The Art Institutes

About the Art Institutes:

Can you imagine a school that would both nourish your creativity and challenge you academically? The education needed to attain your vision will be provided, as your passion is recognized by the Art Institutes school system. It's faculty are often working professionals in their field, and they are dedicated to the success of their students. There are a variety of programs offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. The Art Institutes system of schools offers more than 40 locations across the United States and Canada, in addition to The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's Online Division, which provide training in a multitude of programs in culinary and media arts, design, and fashion. Whatever your interests, it has a program that's right for you. Whether it's Graphic Design or Web Design, Interior Design or Industrial Design, Game Art & Design or Digital Film & Video Production, Fashion Design, or Culinary Arts, you'll find a program that's perfect for you.

Available courses

Digital Photography

Photography occupies a major place as a medium of communication. It impacts our perceptions of the world and has a significant impact on our lives. To succeed in the program, a student needs to possess critical judgment, a creative and imaginative mind, an eye for color, and the ability to pay close attention to detail. Graduates of the program will work with a plethora of subject matter as well as numerous types of people. Team work, superior communication skills, and business skills are all required. Program graduates must also know how to negotiate, sell, operate equipment, use tools, coordinate work with others, follow directions, make decisions, plan, and create spatial visualization.

Photographer, digital studio photographer, in-house digital photographer, Photoshop color operator, production photographer, online photo image editor, digital catalogue photographer, and photo editor are the entry-level positions for which students are prepared by the Digital Photography program. The creative and technical skills employers in the digital photography field require can be demonstrated by its graduate, including:

• technical skills
• professional knowledge
• critical thinking and concept development
• business, marketing, and entrepreneurship
• creativity

Photographic imaging

In print and electronic media, nothing carries more punch than a compelling image or picture. Photographic imagery is most commonly utilized. Those students preparing to enter the photographic imaging program must be creative, imaginative, and attentive to detail. Students will develop values based on professional standards and practices, along with a sound technical and design foundation, in addition to an awareness of visual style.

What you will be studying:

• Examine the principles of photographic design and the importance of visual style in the commercial area.
• Learn about the professional cameras, lenses, and related processes-along with small, medium, and large formats-as they will be relevant for commercial uses like editorial or advertising photography.
• Learn, in specially designed facilities, how to use a traditional wet lab, digital image capture and editing, and other alternative processes.
• Utilize the necessary equipment and proper techniques required to conduct successful location and studio photography, while engaging in problem solving to resolve both natural and artificial lighting conflicts.
• To discover and utilize your own talents and interests that will translate into a marketable individual specialization, as a direct result of the bachelor's degree program.

Special Features

One special feature of our program is that students will apply every tool currently used in photography, from digital workflow to traditional analog processes. The product is a professional portfolio, inclusive of all production methods offered. Program specific hardware and software are featured in studios and darkrooms.

Career opportunities

Associate in arts degree graduates are well prepared for numerous entry-level positions, such as studio assistant, advertising photographer, or staff photographer with publishing companies, photography studios and labs, and production companies. Graduates of the Bachelor's degree are prepared for entry-level positions such as commercial photographer, editorial photographer, or photographic editor. Some will even open their own studios or freelance.

Commercial Photography

Advertising, books, television, and magazines are several areas wherein a commercial photographer can contribute his skills in developing fundamental images, with the help of techniques based on solid digital photography skills. Students seeking entry-level positions, with advertising photographers or agencies, learn the essential skills they need in this certificate program.

What you'll learn:

• You'll begin your study with the history and principles of photography.
• Large format photography and digital photographic production are covered next.
• Followed with studio skills, lighting, and digital photographic illustration.

Photography

Flourishing photographic professionals do not rely on talent alone. Required technical skills include a detailed understanding of light and its role in composition, selection of the appropriate equipment, and using the right techniques to capture visually compelling scenes.

You have a passion for capturing a moment, or conveying an idea through pictures. Etch an image into the minds of people. An image once preserved can be presented as is, or manipulated for a desired effect - so you can show the world as it could be.

The opportunities offered to students, by the photographic program, helps to enhance their skills through the extensive work with a camera. Students will learn to not only identify but also solve contemporary photographic problems and develop the capability to observe and make a critical analysis of the contemporary photographs. Also, students apply what they have learned to tackle market needs in their specific target. The class structure enables students to learn the conceptual theory and design skills, as well as the design and technical aspects which will be needed for the intense competitive photography industry.

Program Competencies

• Learn the principles of photography
• Use small, medium and large-format cameras
• Apply principles of lighting
• Use tungsten and electronic-flash equipment
• Learn the basics of digital capture
• Make digital prints and apply color management
• Utilize a digital workflow
• Utilize imaging software
• Gain proficiency in location and studio lighting
• Learn the basics of business
• Create a web-site
• Assemble a portfolio
• Use acquired skills to define a personal photographic style
• Develop a sense of business and personal ethics
• Determine a career track

Upon Graduation

You'll find that with the skills and abilities you'll have when you graduate, the sky's the limit. Specialization can be in many different fields, including portrait, fashion, news, product, or sports. The program will prepare the you for various entry level positions within the field, including product or still life photography, digital-imaging artist, photographer's assistant, or even a photo retouch professional. You can choose to work in a studio, at an advertising agency, publishing houses, a photo lab, production companies, or even at a newspaper or magazine. Freedom can come with owning a business that focuses on your specialty, or even freelance work in journalism.

Career Opportunities

These are some entry-level positions:

• Digital Retoucher
• Production Assistant
• Photographer's Assistant

After gaining experience in the workplace:

• Art Buyer
• Digital Retoucher
• Production Coordinator
• Photo Editor
• Photographer
• Photographer's Assistant
• Photo Stylist
• Studio Manager

You could find several opportunities in many different companies, like:

• Advertising Firms
• Commercial Studios
• Digital Prepress
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Photographic Labs
• Portrait Studios
• Service Bureaus