PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is the process, activity and art of creating still or moving pictures by recording radiation on sensitive medium. It is a unique and creative medium of self-expression. It is an art which requires both aesthetic sense as well as technical expertise. A hobby which can involve profitability in it by going professional by the talented. Photos are an essential part in both print and electronic media. So this is an area offering great scope for those who have an interest and attributes needed to be a professional.

Media being creative medium in that photography requires more of inherent talent for success than formal training. It is a competitive field with various specializations like portraiture, fashion, advertising photography, journalistic photography, wildlife and outdoor photography, etc. Creating a commercial quality of a photograph requires the skill for choosing and presenting a subject in a way to achieve the maximum effect with the appropriate equipment. One should have a definite know-how of the angle, lighting and the latest equipments and technology to make a name in the field.




An aspirant can start the career as an assistant of a senior or professional photographer, so that he/she can grasp the finer points of photography and specialize in areas such as portrait, commercial and industrial, advertising, scientific, fashion, news, wildlife photography, etc. The other options are to take up jobs with newspapers, magazines, advertising agencies, government agencies, industrial houses or work as free lancers. The government appoints photographers on a regular pay scale to do general photography documentation, for covering day-to-day events, functions and for making photo features and captioning.

Fashion photographers mainly have opportunities with fashion houses, designers, fashion journals and news papers.

Press photographers: are also known as photojournalists. Press photographers supply pictures mainly to the national and local press, and must be versatile with an ability to photograph all kinds of subjects

Feature photography: mainly involves telling a story in pictures and it therefore requires knowledge of the subject. Feature Photographers cover an entire theme or subject with a set of photographs.

Editorial Photographers: normally are involved in the work of magazines and periodicals, nearly always as freelancers. The main task for an editorial photographer involves pictorially illustrating what is written in the article or report.

Commercial/ Industrial photographer: an industrial photographer's main emphasis is on taking pictures for a single company or firm. The main intention is to make the company's factory, machines or products look good.

Portrait / wedding photographers: it is all about taking pictures of individuals or small groups. Portraits have subjects like pets, children, families, weddings, functions and activities of sports and social clubs.Portrait photographers may work for a studio or be self-employed.

Advertising photographs: are being taken by the photographic departments of advertising agencies, by photographic studios, or by freelance photographers. A large number of photographers work on catalogue, while some studios specialize in 'mail order' photography.

Fashion photography: as a career developed recently in India. It is an extremely creative and well paid profession. Most fashion photography is done by specialist studios or freelancers who are commissioned by fashion houses or advertising agencies.

Fine arts photographers:sell their photographs as fine artwork. In addition to technical proficiency the fine arts photographers very much need artistic talent and creativity.

Digital photographer: Photography involves the use of a digital camera. The images are captured on a disk, floppy or directly on to the computer. In conventional methods of photography the images were captured on film which had to be processed and then scanned with the help of a scanner onto the computer for any further changes or effects that the image may need.

Nature and Wildlife Photography: involves mainly shooting the photos of animals, birds, plants and landscapes. While photos of rare species are in great demand, nature photographs are also widely used as pictures for calendars or covers. Romantic sunsets, flowers, trees, lakes and waterfalls, etc, all make interesting subjects for a nature photographer.

Forensic Photography: A crime scene must be photographed from every angle clearly to show detail, with the emphasis on accurately recording the size and distance of objects. They can find employment with law enforcement agencies, police, and legal system and in the investigative services of the government and also private detective agencies.

Freelancing: in these days has become the most popular career choice among photographers. Photographers who want to be self-employed need to have business management skills. They should have good communication, problem solving skills and should be able to work independently. They can do freelancing in any of the above fields.

It is a global phenomenon and an emerging field, which finds its way into a myriad of industrial applications spanning across all areas of science and technology.



Candidates who have cleared the 10+2 exam are eligible for the diploma/certificate courses in photography. There are many students who learn photography along with their college degree, doing a part-time course. Besides the Certificate and Diploma courses in the field, Photography is also offered as an optional subject for a bachelor's degree in Fine arts. Some institutes offer full fledged B.A courses in photography of three year duration.

• Certificate Courses in Photography


• Certificate Course in Advanced Photography


• Certificate Course in Basic Photography


• Certificate Course in Digital Photo Editing


• Certificate Course in Digital Photography


• Certificate Course in Fashion Photography


• Certificate Course in Photo Journalism


• Certificate Course in Photography

Besides the academic requirements, having a background in computers or electronics, related work experience and training is beneficial for making a break in the field.



Photographers can start working as assistants to senior photographers, in which capacity they are paid around Rs. 3,500 - 6,000. Your earnings can go up to 25,000, depending upon the designation and the organisation likewise and maybe more once you have established yourself as a freelancer.

Photography Some of the institutions which are offering courses in photography are listed below. National Institute of Photography (N.I.P.), Mumbai ( Maharashtra )11/2, Ghamat Terrace, 2nd Floor, Above Shagun Hotel, Opp. Dadar(WR) Station Middle Bridge, Synaptic Beat Road, Dada(West) , Mumbai ( Mumbai Dist. ) - 400028 Diploma in Photography Indian Institute for Development in Education and Advanced Studies, Navrangpura( Gujarat ) 207, Akshar Arcade, Opp. Memnagar fire station , Navrangpura ( Ahmedabad Dist. ) - 380009 International School of Photography, New Delhi ( Delhi )C-7/143, Safdarjung Development Area, Hauz Khas , New Delhi ( Delhi ) - 110016 Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad( Andhra Pradesh)Kukatpally , Hyderabad ( Hyderabad Dist. ) – 500085 Diploma in Motion Picture Photography Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata( West Bengal ) E.M. By-Pass Road, PO. Panchasayar , Kolkata ( Kolkata Dist. ) - 700094 Diploma in Professional Photography Academy for Photographic Excellence [APEx], New Delhi ( Delhi )60, Basant Lok Community Centre, Vasant Vihar , New Delhi ( Delhi ) - 110057 Ambitions 4 Photography Academy, Chennai ( Tamil Nadu ) 21/2 (Old No.6/2), T.T.K First Cross Street, Sriram Nagar, Alwarpet , Chennai ( Chennai Dist. ) - 600018 Fortune Institute of Communication and Television, New Delhi G-17-D, South Extension, Part-II, New Delhi (Delhi) - 110049 Sri Eurobond Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi( Delhi ) Sri Eurobond Society, New Mehrauli Road, Adchini , New Delhi ( Delhi ) – 110017

•  Raghubir Singh is one amongst the finest documentary photographers of the twentieth century.. It was in his college days that Raghubir took to the choices of photography. Later, this talented photographer clicked for Life, The New York Times and even for some British publications. He was been awarded Padma Shri in 1983 and was also the proud winner of Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh Award.

•  Anish Bhaseen -An ace Indian photographer who had excelled in almost all the genres of photography, Anish Bhaseen is the most astonishing personality in the world of photography. His photographs have been not only admired in India but have even have been given world recognition and are widely acclaimed in UK, USA and Canada.

•  Anand Sharan is one of the leading photographers in India. He has made his presence felt strongly in the world forum in the year 2006, when his work was commended by the famous Saatchi Gallery in London. The Gallery today exhibits the photographs of this great artist.

•  Vikram Bawa is fondly known as the 'Master of Gimmicks', Vikram Bawa is an internationally acclaimed and regconised as the renowned Indian fashion and landscape photographer. He is the first photographer from the Asian-subcontinent to venture into three-dimensional photography. His photographs speak a story of their own and flaunt an astounding quality, clarity and crispness.