Photography courses are certificate, diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs for students after class 10 and 12. They focus on skills for sports, journalism, events, landscapes, and wildlife. The internet and social media have increased demand for skilled media communication and public relations photographers. Top courses include Advanced Photography, Professional Diploma, BFA, and MA in Commercial Photography and Cinematography.
Regular full-time BFA in photography courses and MFA Photography courses include Cinematography, Fine Arts, and Film Making as top photography courses specializations. Famous photography colleges like the National Institute of Photography are dedicated solely to photography courses and short-term photography classes. They offer Photography Courses in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and various other regions that have a demand for professional photographers. The National Institute of Photography is one of Mumbai's best Photography course colleges and offers the best placement for students.
An entry-level Photographer earns an average salary of INR 3,37,065 whereas, a senior-level photographer with 8+ years of experience earns an average salary of INR 5,64,748. As stated in compensation data by salary experts the estimated Salary for a Photographer is expected to increase by 34% within a period of 5 years. Also Check: Types of Photographers
Table of Content
2.1 Top Colleges
4.1 Top Colleges
5.1 Top Colleges
6.1 Top Colleges
9.1 Bangalore
9.2 Tamil Nadu
9.3 Mumbai
9.4 Hyderabad
9.5 Delhi
9.6 Kerala
12.1 Gender-based salary
Top Photography Courses
Some of the top photography courses have been mentioned below in the table -
| Course | Type of Programme | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Advanced Photography and Photojournalism | Certificate Course | 3 to 6 months |
| Certificate in Photography | Certificate Course | 1 year |
| Certificate in Digital Photography | Certificate Course | 11 months |
| Certificate in Professional Photography | Certificate Course | 11 months |
| Certificate in Camera and Photography | Certificate Course | 3 to 6 months |
| Professional Diploma in Art of Photography | Diploma | 1 year |
| Diploma in Photography | Diploma | 1 year |
| Diploma in Professional Photography | Diploma | 1 Year |
| Diploma in Digital Photography | Diploma | 1 year |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Photography | Postgraduate Diploma | 2 years |
| BFA Photography | Undergraduate Degree | 3 years |
| BA in Visual Arts and Photography | Undergraduate Degree | 3 years |
| BA (Hons) Communication Design - Photography | Undergraduate Degree | 3 years |
| MA Commercial Photography and Cinematography | Postgraduate Degree | 2 years |
Certificate Photography Courses
The photography certificate courses vary between a few hours to weeks and admissions are done on the basis of merit. The details about the certificate courses have been mentioned below
| Duration | Few Hours to Weeks |
| Admission | Direct or Merit Based |
| Eligibility | 10+2 from a recognized board |
| Fees | INR 5,000 – INR 10,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 2,00,000 – INR 5,00,000 |
Top Colleges for Photography Certificate Courses
The top colleges for photography certificate courses have been mentioned below and the average course fees vary between INR 10,000 – INR 80,000.
| Institute Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi | INR 74,000 |
| School of Open Schooling, University of Delhi | INR 12,000 |
| Amity University Noida, Noida | INR 30,000 |
| Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune | - |
Online Photography Courses
The photography courses online have been mentioned below and the course fees for the course vary between INR 400 – INR 4000.
| Course Name | Fees |
|---|---|
| Introductory Photography Courses - Chris Bray | Free |
| Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography | INR 390 |
| 1 Month Online Beginners Photography Courses | INR 1,950 |
| Photography Basic and Beyond: From Smartphones to DSLR Specialization | INR 3,659 per month |
| Advanced Digital Photography | Free |
| Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography - Udemy | INR 389 |
| Photography Basics and Beyond: From Smartphone to DSLR Specialization - Coursera | Free |
| Photography Course Online - Upskillist | Free |
| An Introduction to photography - Karl Taylor Education | Free |
Diploma Photography Courses
A diploma in photography is a 1 to 2-year-long course. The details of the diploma course are mentioned below in the table -
| Duration | 1 – 2 years |
| Admission | Merit-based |
| Eligibility | 10+2 (Diploma in Photography)/Graduation (Postgraduate Diploma in Photography) |
| Fees | INR 30,000 – INR 50,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 – INR 5,00,000 |
Top Colleges for Diploma in Photography Courses
There are numerous diploma courses available in photography. The table below highlights some of the best diploma courses along with the offering college -
| Course Name | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| PG Diploma in Photography | Light And Life Academy, Ooty | INR 8,70,000 |
| Professional Diploma in Art of Photography | Creative Hut Institute of Photography | INR 3,93,500 |
| 2-year Diploma Course in Photography | Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi | INR 40,000 |
| Diploma in Professional Photography | Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore | INR 55,000 |
| PG Diploma Still Photography Courses | AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, New Delhi | INR 74,320 |
| PG Diploma in Digital Photography | Pondicherry University, Puducherry | INR 11,425 |
Undergraduate Photography Courses
The Undergraduate Photography Courses can be completed in 3-4 years of time and the fees vary between INR 1,00,000 – INR 2,00,000.
