JJC offers a Certificate in Digital Photography designed to prepare you for the photography business.
You’ll learn everything you need to know from camera basics to ways to keep your costs down. The program includes classes in professional lighting techniques, portrait, glamor, architectural and product photography.
You’ll also learn business basics from marketing to customer service.
The Certificate in Digital Photography is awarded to those students who successfully complete the following set of core and elective courses. It is designed to prepare students to become professional self-employed photographers.
Core Courses
Secrets of Great Digital Photography (LLC 3391)
Are you looking for an intensive hands-on workshop that will overhaul your picture-taking abilities? This eight-week course will give you solid photography skills that will improve the quality of your pictures. Topics will include camera basics and exposure, composition, low-light conditions, landscapes and nature, people and family, sports and technical tips, and equipment for the serious photographer. Students will take photos between sessions and bring to class for discussion. SLR camera suggested. (This is a core class for the Digital Photography Certificate)
T1 6:30-9p.m. M Main
Feb.13-April 16 $199
(No class Feb. 20 and March 19)
T2 6:30-9p.m. T Weitendorf
Feb 14-April 17 $199
(No class Feb. 21 and March 20)
T3 2:30-5p.m. M Main
Feb.13-April 16 $199
(No class Feb. 20 and March 19)
Secrets of Lighting (LLC 4016)
Do you own a lighting studio setup but, need help with getting the best use of it? This class will cover the essentials of lighting arrangements for studio portrait lighting. You will need a SLR digital camera, a flash system and light stand with umbrella to complete the projects in this class. Secrets of great digital required. Topics will include how to read a hand held light meter, corporate and illustrative photography and wedding sittings. (This is a core class for the Digital Photography Certificate)
T1 6-9.p.m. M Weitendorf
April 30-May 21 $184
T2 6-9.p.m. T Weitendorf
May 1-22 $184
Fundamentals of Photoshop (GRAF 1006)
Add excitement to your digital photographs with Photoshop. You will learn how to use curves and levels to adjust and correct color. You’ll have fun using filters to enhance the look and feel of your photographs and you will learn how to combine images to create stunning original pictures.
T1 6-9p.m. M Main
Feb. 6-March 5 $195
(No class Feb. 20)
T2 6-9p.m. W Main
March 7-28 $195
Elective Courses (Students must take four.)
Secrets of Lighting II (LLC 4136)
Expand upon your knowledge of lighting techniques. Get out of the studio and learn to set up lighting on location. (This is an elective class for the Digital Photography Certificate; students need to have completed core classes before start date.)
T1 6-9p.m. W Weitendorf
Feb. 1-22 $199
Illustrative Photography (LLC 4134)
Focus on Fashion, Glamour and Wedding Photography with special effects. Projects will include using live models to develop portfolio. (This is an elective class for the Digital Photography Certificate; students need to have completed core classes before start date.)
T1 6-9p.m. W Weitendorf
March 7-April 4 $199
(No class March 21)
Advertising and Still Life Photography (LLC 4135)
Focus on photographing products and images used for advertising purposes. Learn presentation techniques as well as image design and lighting techniques for product photography. (This is an elective class for the Digital Photography Certificate; students need to have completed core classes before start date.)
T1 6-9p.m. W Weitendorf
April 18-May 9 $199
Nature, Travel & Close-Up Photography (LLC 4232)
Focus on outdoor settings. Scenery, landscapes and getting close to nature, learn techniques for artistic photos of nature up close and far away. Saturday morning classes will meet at various locations for nature photo shoots. Be prepared to travel. Saturday trip attendance is not mandatory to meet class requirements.
T1 7-9p.m. T, S Weitendorf
Feb. 7-March 3 $199
T2 7-9p.m. T, S Weitendorf
April 17-May 12 $199
Architectural Photography (LLC 4233)
Focus on Interior and Exterior Photos. Taught in collaboration with an interior designer, this class will give hands on practice with home staging basics and lighting techniques to highlight room design for maximum marketing appeal. Exterior photography techniques will also focus on capturing landscape design and architectural appeal. Some classes will meet in Chicago for photo shoots be prepared to travel.
