Photography

Photography is both a technical discipline and a creative one, requiring mastery of the tools of image-making alongside the aesthetic judgement, conceptual thinking and professional practice that distinguish serious photographic work from casual picture-taking. The contemporary photographic landscape is extraordinarily diverse, encompassing documentary and photojournalism, fashion and commercial photography, fine art practice, heritage and archival work, editorial illustration and the image-making that drives advertising and brand communication. At Arts University Plymouth this three-year programme specialises in the creative and professional possibilities of lens-based image-making across the creative industries.

You will develop your practical skills in camera technique, lighting, studio work, digital post-production and visual storytelling alongside a critical understanding of the history, theory and culture of photography. The programme has particular emphasis on fashion, editorial, heritage and culture, and commercial production, giving you depth in the areas of practice most relevant to the creative industries while also developing the conceptual versatility to move between different professional contexts. A sandwich year and work placements are built into the programme, providing substantial professional experience in a photographic or creative industry setting before you graduate.

The arts university environment, with its creative community of students working across disciplines, provides a rich context for collaborative and experimental work.

Graduates work as photographers and visual communicators across fashion, editorial and advertising, documentary and photojournalism, portraiture, commercial and product photography, and arts-based practice. The skills you develop are also relevant to broader roles in visual content production, art direction, image research and photo editing for media organisations, publishing and digital platforms. Many graduates work across several of these areas, building portfolio careers that combine commissioned commercial work with personal projects.

Some go on to postgraduate study in photography, visual arts or related disciplines, deepening their practice or developing a research dimension to their work.