| Duration | 3 – 4 years |
| Admission | Merit basis |
| Eligibility | 10+2 from a recognized board |
| Fees | INR 1,00,000 – 2,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 2,00,000 – 4,00,000 |
Top Undergraduate Top Colleges for Photography Courses
| Course Name | Colleges Offering | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| BFA Photography | Lovely Professional University, Phagwara | INR 17,100-INR 86,500 |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts Applied Arts | Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi | INR 41,500 |
| Bachelor of Film and Television Production Cinematography | KIIT, Bhubaneshwar | INR 2,35,000 |
| BSc in Photography | The Indian Institute of Digital Art and Animation, Kolkata | INR 10,000 - INR 7,00,000 |
| BA in Still Photography | Osmania University, Hyderabad | INR 5,00,000 |
| Bachelor of Film and Television Production Cinematography | Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | - |
| BA (Hons) Photojournalism | Delhi College of Photography | INR 10,000 - INR 2,00,000 |
| B.A. (Hons.) (Commercial Photography) | Asian Academy of Film and Television | - |
Post Graduate Photography Courses
The Post Graduate Photography Courses can be completed in 2 years of time and the fees vary between INR 3,00,000 – INR 4,00,000.
| Duration | 2 years |
| Admission | Merit/Entrance |
| Eligibility | Bachelor in Photography |
| Fees | INR 3,00,000 – INR 4,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 5,00,000 – INR 7,00,000 |
Top Postgraduate Photography Courses
| Name | Average Fees |
|---|---|
| Master of Fine Arts Applied Arts | INR 12,000 |
| Master of Arts in Commercial Photography and Cinematography | INR 7,00,000 |
| MA in Still Photography | INR 20,000 - INR 6,00,000 |
| Master of Visual Arts | INR 11,000 - INR 56,000 |
| MDes in Photography Design | - |
| MA Commercial Photography and Cinematography | INR 7,00,000 |
Types of Photography Courses
From fashion photography to street photography, there are endless types of photography that photographers practice across the world. The most popular photography courses in India are:
Wedding Photography Courses
- A wedding photographer's salary in India ranges between INR 7,500 to INR 1,75,000 and can even go up for independent/freelance photographers.
- Wedding Photography in India has been increasing tremendously at a 20-25% annual growth rate every year.
- The market size of wedding photography is estimated to be $25-30 billion.
- There is an average of 10,000-15,000 wedding photographers in India who charge anything between INR 50,000 and INR 7 lakh a day.
- Wedding photography courses are some of the most Popular Free Online Photography Courses With Certificates.
- The certificate courses are designed to impart basic camera skills and the theme of wedding photography.
Check: Part-Time Photography
Portrait Photography Courses
- Portrait photography is a part of Fashion Photography Courses as it mostly involves capturing close-up shots of subjects like models, babies, and pets.
- A portrait photographer should have high impromptu skills with props. They need to create a theme in each frame.
- Since portrait photography is mostly done indoors, photographers should be well knowledgeable about lights too.
Fine-Art Photography Courses
- There is a worldwide increase in fine art photography, especially in Asian Countries due to the demand for high-quality pictures.
- Some Asian countries such as Taiwan and Shanghai pay $10,000- $200,000 to fine art photographers.
- Courses such as BFA photography, and MFA photography are the most common fine-arts photography courses.
- These courses are available as degree courses and can also be pursued as Photography Certificate Courses.
Product Photography Courses
- With the growing popularity of eCommerce and online business, product photography has grown immensely popular among the Photography Courses After the 12th.
- The recent shift to commercial videography for advertising products has put a slight halt in the product photography market, however, product photographers with video editing skills are high in demand.
- Product photography skills require high creative skills, for better representation of products across the internet.
- Product photography is still in demand, a majority of people using email marketing services or social media platforms prefer images over texts and long videos.
Check: Photography and Videography Courses
Photo-Journalism Courses
- Photojournalism is a joint venture of photography and Journalism Courses. It imparts knowledge on creating stories through photographs.
- With less text and more visuals, photojournalists use their cameras for a visual representation of a story, unlike journalists who used pen and paper.
- The increasing popularity of Internet media has coincided with the decline of newspapers, meaning that photojournalists lose job opportunities in print even as they gain them online.
