do something MAJOR

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do something MAJOR

Apply Now • Free

Fast Track a Career with our Professional Photography Program

Develop your style and strengths with the latest gear and techniques in a creative environment

You can tell powerful stories with your camera. You may be interested in photographing portraits, products, journalism or landscapes. But it takes a top photography college to transform your personal vision into a career.

Colorado Mountain College delivers the technical training you need to succeed. You will learn solid technical skills to capture professional photos and video. And you’ll develop an eye for aesthetics.

Award-Winning

Our award-winning students thrive in this environment. They are creatives, artists, collaborators, forward thinkers and problem solvers. We encourage them to be innovative as they explore the potential of today’s photo technology.

CMC students are regularly honored with awards in the international College Photographer of the Year competition. They are competitive among students at some of the top photography colleges in the country.

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Degree type Associate of Applied Science Degree in Professional Photography

 

Program Specific Courses 48 Credit Hours

PHO 106 - Computer Literacy for Professional Photographers
PHO 121 - Photo Image Capture I
PHO 122 - Photo Image Capture II
PHO 143 - Perception & Photography I
PHO 144 - Perception & Photography II
PHO 161 - Digital Capture Processing I
PHO 162 - Digital Capture Processing II
PHO 210 - Photographic Color Theory
PHO 232 - Professional Portraiture
PHO 234 - View Camera & Lighting Techniques
PHO 252 - Contemporary Photographic Practices; Genre and Style
PHO 262 - New Media Storytelling
PHO 267 - Color Management for Digital Photography
PHO 268 - Portfolio & Career Exploration
PHO 269 - Business of Photography
Advised Photography Electives 6.0 Credits

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The Professional Photography (AAS) is offered at:

Spring Valley: Mostly in-person

The Professional Photography program is located at the Spring Valley Campus between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The campus is in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, overlooking the Roaring Fork River Valley and the majestic Elk Range, home to seven of Colorado’s 54 14,000-foot peaks.

On campus, your studio is 1200-square feet full of the latest lighting and photography equipment. Outside, it’s as big as the West. Want to photograph outdoor adventure? Shoot ice climbing up the Crystal River. World-class events? Take your gear to Aspen or Vail. Looking for desert landscapes? Moab, UT, is just over two hours away.

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Career Paths in Photography & Video

Colorado Mountain College prepares you to enter the field of photography in just two years. Our hands-on training and up-to-date curriculum will set you up for a successful career. Go on assignment for an award-winning publication. Assist a famous photographer. Start your own freelance business.

Put your passion to work in:

  • Photojournalism
  • Fine art photography
  • Commercial photography
  • Photo editing
  • Director of photography
  • Video
  • Video editing
  • Digital content developer for brands
  • Social media photographer

Enriched by the Isaacson School

As part of the Isaacson School for Communication, Arts and Media at Colorado Mountain College, you’ll work collaboratively with the Digital Media and Graphic Design programs. This provides real-word learning as you create photographs and video within creative teams. Virtual reality and other new media extend the core of our professional photography classes.

Here you’ll have ready access to community partnerships and a wide range of events. These opportunities include the ESPN XGAMES, 5POINT Film Festival and the Aspen Institute to name a few. These experiences create strong resumés and career connections.