Lifelong Learning Digital Photography Certificate
The Digital Photography Certificate has been CLOSED and we now offer a Digital Photographer Series. Visit our series page for more details: https://continue.utah.edu/lifelong/digital-photographer-series
The information on this page is for those currently in the program so they can reference requirements and expectations. If you are currently in the program and would like more information on the status of your certificate, email lifelong@continue.utah.edu. More information is available in the FAQ below.
The Certificate of Digital Photography allows amateur photographers to hone their technical skills as the means to free their creative vision and establish their aesthetic viewpoint. Certificate enrollees will better understand how to operate their cameras, how to use photo editing software to streamline their digital workflow, and how to create a portfolio of images that may be used as an album for home enjoyment or as a potential tool for obtaining photographic work for pay. Thanks to partnerships with photographers around the Valley, students will get hands-on experience with studio equipment, keep up to date with the latest technologies, and gain an understanding of the world of the professional photographer.
- Certificate students pay a $25 registration fee to cover administrative costs. You may receive credit for a course taken in the 12 months prior to joining the certificate program. Contact Lifelong Learning to confirm if a previous course will qualify.
- You have three years to complete the certificate, which consists of 7 required plus 2 elective courses. Only one studio lighting class is required, either Introduction to Studio Lighting (LLART 174) or Introduction to Studio Lighting: Off-Camera Flash (LLART 96). If interested in both, you can use one as an elective.
- The Portfolio Assembly and Review course (LLART300) should be the final class taken for completion of the Certificate.
You do not have to be enrolled in a certificate program to take a class. Everyone is welcome in our certificate courses!
Why can’t I enroll in the Certificate for Western Horticulture or Digital Photography?
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused Lifelong Learning to pause and rethink its certificate offerings. Our certificate program is designed for hands-on learning and the restrictions placed upon us with regards to class sizes, distancing between participants, and number of in-person experiences has made it difficult for us to continue with the program as originally conceived. It is because of this that we are no longer accepting new students into this program.
We plan to offer a new, community-focused series of skill-building courses designed to help you follow a path of deep and concentrated exploration. We will announce our plans in our weekly email newsletter and on social media. Follow us and join our email list to be the first to know!
I’ve enrolled in the Certificate for Western Horticulture or Digital Photography. Can I still complete the program?
Since you have already enrolled, you can still complete your certificate and we are continuing to offer the curriculum. We will honor your commitment to building this skill and plan to continue offering the curriculum as best we can until everyone has completed it.
We are doing everything we can to program the classes you need to complete your certificate but ask for your patience as we work within our new Covid-19 constraints. Some classes are incredibly challenging to conduct safely in our current environment. We are working on solutions to this and will notify those on the waitlist for the course as soon as it is available.
We are also extending the deadline for certificate completion. You are no longer limited to three years to complete the program. We know that you don’t want it to take longer than three years so we are doing everything we can to keep the delay to a minimum.
If you have questions about what you still need to take to complete the certificate and if we may have substitute classes, please email us and we will look into your specific inquiry. We have updated the list of electives here on our website as well.
What is the certificate?
Certificate showing completion of a group of noncredit photography classes. The classes included in the certificate are designed to provide a base level of knowledge needed to progress as a photographer and serious hobbyist.
How long do you have to complete the certificate?
You have 3 years to complete classes.
Why was certificate developed?
Photography is one of Lifelong Learning’s most popular subject area and students often request guidance for what classes to take to improve their skills. The certificate helps provide a road map.
Who is certificate designed for?
New DSLR camera owners, students looking to improve photography skills, and serious hobbyist.
What are the required classes? Develop Your Photographic Eye (9.5 hrs), Introduction to Digital Photography (14.5 hrs), Digital Photography II (10 hrs), Introduction to Studio Lighting (8 hrs), Natural Light Portrait Photography (6 hrs), Photoshop for Photographers (10 hrs), and Portfolio Assembly and Review.
What electives are offered and how many are required?
Two electives are required for the certificate. Examples of elective classes include Copyright and Intellectual Property Issues for Photographers, Introduction to Lightroom, Night Sky Photography, Outdoor Photography: Boot and Shoot, Photographing Portraits with Personality, Product Photography, and Winter Landscape Photography, etc.
How much does it cost to take all the classes in the certificate program?
Approximate cost to take all required classes is approximately $1000 including the $25 certificate registration cost. Cost of electives varies based on class.
Where are classes held?
Classes are held at 540 Arapeen Drive, Research Park, SLC and at instructor studios throughout the valley.
How often are classes offered?
Classes are offered 1 – 2 times a year with Introduction to Digital Photography offered every term since it is prerequisite for some of the other classes.
Can I get credit for a class I took that is part of the certificate before signing up for certificate?
Yes. If it’s been less than a year and you contact Lifelong Learning, we will research your class records and give you credit if applicable.
Classes
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