Check: Photography Certificate Course
Photography Courses Skills
Organizations and clients have a set list of skills that they look out for in their photographers. Basic photography skills, entrepreneurial skills, knowledge of legal matters, etc. are some skills required to be a good photographer. Other than that, technical skills and software aspirants need to know about a career after photography courses are mentioned below:
| Photoshop | Good Customer Relationship |
| Photographic Equipment | Communication |
| Professional Demeanor | Lightroom |
| DSLR | Knowledge of Sales & Marketing |
Top Photography Colleges
Top Photography Courses are offered in the top colleges across the country, the colleges have been listed below:
Photography Colleges in Bangalore
The colleges which offer Photography Courses in Bangalore have been mentioned below in a tabular format,
| CREO Valley | Diploma, Bachelor, and Master |
| JD Institute of Fashion Technology | Bachelor |
| M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences | Bachelor and Master |
Photography Colleges in Tamil Nadu
The colleges which offer Photography Courses in Tamil Nadu have been mentioned below in a tabular format,
| Life and Light Academy | PG Diploma |
| Bridge Academy for Media Studies | Diploma, Certification |
Photography Colleges in Mumbai
The colleges which offer Photography Courses in Mumbai have been mentioned below in a tabular format,
| National Institute of Photography | Certificate and Diploma |
| FX School | Diploma |
| Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth | Bachelor |
| Sir JJ Institute of Applied Arts | Certification, Bachelor, and Master |
Photography Colleges in Hyderabad
The colleges which offer Photography Courses in Hyderabad have been mentioned below in a tabular format,
| Hamstech Institute of Creative Education | Certificate and Bachelor |
| JD Institute of Fashion Technology | UG Diploma |
| College of Fine Arts | Bachelor and Master |
| Roots Collegium | Bachelor |
Photography Colleges in Delhi
The colleges which offer Photography Courses in Delhi have been mentioned below in a tabular format,
| AJK Mass Communication Research Centre | PG Diploma |
| AAFT | Diploma, Bachelor, and Master |
| JMI | Diploma, Bachelor, and Master |
Photography Colleges in Kerala
The colleges which offer Photography Courses in Kerala have been mentioned below in a tabular format,
| Creative Hut Institute of Photography | Professional Diploma |
| JD Institute of Fashion Technology | Diploma, Bachelor, and Master |
Photography Courses Syllabus
The Photography Course syllabus is mentioned below in the table below:
| History of Photography | Photoshop |
| Photo Corrections | Film Cameras and Processing |
| Sensors | Studio Lighting |
| Wildlife, Fashion, and Photo Journalism | Different parts of the Camera |
| Color Filters | Selection of Shots |
| Natural and Artificial Photographic Light Sources | Portrait Photography |
| Photographic Optics | Close-up Accessories and Techniques |
| Photo Tools | - |
Photography Courses Job Prospects
After completing the Photography Courses, students can pursue becoming Fashion Photographer, Photojournalists, etc and their salary varies between INR 3,00,000 – INR 10,00,000.
| Jobs | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Fashion Photographer | INR 1,48,000 – 10,00,000 |
| Event Photographer | INR 1,00,000 – 3,00,000 per event |
| Photojournalist | INR 3,09,000 – 5,20,000 |
| Sports Photographer | INR 2,00,000 – 8,00,000 |
| Product Photographer | INR 4,58,000 – 9,80,000 |
| Wildlife photographer | INR 1,60,000 – 9,00,000 |
Photography Courses Salary
For freshers, companies offering jobs for a Diploma in Photography Graduate offer a starting salary of INR 2 - 6 LPA. Working as an assistant or second shooter at a photo studio is one of the best ways to gain experience as a professional photographer while also earning money. In school, I started writing to local studios and marketing agencies to see if they'd take me on as a student intern.
| Type | Average Income |
|---|---|
| Wedding Photographer | INR 10,000 to INR 1,00,000 per day |
| Photojournalist | INR 15,000 to INR 45,000 per month |
| Fashion Photographer | INR 25,000 to INR 80,000 per month |
| Wildlife Photographer | INR 15,000 to INR 1,25,000 per month |
| Product Photographer | INR 25,000 per month |
Gender-Based Salary for Photographers
| Gender | Salary |
|---|---|
| Men | INR 25,000 per month |
| Women | INR 21,900 per month |
Photography Courses: FAQs
Ques. What are the eligibility criteria for BFA Photography?
Ans. To enroll for BFA Photography, the students need to clear class 12 from a recognized board with a minimum of 50%.
Ques. What is the average salary after completing photography courses?
Ans. The salary of a photographer differs on the type of project, fashion photography, product photography, sports photography, etc. The skill level and experience level are also taken into account. The starting salary is in the range of INR 3-5 LPA.
Ques. What are popular specializations in Photography?
Ans. Popular specializations in photography include Fashion Photography, Nature and Wildlife Photography, Wedding & Event Photography, etc.
Ques. How much do the photography courses cost?
Ans. Fees for the photography courses may vary as per the institute you choose. There are free online certifications available, but the individual fee depends on the level of the course and where you pursue the course from. The average fee charged ranges from around INR 36,000 to 7 lakh.
Ques. Can photography be learned online?
Ans. Several photography courses can be pursued online through platforms like Udemy and Coursera. Most online courses are self-paced and can be completed by submitting a final project.
Ques. What is the duration of Photography Courses?
Ans. The duration of photography course depends on its type. For UG, it is 3 years, at PG level it is around 1-2 years, diploma courses last 6 to 12 months and for Certification, the course is around 3 to 6 months.
Comments
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Yes, you can pursue Photography Certification courses right after passing Class X examination. However, to pursue Diploma in Photography courses you must have completed Class XII.
The average duration for Certification in Camera and Photography courses ranges from 3 to 6 months according to the course curriculum.
The top Indian institutes for pursuing Diploma in Photography courses include Banaras Hindu University, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Andhra University, Panjab University, Pondicherry University, Bharati Vidyapeeth, etc.
In India, the average course fee for Diploma courses in Photography ranges from INR 30000 to INR 50000.
The main types of Photography courses are mentioned below.