B.A. Photography: Course, Admission, Eligibility, Career, Subjects

Bachelor of Arts in Photography is a three-year undergraduate degree course. Students looking to build a career in this field need to start by pursuing a bachelor's degree in photography. Students can opt for different careers in the field of Photography.

The admission process for enrollment into B.A. Photography varies from institute to institute. Several colleges hold entrance examinations while some provide admissions on a merit basis of 10+2. The top Bachelor of Arts in Photography colleges are MIT WPU School of Photography, Pune, Mohan Babu University, Tirupati, and AAFT University of Media and Arts, Raipur. The approximate fee for studying B.A. Photography course is Rs. 5 Lakhs to Rs. 10 Lakhs Per Annum.

After pursuing a B.A. in Photography, students can work as a Photographer, an Art Director, a Photo Editor, a Celebrity Photographer, or a Graphic Designer. When the course is completed, the average salary range of the candidates will be around Rs. 2 Lakhs Per Annum to 5 Lakhs Per Annum. Top recruiters who hire these graduates are photo studios and news channels. Around 8 colleges offer B.A. Photography out of which 8 are private, and the remaining one is government.

B.A. Photography: Highlights

Also Read: Photography Course

B.A. Photography Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for the programme vary from college to college. So candidates are advised to read the complete criteria before applying to any college. Mentioned below are common criteria for most of the colleges providing the bachelor of arts in photography programme:

• To pursue this course, a candidate must have cleared class 12 from a recognised school/institution.
• Candidates from any stream in class 12 can pursue this course.
• There are no specific subjects required in class 12 to study the course.
• No specifications for the minimum aggregate required in class 12 to join the course.

B.A. Photography Admission Procedure

There are different ways by which candidates can get enrolled in the B.A. Photography is offered by various institutions/colleges. Colleges use different methods for selecting candidates to enroll in the bachelor’s courses offered by them. Along with knowledge of the course, candidates must know the various methods by which they can get admission into the colleges to pursue a bachelor’s degree in photography courses.

Mentioned below are the different methods by which candidates can get admission into this course;

Merit-based(class 12 result): Most of the colleges/institutions provide admissions to candidates in these courses based on the marks obtained in class 12. The criteria differ from college to college for selecting students based on the merit obtained in class 12. So candidates must go through the details before applying for admission into any of the colleges to avoid any confusion in the future.

Direct Admission: Candidates also have the option of direct admission into colleges offering bachelor’s degrees in photography courses. The criteria for admission into these courses differ from college to college, so it is advised to candidates to go through the criteria before taking admission into any of the colleges that are offering direct admission to a bachelor’s degree in photography.

B.A. Photography Skills Required

With the knowledge of the course, a candidate must be aware of the skill sets required to succeed in life. Mentioned below are a few skills required to become a photographer after completing the course:

• Creative skill: Although some photographers are born creative, however, this is a skill that to a great extent can be learned and constantly improved upon. There are several ways by which one can inculcate this ability. Few of them are to follow the works of successful photographers and attend workshops and shoots.
• Composition: Composition is the artistic dimension of photography that helps in understanding how and what is required in an image to look beautiful. The aspect of composition is simply the photographer’s taste and creativity. Candidates have to learn how to think about what looks good in a frame and why. There are certain universal principles that candidates should learn, rather than reinventing them through trial and error methods.
• Business skills: Not all photographers work independently however many of them do work independently. Working as a freelancer or selling prints requires photographers to have a business manager. Photographers must handle everything from shooting to marketing their products. So photographers must have business skills to survive in this field.
• Hardware and software skills: To be a successful photographer these days, photographers need to know the latest technologies. This includes improvement in both hardware and software. Hardware, in this case, refers to cameras, lenses, tripods, lights, and all the other physical equipment a photographer might use.
• Softwares are the applications used by photographers to edit an image. Some of the equipment is extremely complicated to use until and unless a photographer masters it.
• An eye for detail: To be successful in this profession, photographers need to deliver pure perfection, meaning that everything before, during, and after the shot has to be flawless. An eye for detail helps photographers to ensure that all elements within the photo such as the lighting, the composition, the subject, and everything else are in proper proportion to convey the right vision or message.
• Patience: This is a field where things just won’t go photographers' way at times, for example, the lighting won’t cooperate, models or clients will be exceptionally difficult, or when their camera just won’t give them the desired results. So photographers must have the patience to handle any situation with ease and help them to grow in this field.

B.A. Photography Syllabus

The syllabus or subjects in a course varies from college to college depending on their study pattern. The subjects in the course differ from college to college but the core of the course does not change. Mentioned below are the subjects taught in The Symbiosis School of Photography:

B.A. Photography 1st Year Syllabus

Usually, the first-year syllabus will include introductory topics of photography like Visual Literacy, History of Art, and Photography

B.A. Photography 2nd Year Syllabus

The B.A. Photography Second Year Syllabus includes several topics like Portraiture Aesthetics, Printing, Publishing, Aesthetics of Fashion Photography, and Wildlife Photography.

