Choose your course
Photography careers give you a chance to expand on your technical photography skills and learn how to apply your expertise within a business setting. Courses can lead to a number of job opportunities, from travelling as a photojournalist to editing and repurposing images as a digital retoucher. TAFE NSW qualifications can also lead to a job as a studio manager, photographer, digital operator or a photographic assistant.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you want to become a professional sports or wedding photographer, get into retail and food photography, or just work on your hobby, a TAFE NSW photography course will give you the technical skills and knowledge to take exquisite photos and develop your body of work.
A career exploring your creativity behind the lens, waiting patiently for the perfect shot, and capturing a once-in-a-lifetime moment in a single frame may be right around the corner!
There are several photography courses to choose from at TAFE NSW. We provide a range of short and longer courses to help you start a career in photography, fill a skills gap, or take your expertise to the next level.
You can take a short course in Photoshop, drone aerial photography, product presentation photography, and mobile phone photography. There is even a course on how to take the perfect selfie!
Our certificate and diploma courses equip you with practical skills and knowledge to work in the photographic industry. You will learn in state-of-the-art facilities, develop your portfolio of work, and hone your craft under the guidance of our expert teachers.
Study photography and photo imaging at TAFE NSW and you’ll learn traditional and contemporary photographic techniques, composition, Photoshop, colour management, lighting and print making techniques. You will also learn practical business skills to help you turn your passion into a successful career in photography.
Graduates of photography courses go onto work in:
- Architectural photography
- Commercial photography
- Food photography
- Wedding photography
- Wildlife photography
- Fashion photography
- Photo editing and retouching
- Photojournalism
- Sports photography
- Travel photography
Professional photographers are expected to know how to use industry standard software (like the Adobe Creative suite) and implement good work processes so they can work in a team and prepare photos for print, digital and other mediums.
Take the first step in your photography career with a Certificate IV in Photography and Photo Imaging, then build on your existing skills, find your creative niche, and build your photographic portfolio with a Diploma.
From portraits to fashion shoots, weddings to social media marketing, no two days are the same when you are a professional photographer.
This specialist creative field is forecast to increase over the next five years, with clients coming from diverse sectors including education, wedding and events, tourism and hospitality fields.
Now is a great time to formalise your photographic skills and turn your talent into a fun and creative career in photography and photo imaging.
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What job opportunities could a photography course lead to?
Are you looking to transform your passion for photography into a career?
At TAFE NSW, our Photography Courses are run by industry experts, who will teach you a combination of technical skills and creative photography techniques to further develop your portfolio and individual style.
Photography is a growing industry and there are currently 13,000 photographers employed in Australia. To become a photographer, even though formal education requirements are not essential, taking training and technical knowledge through qualifications such as certificate IV, diploma, or bachelor’s degree can help build base and expand your skill set.
Through hands-on learning experiences and practices, you'll be able to study across a number of industry areas from food, weddings and fashion photography. Our Photography courses are industry accredited and will provide you with the qualifications for a potential career as a:
- Studio Manager
- Wedding Photographer and Videographer
- Digital Operator
- Photo Studio Assistant
- Digital Retoucher
- Photojournalist
A photographer’s responsibilities include but are not limited to setting up and shooting photos in either studios or outdoor locations, working with clients to determine the vision of the photoshoot, and retouching photographs using digital software. Based on the responsibilities, photographers are expected to have solid photography knowledge and skills in management and communication.
Additional TAFE NSW courses in the area include Digital Photography Introduction, Photography and Photo Imaging, Visual Arts, Traditional Illustration Techniques, Capturing, Producing & Editing digital images, and Black & White photographic printing.