Photography Course - Higher National Diploma (Classroom)
Classroom-Based

Classroom-Basedcourse

Start Date:  September 2018
Price:  $ 7,700 (easy-pay plan available)
Average Study Duration:  18-36 months
Assessment:  30 practical assignments
Course Type:  Classroom-Based
Level:  This is not an AQF qualification.
Accreditation:  BTEC
Entry Requirements:  Must be 18 years of age or older.

If English is not your first language, you must have at least level 5.5 IELTS or equivalent. Or, have completed your last two years of schooling through English.
Work Placements:  Graduates of this course are eligible for a one month work placement at a photography company. All placements are in the Melbourne and Sydney areas.
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Higher National Diploma course

ELIGIBLE FOR WORK PLACEMENT

Learn everything you need to start your own successful business or gain advanced entry to a university degree with a fully-accredited Higher National Diploma.

The classroom-based Higher National Diploma course covers the same topics as the home study course but with the added benefit of live classes conducted by our expert tutors. This blended learning approach ensures that you receive the optimum support and knowledge with the least amount of disruption to your working schedule.

The classroom-based Higher National Diploma course takes place over an eighteen month period with either thirty full-day Saturday classes from 09:30 to 16:30 or sixty evening classes from 18:30 to 21:00.

Throughout the course you will complete thirty practical assignments. Our aim is for students to receive as much guidance and support during the tutorials as possible so that they will be able to plan their assignments in class and complete them at home.

You can choose to enrol for either the evening or full-day Saturday classes in Melbourne (William Angliss Institute) or Sydney (University of NSW).

View the class options below »

 
Melbourne Classes
Saturday Classes  (Full Day) Starts  30  Full DaysView Schedule  
Thursday Classes  (Evening) Starts  60  EveningsView Schedule  
 
Sydney Classes
Saturday Classes  (Full Day) Starts  30  Full DaysView Schedule  
Thursday Classes  (Evening) Starts  60  EveningsView Schedule  

View the full list of topics covered »

BTEC

The Australian Academy of Photography has teamed up with global educational experts Pearson Education to offer BTEC accredited courses to our photography students.

These courses are a recognised route to university, leading to the final year of a degree course or progression on to other professional qualifications.

Photographic Practices

Overview

Learn the key skills to operate your own camera in manual mode and to understand the importance of composition in relation to the intended outcome of an image. Gain the confidence to use your camera settings to create the best possible manually produced photographs. Indicative content:

  • Using your camera in manual mode
  • Exploring composition in relation to intentions
  • Exposure manual settings for aperture, focal length, perspective, metering, selective focus, white balance and exposure compensation
  • Using a zoom lens (example 24-70mm/24-100mm)

Lighting for Photography

Overview

Explore a variety of lighting techniques to perfect your photo shoots. Gain an understanding of the importance of analysing intention to allow you to plan processes and equipment for your photoshoots. Indicative content:

  • Experimenting with lighting techniques and lighting equipment (studio, flash and natural lighting)
  • Developing lighting layouts and diagrams
  • Exploring different types of lighting for different settings and context
  • Understanding lighting strategies and conditions
  • Analysing creative intentions in relation to contextual photography

Techniques & Processes

Overview

Develop the techniques and processes that will allow you to successfully tackle photography projects from the first meeting with a client to the final presentation of design work. Indicative content:

  • Understanding client briefs
  • Developing creative ideas
  • Using techniques and processes to realise creative potential
  • Developing post-production editing skills
  • Producing visual diaries for development and presentation

Contextual Studies

Overview

Research and analyse key historical eras and movements that will allow you to understand the context of contemporary photography. Indicative content:

  • Understanding the context of historical developments and their effect on modern photography
  • Communication techniques in photography
  • Primary and secondary research
  • Visual and textual analyses
  • Research presentation
  • Critical research analyses

Communication in Art and Design

Overview

Research how photographers communicate their design ideas to clients and learn a key skill set of techniques that will enable you to produce images of a professional standard to meet a client brief within an advertising context. Indicative content:

  • Preparing photos for web and print
  • Producing a professional portfolio
  • Developing creative thinking to produce specific contextual photographs
  • Using survey methods to understand audiences
  • Evaluating your own skills for further improvement
  • Producing client based presentations

Workflow

Overview

Explore the different ways in which workflow can be organised to allow you to plan and execute and deliver your own projects in the future. Indicative content:

  • Understanding how photography projects can be managed
  • Developing organisational and leadership skills
  • Evaluating the process of monitoring projects
  • Discussing workflow mapping
  • Developing workflow systems
  • Tracking issues and solutions

Individual Project

Overview

Apply all the skills you have learned and develop your creative ability by working on an individual project within the context of event photography with a set theme and topic. You will be challenged to plan the project from start to finish and to review the skills and processes you used throughout your work. Indicative content:

  • Understanding client briefs
  • Exploring idea generating techniques
  • Developing creative ideas
  • Using techniques and processes to realise creative potential
  • Exploring concepts, materials and processes to develop creative photoshoots

Professional Development

Overview

Explore how changes in technology and in response to social and cultural change within the industry impact on the photography profession and the role of the photographer. Reflect on the implications of these changes on your own personal development and career plan. Indicative content:

  • Exploring the development of the photography profession
  • Assessing your own knowledge and skills
  • Identifying areas for personal/professional development
  • Exploring personal career goals
  • Creating a personal development plan

Advanced Photography Studies

Overview

Develop their own personalised photographic style in order to fulfill a project brief within the context of photojournalism. Indicative content:

  • Developing your personal style
  • Applying project management techniques
  • Presenting photographic work to communicate a personal style
  • Evaluating audience responses to photographic work
  • Advanced studio practice

Branding & Identity

Overview

Develop an understanding of the influence branding has on an audience and how this can be applied to a variety of contexts within photography. Indicative content:

  • Understanding the importance of branding in photography
  • Evaluating an existing brand
  • Analysing the impact of brand image and identity
  • Creating guidelines to communicate a brand

Conceptual Practice

Overview

Draw from the cultural, social, economic or political contexts to develop a conceptual approach to a project brief. Conceptually explore ideas rather than solely concentrating on the final outcome of the project. Through this approach you will understand the importance of the conceptual stage and will be able to adapt this process in future projects. Indicative content:

  • Contextual research
  • Investigating conceptual approaches in photography
  • Developing conceptual art in photography
  • Exploring the conceptual stage
  • Presenting conceptual work through photography
  • Evaluating photographic work in relation to historical and contemporary photography

Art Direction

Overview

Understand and develop art direction skills which will allow you to direct, organise and execute fashion photo shoots that are designed to communicate with the target audience. Indicative content:

  • Understanding art direction
  • Learning art direction strategy
  • Analysing a fashion brief and target market to develop art direction
  • Producing fashion spread for a target market
  • Discussing collaborative work in art direction

Applied Practice - Collaborative Project

Overview

Develop your collaborative skills through the planning, managing and presentation of a collaborative project. You will be given a set-theme for the project that will be based on current trends and up-to-date industry practices. Indicative content:

  • Building collaborative skills
  • Developing a project plan
  • Managing a collaborative project
  • Working creatively in a collaborative environment
  • Presenting collaborative work
  • Evaluating own work and the work of others

Professional Practice

Overview

Learn how to analyse the strengths and weaknesses within your own work and develop a career plan with the help of your tutor. Indicative content:

  • Evaluating skills and abilities
  • Exploring career opportunities
  • Creating a career plan
  • Developing a business plan
  • Creating a portfolio
  • Developing a CV/Resume
  • Preparing for presentation/interview
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Thursday Classes

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