B.A. Photography 3rd Year Syllabus

After the 3rd year syllabus, candidates will have a clear idea of what concepts are covered in photography. The B.A. Photography third year syllabus includes digital photography, visual effects, and visual communication.

B.A. Photography Fees Structure

Different colleges have different fee structures for B.A. photography courses. The fee structure for private colleges is comparatively higher than that of public colleges. The average course fee is Rs. 50,000 per year.

The fee structure of B.A. Photography depends on various factors like the ranking of the college, location, facilities provided, placement opportunities, and faculty. A student can be admitted to the college of his choice by comparing all these parameters.

Scope of B.A. Photography Course

A large number of photographers can work in a freelancer mode in a freelance capacity, working in areas such as theatre, events, and music. You'll need to be aware of self-employment responsibilities, that will include accurate financial information and that meet the HMRC self-assessment deadlines.

Career Options after B.A. Photography

With the boom in advertising, media, and the fashion industry, photography has emerged as a lucrative and thrilling career option for many individuals. A few years ago people regarded photography as a hobby profession only, but now it has emerged in a big way.

In this modern era, photography is emerging rapidly as it is a popular career choice among all age groups. Mentioned below are a few of the job profiles:

Graphic Designer: Photographers develop an excellent eye for print layout, so moving into a position as a graphic designer would be a great step. Graphic designers work with clients to create recognisable images such as logos or brochures. They may choose specific colors or fonts to coordinate with the design.

Camera Operator: Photographers gain experience using still cameras to capture images. So this skill helps a photographer to become a camera operator for video events such as television shows, movies, or televised sports. They may work in a broadcast studio, as a cinematographer on a movie set, or as a videographer at an event, like a wedding.

They use hi-tech cameras and use different types of camera lenses or filters to achieve the desired effects. Camera operators work closely with directors to ensure that their videos meet the needs of the production. Some camera operators edit their work using computer programs.

Art Director: Art directors work with photos, illustrations other artwork, graphic designs, and other visual elements to create magazine layouts, advertisements, catalogs, and more, depending on the employer's or client's needs. People skills are important, as art directors typically manage photographers, designers, and others who contribute to the finished product.

Photography Professor: The photography professor teaches students what various camera settings do, how to take better photographs, artistic theory, how to use photo editing software, and more. Professors should be comfortable speaking in front of a group so that students understand the concept well.

Fashion Photographer: Fashion photographers not only work to capture the photos at that moment of the shoot, but they also do a lot of preparation work. They are always looking for good sites for their shoots or the right props to use in the setting that they rely on.

They need to mix things up depending on the nature of the photo shoot and are therefore responsible for the full setup and the takedown of the shoot itself. They work to ensure that the lighting is just right and that all of the elements are well-prepared ahead of time.

Wildlife Photographer: Wildlife photographers click and produce images of animals or plants in their natural environments. Wildlife photographers also understand the importance of designing and displaying the images to best convey the message of their photographs.

They may use digital techniques to enhance their images in print, and they may also work on printing the images on the type of surface that best allows the images captured to appear lifelike and natural.

Aerial Photographer: Aerial photographers take pictures of physical features, buildings, and many more from aircraft for news, scientific research, town planning, rural development, cartographic, economic, or military purposes. They use various types of photographic and sensory equipment to produce black-and-white, infrared, color, and three-dimensional aerial photographs and images for different purposes.

Benefits of B.A. Photography Course

With a BA in Photography, artists will be able to explore their talent and learn the essential techniques so that they can become professional photographers. This degree course will steer the students in the correct direction and help them practice design theory, history, and cultural studies both practically and theoretically.

Expected Salary after B.A. Photography

After successful completion of a bachelor’s degree in photography, candidates can start looking for job opportunities in the job market. The starting salary package of students with a B.A. Photography can be around Rs 2.20 lakhs per annum to Rs 2.50 lakhs per annum.

The salary of students might also differ depending on the various factors. The salary of candidates depends on various factors such as location, employer, skills of candidates, and many other factors. Along with time and experience, the salary might rise from Rs 3.30 lakhs per annum to Rs 3.90 lakhs per annum.

List of Top Colleges in India Offering B.A. Photography Course With Fees

Various private institutions offer admission to B.A. Photography degree programmes. The fee structure for each college is different depending on the course curriculum and facilities provided by the institution. Following are some of the top-rated B.A. Photography colleges in India:

Top Private B.A. Photography Colleges in India With Fees

Various private institutions offer admission to B.A. Photography degree programmes. The fee structure is different depending on the course curriculum and facilities offered by the candidates. Following are some of the top private B.A. Photography colleges in India:

Top Government B.A. Photography Colleges in India With Fees

There are even government colleges in India that offer admission to B.A. Photography degree programmes. The fees of government B.A. Photography colleges are less than those of private colleges. Candidates who wish to apply for government colleges can enroll here.

Candidates get to explore new opportunities in the field of photography as people these days hire professional photographers for every small or large-scale event so B.A. Photography courses are in demand these days.