Portrait photographers take photos of people or events such as weddings, while scientific photographers record data or medical projects and are often required to have a background in science. Photojournalists work for magazines, newspapers and other media. They tell stories with photographs instead of words. Commercial photographers take images of objects, people or products to use in print media, while fine art photographers shoot artistic photographs that can be sold in galleries or museums. Technical schools have classes that specialize in one or more of these areas of photography.
In addition to associate's and bachelor's degrees, technical schools offer certificates and diplomas. Not all degree programs are offered at every school, and programs differ in length of study required for completion as well as in the amount of coursework. For example, the Commercial Photography program at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, Ga. requires 29 hours of coursework for a certificate program, 97 hours for a diploma and 128 hours for an associate's degree. Certificate and diploma programs include courses that only focus on photography, while an associate's or bachelor's degree requires additional academic courses outside of the photography discipline.
Technical school photography courses focus on lighting, shooting on location, computer software and technique, such as how to operate different types of cameras. Gwinnett Technical College includes photojournalism and business management in its curriculum. Business courses are particularly helpful. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, as of May 2008 more than 50 percent of photographers are self-employed. Minneapolis Community and Technical College's Photography and Digital Imaging program offers courses on portfolio development and graphics software, in addition to other essential courses for photographers. Computer software classes teach fundamentals such as color-correcting a photo. Portfolio development courses may be especially helpful upon graduating, as potential employers or clients often request a portfolio of work
Choose a technical school that fits your needs and goals. If your dream is to become a world-renowned photojournalist, a program in Commercial Photography at a technical school may not offer the number of photojournalism classes you want. If you want to be a portrait photographer, however, a program that offers many courses on lighting and studio work is ideal.
Tuition costs, location, coursework, your photography skill level and your professional goals are all important factors when considering a technical school for photography.