T1 9a.m.-Noon S Romeoville
April 14-May 5 $199
Strobist-Lighting Techniques (LLC 4300)
Make no location unattainable. This advanced lighting techniques class will take you on location with off-camera system lighting. Designed for those photographers that remain unbound by studio setup, this class will include topics such as; on TLL- Through the Lens Metering, Flash Essentials, Direction, Color & Quality of Light, setting up a wireless master commander, speedlights and speedlighting systems. Additionally students will practice techniques in using flash compensation to effectively control lighting effects, creative uses of alternative flash synch modes including Rear & Slow Curtain, Auto FP High-speed Sync and controlling on location lighting. Class will include field trips to various locations with a provided model for completing exercises, be prepared to travel.
T1 1-4p.m. S Main
May 12-June 9 $299
(No class May 26)
Editorial Photography (LLC 4408) - NEW!
Focus on news and event photography. Learn how to create editorial images in order to tell a story. Projects include: taking photos during news and sporting events, preparing images for print and online publication, and writing effective photo captions. Students will be required to take photos during both on- and off-campus events.
T1 6-9p.m. R Main
March 15-April 5 $199
Advanced Photoshop Level Two (GRAF 1007) - NEW!
Get past the basics and learn about layer masks, clipping paths, filters and channels. You learn more advanced color correction techniques, too. Completion of GRAF 1006 or proficiency in basic Photoshop skills required. Students are required to bring a flash drive to class.
T1 6-9p.m. W Main
April 4-25 $195
Portfolio Presentation
Students must present a portfolio of their work that includes their best photographs from each class. The instructor must approve this portfolio for students to receive the certificate of completion.
For more information or to register, call Brenda at (815) 280-1504, or e-mail blarge@jjc.edu.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth for photography, but only those with training will have the best chance for success.
Employment
Photographers held about 152,000 jobs in 2008. More than half were self-employed, a much higher proportion than for most occupations. Some self-employed photographers have contracts with advertising agencies, magazine publishers, or other businesses to do individual projects for a set fee, while others operate portrait studios or provide photographs to stock-photo agencies.
Most salaried photographers work in portrait or commercial photography studios; most of the others work for newspapers, magazines, and advertising agencies. Photographers work in all areas of the country, but most are employed in metropolitan areas.
Job Outlook
Employment is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations. Photographers can expect keen competition for job openings because the work is attractive to many people.
Employment Change. Employment of photographers is expected to grow 12 percent over the 2008-18 period, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Demand for portrait photographers should increase as the population grows. Moreover, growth of Internet versions of magazines, journals, and newspapers will require increasing numbers of commercial photographers to provide digital images. The Internet and improved data management programs also should make it easier for freelancers to market directly to their customers, increasing opportunities for self-employment and decreasing reliance on stock photo agencies.
Job growth, however, will be constrained somewhat by the widespread use of digital photography and the falling price of digital equipment. Improvements in digital technology reduce barriers of entry into this profession and allow more individual consumers and businesses to produce, store, and access photographic images on their own. News and commercial photographers may be the most adversely affected by this increase in amateur photographers and non-copyrighted photos. Declines in the newspaper industry also will reduce demand for news photographers to provide still images for print.
Job Prospects. Photographers can expect keen competition for job openings because the work is attractive to many people. The number of individuals interested in positions as commercial and news photographers is usually much greater than the number of openings. Salaried jobs in particular may be difficult to find as more companies contract with freelancers rather than hire their own photographers. Those who succeed in landing a salaried job or attracting enough work to earn a living by freelancing are likely to be adept at operating a business and to be among the most creative. They will be able to find and exploit the new opportunities available from rapidly changing technologies. Related work experience, job-related training, or some unique skill or talent—such as a background in computers or electronics or knowledge of a second language—also improve a photographer's job prospects.
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.