Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Durham College Photography Diploma is a skill-focused program that prepares you for a dynamic future in professional photography and visual communication. Photography plays a crucial role in contemporary culture. With a focus on both still and motion, you will be trained to meet the needs of the changing photography industry, develop your creative vision and become an effective content creator.

Intakes and Availability

• September 2025: Open for domestic and international applications

Program Highlights

• DC Experience
• Success Stories
• Resources

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)

Are you missing admission requirements? We are here to help.

• Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or math.
• Domestic applicants that are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s) i.e., Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
• Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
• DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on-campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
  • Grade 12 Math (MAP4C equivalent)
  • Grade 12 English (ENG4C equivalent)
  • Grade 11 Biology (SBI3C equivalent)
  • Grade 12 Chemistry (SCH4C equivalent)

Tuition

• Year one domestic: $2,812 (CAD)
• Year one international: $15,399 (CAD)

Semester 1 Courses

• Audio Capture (AUDI 1103)
• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Fundamentals Of Lighting (FILM 1101)
• Image Processing 1 (MDIA 1105)
• Video Design and Workflow (MDIA 1106)
• Camera Operations (PHOT 1104)

Career Options

Our graduates work in diverse areas of industry such as commercial, corporate, retail and freelance photography.

WHERE YOU COULD WORK:

• Commercial production
• Fine art
• Freelance/Weddings/Portraits
• Galleries or museums
• Image retouching
• Hospitals
• Real Estate
• Marketing and communication departments
• Photojournalism
• Police services
• Publications – print and web-based
• Tourism
• Photo retailers/labs

Program Details

This program is focused on providing a balance of still and motion to meet the needs of a changing photography industry. Our hands-on digital program approaches the teaching of Photography from a professional skills perspective in both stills and video, to the development of a critical and creative eye.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Select and use appropriate photographic equipment and techniques to capture quality images of a variety of subjects, in studio and on location.
2. Use post-production techniques to edit and finish images in formats that meet industry standards and the needs of the client.
3. Create lighting schemes using appropriate techniques, equipment and accessories to produce quality images that meet the needs of the client.
4. Employ design elements and principles to plan and create visually sound images.
5. Complete all work in a professional and ethical manner and in accordance with legal requirements applicable to the photography industry.
6. Develop strategies to maintain currency with evolving photography trends, issues, technologies and industry practices to enhance work performance and guide professional development.
7. Select and use digital asset management tools and strategies to catalogue, store, back up, retrieve and archive images and prints.
8. Use business planning and administrative skills to support and maintain a photography business.
9. Use a variety of marketing tools and strategies that effectively promote photographic products and services.
10. Develop and present a professional portfolio that illustrates one’s creative approach and image conception, capture, editing and production skills.

48-Hour Film Challenge

Each year, the Faculty of Media, Art & Design (MAD) looks forward to hosting our annual MAD 48–hour Film Challenge where three participating programs (Broadcasting – Radio and Contemporary Media, Photography and Video Production) suspend most classes for a four-day week of movie-making magic! Hundreds of students participate under guidance from MAD staff, faculty and administration. Students are mixed into interdisciplinary groups and given 48-hours to produce, shoot, and edit their very own short film. Each group, comprised of seven to eight students, is also given a line of dialogue, a genre, a prop and a character type, all of which must appear in their short film.

Courses

The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.

Semester 1

• Audio Capture (AUDI 1103)
• Communication Foundations (COMM 1100)
• Fundamentals Of Lighting (FILM 1101)
• Image Processing 1 (MDIA 1105)
• Video Design and Workflow (MDIA 1106)
• Camera Operations (PHOT 1104)

Semester 2

• Documentary Video Capture (FILM 1201)
• Pre-Production Concept Art (FINE 1203)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• History Of The Captured Image (HIST 1200)
• Video Editing 1 (MDIA 1206)
• Compositional Design for Photography (PHOT 1200)

Semester 3

• The Business Of Photography (ENTR 2102)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Image Processing 2 (MDIA 2105)
• Advanced Lighting (PHOT 2100)
• Creative Vision (PHOT 2101)
• Product Photography (PHOT 2102)
• Portrait Photography (PHOT 2103)

Semester 4

• Portfolio Development (DESG 2217)
• Marketing and Promotion for Photographers (ENTR 2212)
• General Education Elective (GNED 0000)
• Fashion Photography (PHOT 2200)
• Event Photography (PHOT 2201)
• Food and Beverage Photography (PHOT 2202)

Course Delivery

In person

Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.

