Academics

Photography Classes

 

Alexey MartynovPhoto by SMC student Alexey Martynov

Class Resources

See full descriptions and requirements:

Photography Classes at SMC

Photographers record visual images on film, videotape or digital media to graphically illustrate or explain an idea, record an event, or capture a mood. They often specialize in a particular type of subject matter, such as portraits, landscape, and nature, or news pictures, and in types of equipment such as 35-millimeter cameras, video, or movie cameras. 

Some career titles include portrait photographers, commercial and industrial photographers, photojournalists, visual artists, and photo editors. The photography major may also lead to other, related careers. For additional possibilities, consult the EUREKA, Sigi-Plus or Discover computerized career databases, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, or one of the many other career resources located in the Santa Monica College Transfer/Counseling Center.

In the studio, we employ Macintosh computers for digital capture. In our digital imaging facility, we utilize the most current versions of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, and Capture One.

Required Classes for Photography Degree

The major consists of 40 units. The following courses are required:

  • Photography 1, Introduction to Photography (3 units)

  • Photography 2, Basic Photography Lab Techniques (2 units)

  • Photography 5, Fundamental Photo Digital printing (3 units)

  • Photography 30, Techniques of Lighting: Introduction (4 units)

  • Photography 31 or 32, Introduction: Photography People (Photo 31) or Photographing People Advanced (Photo 32).  (4 units each)
    Prerequisite: Photo 30 AND Photo 39,

  • Photography 33, Techniques of Lighting: Production (4 units)

  • Photography 39, Beginning Photoshop (3 units)

  • Photography 34, Capture to Composite: (4 units) Prerequisite:
    Photo 30 AND Photo 39

  • Photography 43, Beginning Portfolio Development (3 units)

  • Photography 60, Business Practices for Photographers (3 units)

Photo Elective Classes

Additional photography classes can be taken towards a total of 40 units:

  • Photography 7, Advanced Portfolio Development (3 units)

  • Photography 13, News Photography (3 units)

  • Photography 14, Photography for Publication (3 units)

  • Photography 21, Alternative Photographic Process (3 units)

  • Photography 29, Video Production for Still Photographers (3 units)

  • Photography 31, Introduction: Photographing People (4) Prerequisite:
    Photo 30 AND Photo 39,

  • Photography 32, Photographing People: Advanced (4) Prerequisite:
    Photo 30 AND Photo 39

  • Photography 37, Advanced Black & White Printing (3 units)

  • Photography 40, Digital Capture (3 units)

  • Photography 42, Advanced Photoshop (3 units)

  • Photography 50, Basic Color Printing (3 units)

  • Photography 52, History of Photography (3 units)

  • Photography 64, Community Documentary Photography (3 units) Prerequisite: Photo 2

  • Photography 88A, Independent Studies in Photography (1 unit)

  • Photography 88B, Independent Studies in Photography (2 units)

  • Photography 90A, Internship in Photography (1 unit)

  • Photography 90B, Internship in Photography (2 units)

  • Photography 90C, Internship in Photography (3 units)

  • Photography 90D, Internship in Photograph (4 units)

Non-Photo Elective Classes

One of the following non-photo elective classes must be completed to count towards the 40 unit degree:

  • Art 10A, Design I (3 units) 

  • Art 10C, Computer Design (3 units) 

  • Art 20A, Drawing I (3 units) 

  • Business 22, Introduction to Advertising (3 units) 

  • Business 34, Introduction to Social Media Marketing (3 units)

  • Business 63, Principles of Entrepreneurship (3 units)

  • Graphic Design 31, Graphic Design Studio 1 (3 units)