Boston University is one example of an accredited college which offers professional training in photography. In addition to offering professional photography certificates at its Center for Digital Imaging Arts, it offers a full practicum of courses to skill students in the art of photography. Digital darkroom training courses instruct students in color correcting, retouching and printing digital images.
Photography courses at the college level teach students how to properly compose a photograph, including what to include in the frame; what lens to use in specific situations; and how to manipulate lens settings to achieve various levels of light, white balance and exposure. Topics covered in composition courses include shutter speed, aperture, ISO and depth of field, as well as taking shots with natural and studio lights. Students are exposed to different types of photography subjects through composition courses as well like still life, portraits, landscapes and event photography.
Courses also focus on the software tools used to edit photographs and add effects to them after shooting. Adobe Photoshop is the main software taught and covered techniques include creating masks, working with pixels, color correcting, and using tools like extract filters, pen, smart objects, smart filters and liquefy effects.
In addition to all of your fine arts and photography courses where you learn the craft of photography, it's a good idea to take a few business classes, perhaps even enough to earn a minor in business, to complement your artistic intelligence. Since running a successful photography business involves gaining and managing clients, invoicing, taxes, facility and studio rental as well as equipment purchasing, it's wise to gain an understanding of basic business practices. These practices include basic accounting principles so that you will know how to operate your own business as well as create quality photographs that people want to purchase.