About the Photography Courses

The cutting-edge professional photography courses are written and directed by some of the best working photographers in their field. The aim of the courses is to provide you with the knowledge and skills required for a career as a professional photographer or as a keen hobbyist. Both the Certificate course and the nationally accredited CUA50920 - Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging are up-to-date and comprehensive, covering every aspect of photography.

The Professional Photography Courses are delivered online and consist of 12 modules and 12 assignments. You can study in your own time and at your own pace. Students enrolled in the Certificate Course are provided with 12 months to complete the course. Students enrolled in the Diploma Course are provided with 18 months to complete the course, and extensions can be purchased if extra time is required. During this time you will be educated in all aspects of photography by our experienced authors and tutors; who are some of the top freelance photographers around. Their vast wealth of accumulated knowledge is provided to you, along with the ways to apply this knowledge to the areas of photography that most interest you.

The business of photography is not just about award-winning images. It can also be about the right picture at the right time. Newspapers, magazines, and websites worldwide are constantly on the lookout for new and interesting material. The opportunities are enormous and always growing.

Certificate Course in Professional Photography

This is a course of very high standards, that is very competitively priced. The course materials are used internationally, and the delivery and format are identical to the Diploma version of the course. The only difference is that the Certificate course is less rigorous and there is no additional impost of Self Directed Study.

Tutors do not have to be Government accredited but have all been handpicked for their industry expertise and ability to impart knowledge to students.

This is a non accredited course in Australia although the course is recognised globally by the following bodies:
- IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre)
- BAC (British Accreditation Council)
- UKRLP (United Kingdom Register of Learning Providers)
- BBB (Better Business Bureau)

You need a great portfolio, not necessarily a degree in photography to become a professional photographer. This is exactly what our Certificate Course focuses on - providing you with the practical skills and technical knowledge to build a professional portfolio and launch a rewarding freelance photography career or an exciting new hobby.

CUA50920 - Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging

The Photography Institute is owned and operated by Online Education Pty Ltd, a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), enabling us to offer you the nationally accredited CUA50920 - Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging.

Below are some of the key components of our Diploma course:

Entry Eligibility Assessment:
As part of the CUA50920 - Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging, there is an entry requirement for eligible applicants to successfully complete a preliminary assessment. This will require you to produce a portfolio of digital imaging work that demonstrates the application of technical skills and knowledge equivalent to Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 4 or above. Skills and knowledge may have been acquired through experience or formal study.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Accredited Course:
Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) regulated course that ensures that the Diploma course meets quality assurance requirements.

More In-depth:
The Diploma modules and their corresponding assignments meet all regulatory criteria and as such are more robust and in-depth to better prepare you for entering the workforce at the end of the course.

Highly Qualified Trainers and Assessors:
All of our Diploma tutors have the experience and qualifications required by Government standards to deliver accredited training in Australia.

Integration of Units of Competency:
The authors have covered the knowledge and performance evidence for all of the units required to be covered by the Standards for RTOs. The units covered in our Diploma course can be viewed here. These units have been integrated into our 12 module course in a unique and interactive way that allows the student a cohesive and enjoyable journey.

How to study online?

All the learning is done online in that when you enrol you receive a username and password, which enables you to log onto our secure student site. From there you can download your first module, which you could liken to your textbook as it contains all the information you will need to complete assignment one. Each module is approximately 100 pages in length and is full of detailed technical information delivered in a friendly, conversational manner that is easy to understand. The concepts are further explained by way of diagrams, images and examples.

Once you have completed your assignment (some are just theoretical, but the majority of assignments combine both theory and fun practical tasks) you then upload it onto our site for your tutor to mark. The tutors will give you a grade (out of 10) and a comprehensive evaluation of your work and ideas and help nurture and improve your skills each step of the way.

What makes The Photography Institute so unique is that throughout our courses you have access to the safety net and guidance of the team here at Student Support, who you can contact 24/7. It is not simply a case of giving you a textbook and off you go - far from it.

You also have direct contact with your personal tutor who guides you closely through each step of the course, offering personalised and specific constructive criticism on your submitted work. If you ever have any questions in relation to your course or assignments, all you need to do is send your tutor a quick message and they will reply with an answer as soon as they can.

With this close tutor mentorship, you will feel like your tutor is in the same room as you, and all this can be achieved from the comfort of your own home. That is the beauty of our courses, you can study when you like and at your own pace.

The tutors who work for us are not just teachers, but the best working professionals in their field. By drawing on their knowledge you will gain an edge that will help you realise your true potential.

Connect with other photography students

We have a Facebook Group that we have exclusively designed for our students. This group contains thousands of our students from across the globe interacting with each other on all topics covered by our courses. It provides a great opportunity for students to meet fellow students from all over the world, ask questions, share knowledge and experience, upload work, give and receive feedback, make new friends and talk everything photography!

On successful completion of either of the Professional Photography Courses, you will have the skills and knowledge required to become a freelance photographer either as a full or part-time career, as a profitable sideline or just as an exciting new hobby.