Professional Photography Program

Photographers see the world differently. Yes, a photo is worth a thousand words, but it’s also a unique moment in time that a professional photographer can capture with trained skills. Use of lighting, positioning, color, texture, patterns, surroundings, and every little detail is intentional. Photos that touch people are everywhere from living rooms to public social media posts for millions to see. Make the best ones yours!

Program Requirements and Job Outlook

Professional Photography Technology AAS Professional Photography Certificate Professional Photography Technology Diploma

Program delivery

• Online with in-person labs available at Willmar and Hutchinson campuses
• Fall and spring semester start

Skills you will learn

• Mastery of your digital camera
• Portrait studio operation
• Real-world work flow
• Product photography strategies
• Adobe Photoshop® and Lightroom® software
• Professional communication, both verbal and written

Choose Ridgewater

Creative, passionate, detail-oriented, people pleasers make some of the best professional photographers. They want clients to be happy, and that comes from affordable, in-depth skills that make you a master of your trade, not just a point-and-shoot button pusher. Ridgewater College will get you there through comprehensive, hands-on, practical coursework applied to a professional studio and real-world experiences. Check out our Ridgewater College Photography Facebook page to see student artwork highlights and how proud we are of our graduates.

Program attributes that help students thrive

• Modern, professional equipment and studios
• Industry-experienced faculty
• Close-knit, collaborative learning environment that feels like family
• Required hands-on internship experiences
• Real-world applications
• Strong alumni connections offering field trips and shadowing opportunities
• Equipment available for checking out
• Active photography club that inspires, challenges and celebrates student work

As you become an expert in commercial and portrait photography and editing, the classmate friendships you’ll make will complement the personal attention you’ll get at Ridgewater. Quality results – that’s our focus!

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