Costs

The fees below are estimates only based on information available at the time of publication, and do not include the cost of textbooks. There may be additional costs; however, not all courses require textbooks.

Photography Year 1 Costs

• Semester 1:
  • Tuition: $1,406.16
  • Program Fee: $433
  • Ancillary Fee: $493.77
  • DCSA Ancillary Fee: $430
  • Total: $2,762.93
• Semester 2:
  • Tuition: $1,406.16
  • Program Fee: $0
  • Ancillary Fee: $493.77
  • DCSA Ancillary Fee: $120
  • Total: $2,019.93

Photography Year 2 Costs

• Semester 3:
  • Tuition: $1,406.16
  • Program Fee: $441
  • Ancillary Fee: $474.19
  • DCSA Ancillary Fee: $430
  • Total: $2,751.35
• Semester 4:
  • Tuition: $1,406.16
  • Program Fee: $0
  • Ancillary Fee: $474.19
  • DCSA Ancillary Fee: $120
  • Total: $2,000.35

Tech Requirements

NOTE: Students enrolling in this program are required to purchase their own laptop. For specific camera requirements for this programclick here.

Laptop Requirements

A Mac notebook computer is recommended. Please see the hardware requirements document for details.

Software Requirements

• Operating System (bundled with new notebook computer purchase)
• Membership in Adobe Creative Cloud is included in your Student Fees and will be made available during your first week. There is no need to purchase a subscription.
• Microsoft Office (Available for free for students from Microsoft through your DC Mail account. Please do not buy it.)

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS SOFTWARE PRIOR TO STARTING THE PROGRAM.

Camera Requirements

Special pricing has been secured to give you the best possible value on your camera purchase. For details and participating locations please review the Canon Student Advantage Program Pricing webpage.

Students are required to purchase a digital camera in order to complete the course work and assignments in the Photography program. Please see the below suggested cameras. The hardware, software and photographic equipment used in this program are needed to teach the advanced technology skills required in the workplace.

Recommended Cameras

1. Canon EOS R8 body with the kit lens W/RF 24-105mm IS STM Lens (Retail $1,999)
2. Canon EOS RP body with the kit lens W/RF 24-105mm IS STM Lens (Retail: $1,399)
3. Canon EOS R6 MKII body with the kit lens W/RF 24-105mm IS STM Lens (Retail: $3,199)

Experiential Learning

As part of their program, Photography students work directly with real industry clients, including not-for-profit and community organizations, on a variety of projects. Doing so provides students with access to real-time coaching and feedback from their professors. The Photography program at Durham College has partnered with several not-for-profit community groups, including Spinal Cord Injury – Ontario; Canadian Adaptive Snowsports; Ontario Neurotrauma; Time4Change (Youth Without Shelter); Oshawa Fire Services and many corporate clients. These opportunities allow students to work directly with clients in the “real-world”, promote teamwork, and test those vital soft skills necessary to succeed.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates can transfer to the second year of Durham College’s Video Production program and complete the diploma in one academic year (two semesters).

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions. Sample diploma-to-degree opportunities include:

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Communication and Digital Media Studies – Ontario Tech University (Ontario Tech)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) bridge – Ontario Tech
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) – Educational Studies and Digital Technology – Ontario Tech
• Bachelor of Business Administration - General Business – Davenport University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Media Studies - Trent University

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Land Acknowledgement

Durham College is situated on the traditional lands of the First Peoples of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation. These lands are covered under the Williams Treaties and rest within the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg. We offer our gratitude to the Indigenous Peoples who care for and, through the treaty process, share the lands on which we live, learn, teach and prosper today.