternative processes in the darkroom
- learn the business side of photography including quoting, invoicing and building working relationships with clients
- learn to be an effective visual storyteller across multiple platforms
- produce assets from client layouts for digital and print end use
- produce corporate video and audio for web, social media and other applications
- shoot professional photographic images in both the studio and on-location environments
Courses are designed with industry input, ensuring you are learning current and relevant information in state-of-the-art studios and labs from industry experts – people who know the trends and effective methods of visual communications.
Following a field placement in the final semester, the program culminates with a graduate portfolio show where students network with industry and introduce their skills with portfolios, video footage and large format prints.
Semester 3 |
|---|
| FOTO 213: Video 2 |
| FOTO 217: Professional Practice |
| FOTO 218: Location Photography |
| FOTO 219: Post Production 3 |
| FOTO 220: Illustrative Advertising |
| FOTO 232: Editorial and Documentary |
| Select 1 from the following courses |
| GNED : General Elective |
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
- Select and use appropriate photographic equipment and techniques to capture quality images* of a variety of subjects, in studio and on location.
- Use post-production techniques to edit and finish images in formats that meet industry standards and the needs of the client.
- Create lighting schemes* using appropriate techniques, equipment and accessories to produce quality images* that meet the needs of the client.
- Employ design elements* and principles* to plan and create visually sound images*.
- Complete all work in a professional and ethical manner and in accordance with legal requirements applicable to the photography industry.
- Develop strategies to maintain currency with evolving photography trends, issues, technologies and industry practices to enhance work performance and guide professional development.
- Select and use digital asset management* tools and strategies to catalogue, store, back up, retrieve and archive images and prints.
- Use business planning and administrative skills to support and maintain a photography business.
- Use a variety of marketing tools and strategies that effectively promote photographic products and services.
- Develop and present a professional portfolio that illustrates one’s creative approach and image conception, capture, editing and production skills.
Work-Integrated Learning
Students will participate in a mandatory in their final semester of study. After completing a field experience preparation course, students will be supported in marketing themselves to prospective employers in order to find a field experience that aligns with their personal career goals.
The Humber Advantage
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"Before I took this program, my knowledge of photography was superficial. I just didn't have the environment to learn about lighting before. I was doing a lot of street photography with natural light. After two years, I've learned from industry experts with top-quality equipment."
Gillian, 2011 graduate Professional Photographers of Ontario Judges Choice Award Winner (2011)
Duane Cole
Meet Duane Cole, a graduate of Humber's Photography program and an editorial photographer who has worked with and been published by the likes of The Globe and Mail, The National Film Board of Canada, CBC, West End Phoenix and Sportsnet.
Chantal Denne
Chantal Denne, Media Technologist in Humber's Photography program talks about the program and some of the advantages for students.
Patricio Lara
Patricio Lara, a photography student at Humber, talks about why he chose Humber, how Humber has helped him grow, and advice he'd give to photography students.
Photography Program — How to Apply
Watch the video to learn some useful tips on how to choose images for your application portfolio.
Expert Faculty
David Scott
David is a photography professor at Humber and has been teaching here full time since 2008.
Born in Glasgow, David studied photography in the UK and West Virginia before moving to Canada and completing a communications degree at Wilfrid Laurier University. For the past three decades, he has worked in commercial photography, music and editorial photography, along with developing an art-based visual practice. David continues his photographic work in altered realism and remote expedition photography.
Frances Juriansz
Frances Juriansz is a Toronto-based photographer and video artist who works on both commercial and personal projects. Her work has appeared in Time, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Ski, The Walrus, and enRoute among others, and has shot for clients such as TD Bank, Fairmont Hotels and Mercedes-Benz. Juriansz specializes in photographing people on location and travel stories, and has been teaching since 2016.
Greg Danbrooke
A graduate of Humber College's Photography program, Greg has been teaching in Humber's Photography program since 2008.
Jeff Stephenson
Freelance commercial and event photographer currently working in Toronto.
Lauren Cheong
Lauren Cheong has been a photography educator since 2011 and has been teaching at Humber College since 2018. She has bachelor of fine arts degree in Visual Arts from York University, a Photography diploma from Humber College and a master of education in Adult Education from Yorkville University. Lauren has been working in the commercial photo industry for years at leading food photography studios and was the in-house photographer for the design company Umbra Ltd.
In addition to working behind the camera, Lauren loves being in front of the classroom sharing her passion for photography and education with others. She was the program and staff development manager at GTA Photography Classes where she created new and exciting courses, trained instructors and expanded the business to multiple cities. She knows the importance of a well-balanced education that promotes both theoretical and practical components to encourage learners to think conceptually as well as technically.
Qirou Yang
Qirou Yang is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist originally from southern China. She received her BFA in Photography at OCAD University and MFA in Documentary Media at Ryerson University. She believes that the nature of every medium ought not to be dull and set in stone, but to be sculptable and flexible. She has participated in Vector Festival, Video Fever, UAAC Conference, Digital Art Residency COLLAB-19 in 2020, and Residency Videopoem at the gallery Vidéographe in Montreal in 2021.
Sam Sciarrino
Sam Sciarrino is as an internationally known portrait photographer and the owner of Horvath Photography located in Toronto, Canada. A second-generation professional photographer for over 30 years, he holds a Master of Photographic Arts from Professional Photographers of America and a Master of Photographic Arts from Professional Photographers of Canada. He has received the title of Triple Master of Wedding-Portrait Photographers International. He was selected as one of six first Nikon ambassadors in Canada and Album Epoca international master ambassador.
Creativity, technical knowledge and keen attention to his clients' individual tastes has garnered Sam a solid reputation of creating work of exceptional artistic quality. He has been featured in numerous leading photography magazines such as Rangefinder, Professional Photographer, Studio Photography, Photo Imaging, Photo Pro, PPOC Magazine, and Image Maker in the United Kingdom. Sam has lectured and held workshops in Canada, U.S.A., England, Italy, Greece and China. With his vast knowledge of technique and composition, he has enjoyed a personally and professionally rewarding career as respected lecturer on the world-wide professional photography circuit.
Study Abroad
We offer many global opportunities for you to explore during your time at Humber! We live in a very interconnected world and by participating in a global opportunity, not only will you gain new skills, but you may also be eligible for academic credits and/or co-curricular record (CCR). Some of the global opportunities at Humber include Summer Abroad, Semester Exchange, faculty-led trips, Humber Global Summer School and many others! To learn more, please visit Humber Global Opportunities.
Your Career
This program can take you in a number of career directions including:
- assistant photographer
- digital asset manager
- digital technician
- e-commerce photographer
- freelance photographer
- image retoucher
- producer
- social media content creator/editor
- studio manager
- video producer
- wedding/portrait photographer
Related Programs
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Student Testimonial
Meet Duane Cole a graduate of Humber's Photography program and an editorial photographer who has worked with and been published by the likes of The Globe and Mail, The National Film Board of Canada, CBC, West End Phoenix and Sportsnet.
Humber Students Benefit from Five Centres of Innovation (COIs)
The Humber Centres of Innovation Network demonstrates our strong commitment to providing an experiential learning environment for students. Students and faculty work with industry partners on real-world challenges to prepare them to become the innovative and strategic problem-solvers of tomorrow. Come to Humber and experience interdisciplinary learning across five COIs.
About the COIsNews Feed
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