(Photography Professional Practice and Academic Portfolio Course)

Kathryn Faulkner

The Photography Portfolio Course will enhance your knowledge of photography from an informed beginners perspective, through the understanding of photographic history, the development of professional processes and skills and the building of an original and personally tailored photography portfolio. This course focuses on the practical applications of photography to best achieve your goals.

The course aims to serve the needs and ambitions of three main student groups:

• Those seeking to build a portfolio for application to BA Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, BA Photography at LCC or Camberwell or elsewhere
• Those seeking to build a portfolio for application to MA Photography at Central Saint Martins, LCC or elsewhere
• Professionals seeking to renew their creativity through personal projects, new processes and produce a fresh portfolio with a distinctive London edge.

The course assists you in realising your goals through common assignments, lectures, workshops, demonstrations, visits, peer group and individual tuition.

Structure
Photography Professional Practice and Academic Portfolio Course is a full-time course providing one days tuition per week. You are expected to work on your projects outside class time and allow 15 hours a week for this work. These terms are taught on a progressive basis, providing the opportunity to study for up to 9 months. You are recommended to take both terms, but this is not essential as you can apply to join the course at two points during the academic year:

Autumn Term / October course start: If you are accepted onto this course starting in October then the tutor thinks you have the potential to build a portfolio within three months to be in a position to apply in January to the BA or MA courses or enter professional practice. Your study will therefore be mainly project based.

Spring Term / February course start: If you are accepted on to this course starting in February, (like the majority of applicants), then you will complete a full academic year of study, ending in January the following year. The first part of the year-long programme is taught progressively with practical and technical skills being covered between February and June. These skills will then be applied to the projects that will form the bulk of your portfolio in the second part of the programme, between October and January, so that you then in a strong position to apply for the BA or MA courses or attain a higher level of professional practice.

Curriculum
Subjects covered on the course include: History of Photography, Studio skills, Analogue Darkroom skills, SLR, Medium and Large Format cameras, Alternative Processes, Digital workflow, printing, scanning and colour management. These topics are taught by means of workshops, lectures, demonstrations, visits and individual tuition.

Certification
An assessment of work will take place for those who successfully complete both courses, and a certificate of attendance will be granted to all students who attend 80% or more.

Entry Requirements
In order to benefit fully from this course you should be at least 18 years old and have some form of education or work experience related to art and design. Previous photography experience is necessary as you'll need to show a range of work at the application stage but a deep commitment to the subject and the course is essential for success. You must be proficient in English, both the spoken and written word, to IELTS level 5 or equivalent

Kathryn Faulkner has taught on the former Postgraduate Photography Course at Central Saint Martins for the last 12 years. The Photography Portfolio Course tutors are drawn from the same former Post Graduate Certificate in Photography course. They are experienced at teaching students from all over the world and therefore they understand the needs of international students.

Dates:
Course 1: 03/10/2011 – 07/12/2011 and 11/01/2012 - 01/02/2012 (14 weeks in total)
Course 2: 08/02/2012 – 14/03/2012 and 18/04/2012 - 20/06/2012 (16 weeks in total)

Day of the week: Wednesdays

Time: 09.30-17.00

Duration: 14 or 16 weeks

Cost: Course 1: (October start): £3,500, Course 2 (February start): £4,000 

Location: Kings Cross

Download the Full-Time-Portfolio-Preparation-Application-Form  [PDF, 52 KB]

Photography Professional & Academic Portfolio