Program Overview

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Advertising Photography Option - Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA

Overview

RIT's BFA in advertising photography prepares you for diverse and rewarding careers in the field of visual communications.

Why Study Advertising Photography at RIT

• Industry Exposure: The School of Photographic Arts and Sciences brings various visiting professionals, events, and talks.
• Gain Real-World Experience: Gain hands-on experience in the classroom and through paid work opportunities like internships and co-op.

RIT’s BFA in commercial photography encourages and nurtures your individual image-making practice, so you can learn to create photographs and moving media for a wide range of commercial use in today’s ever-changing media environment. This option is part of the Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA program.

RIT’s BFA in Advertising Photography

Within the advertising photography BFA you will study the inner workings and business aspects of the photographic and imaging industries. Work collaboratively to conceive and execute camera-based work that is both cutting-edge and strategic. Along with conventional print-based imagery, you may also work in moving media, with emerging and interactive technologies that have real-world applications in the commercial industry.

The commercial photography degree provides flexibility and specialization:

• Advanced courses allow you to explore a variety of commercial specializations from traditional still life and portraiture to interdisciplinary courses.
• Take elective courses from other departments across the university, in majors as diverse as graphic design, visual culture, philosophy, or fine art, in order to enrich your personal visual expression.
• Projects provide opportunities to develop a strong professional portfolio throughout your time in the program as well as real-world team collaborations with other RIT student graphic designers, new media artists, industrial designers, and computer scientists.
• In an ever-growing global market, RIT encourages and offers many study-abroad opportunities.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

• Advertising Photographer
• Architectural Photographer
• Art Director
• Art Producer
• Artists’ Agent
• Editorial Photographer
• Entrepreneur
• Fashion Photographer
• Food Photographer
• Image Retoucher
• Photo Editor
• Portrait Photographer
• Prop Stylist and Videographer
• Sports Photographer
• Still Life Photographer
• Studio Manager
• Studio Photographer

Cooperative Education and Internships

What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart.

Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Co-op in the College of Art and Design provides hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.

Advertising Photography Internships: Students participate in internships with some of the nation’s most respected professional photographers, advertising and design agencies, magazine publishers, photography agents, equipment rental, and production services. Working in a variety of commercial and studio environments, students have the opportunity to learn from photographers, picture editors, art directors, and other professionals. In collaboration with their professors and the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education, students identify and apply for relevant internships, which provide real-world work experience that becomes an invaluable part of students’ educational experience.

Creative Industry Days

Connect with Design Industry Leaders

RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Days, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. Creative Industry Days are a series of events that allow you to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and full-time employment positions.

Career Opportunities in Advertising Photography

A significant number of graduates become self-employed freelance photographers working all over the country. They also work at advertising agencies and magazines as producers and picture editors. Companies hiring our graduates include Saks Fifth Avenue, Conde Nast Publications, Martha Stewart Living, Neiman Marcus, and many others.

Featured Work and Profiles

• Photographing a who's who of celebrities
• Short Attention Span Film Festival 2023
• Photographing Bills Mafia
• Renowned Editorial and Commercial Photographer
• Why You Belong in RIT's College of Art and Design
• Industry-standard Photography Equipment

Admissions and Financial Aid

This option is part of the Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA. Please visit the degree program page for admission requirements.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.

RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.

Faculty

• Susan Lakin - Professor
• Joshua Rashaad McFadden - Assistant Professor
• Jim Porto - Assistant Professor

Facilities

• North Light Studio
• Digital Photo Lab
• William Harris Lab

Events

• Film+FotoFest@RIT'25

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Contact

Program Contact

• William Snyder
• Professor
• School of Photographic Arts and Sciences
• College of Art and Design