Shed some light on professional photography by enrolling in the Diploma of Photoimaging / Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts (Focus on Photography). Our highly experienced industry professionals will teach you both the art and science of photography.
CUA50915 / CUA60715 Diploma of Photography and Photo Imaging / Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts
Shed some light on professional photography by enrolling in the Diploma of Photoimaging / Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts (Focus on Photography). Our highly experienced industry professionals will teach you both the art and science of photography through a combination of intense hands on tuition sessions in our industry-standard commercial studio and digital imaging labs – all equipped with the latest creative imaging software applications.
The Australian Government's Job Outlook service reports the number of people working as photographers grew very strongly over the past five years. Job prospects for qualified photographers are expected to remain strong with around 9,000 job openings anticipated over the next five years.
You’ll develop knowledge in current trends in the rapidly evolving and changing aspects of digital imaging and traditional practice. On top of that you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in key areas including commercial photography, wedding and portrait photography, sports photography, food photography and other emerging specialities. This comprehensive approach means you can experience a variety of photoimaging disciplines before deciding on a major project, where you’ll show off your own signature style. This major project is then presented for your final assessment, and also serves as a valuable marketing tool to further your photographic career. You’ll also get to participate in photography industry excursions, which will give you the opportunity to shoot models in the studio, fashion on the beach and cars on location.
The course is vocationally orientated and provides diverse, professional and exciting outcomes. To increase employment opportunities, our students regularly enter state and national photography competitions. This qualification will provide you with theoretical knowledge base and use a range of specialised and technical competencies to plan, carry out and evaluate photoimaging services – in a range of industry contexts including commercial, domestic portrait, media, wedding, illustrative, institutional and art photography.
The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all 24 units of competency
UNIT CODE | UNIT NAME | |
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BSBCRT601Research and apply concepts and theories of creativityUnit code: BSBCRT601 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to undertake in-depth and broad research into different concepts and theories of creativity, and to apply those to a particular field of endeavour. |
Research and apply concepts and theories of creativity | |
CUAACD601Extend professional expertise with drawing and other visual representation toolsUnit code: CUAACD601 Unit description: This unit describes, skills and knowledge required to extend skills with drawing and other forms of visual representation to develop a personal style suited to the individual's professional practice. |
Extend professional expertise with drawing and other visual representation tools | |
CUAPHI501Apply visual communication theory to photo imaging practiceUnit code: CUAPHI501 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce creative and innovative photo images based on visual communication theory. |
Apply visual communication theory to photo imaging practice | |
CUAPHI502Research and apply photo imaging trendsUnit code: CUAPHI502 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to investigate photo imaging trends and emerging technologies and assess their creative and commercial applications |
Research and apply photo imaging trends | |
CUAPHI513Employ colour management in a digital imaging workplaceUnit code: CUAPHI513 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to manage the integrity of colour across digital imaging devices. |
Employ colour management in a digital imaging workplace | |
CUAPPR505Establish and maintain safe creative practiceUnit code: CUAPPR505 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine and respond effectively to broad and specific safety requirements in a professional practice. |
Establish and maintain safe creative practice | |
CUAPPR601Originate a body of independent creative workUnit code: CUAPPR601 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to independently conceive a coherent body of creative work at a professional level. The unit involves experimenting with ideas to evolve own ideas and approaches, refining and developing concepts and techniques in artistic practice, and planning and managing own creative project through to finished product. It also involves engaging with peers and industry networks in ways that develop and confirm own place as an arts professional. |
Originate a body of independent creative work | |
CUAPPR603Engage in the business of creative practiceUnit code: CUAPPR603 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to approach the business aspects of working as a creative practitioner in a professional manner. |
Engage in the business of creative practice | |
CUAPPR604Publicly present a body of own creative workUnit code: CUAPPR604 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to generate ideas for a public presentation of a coherent body of own professional creative work; then plan and prepare the presentation, including own work; and promote and evaluate it. |
Publicly present a body of own creative work | |
CUARES602Extend cultural research expertiseUnit code: CUARES602 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to extend and refine individual cultural research capability, in the context of own practice and as part of the broader cultural context. |
Extend cultural research expertise |
UNIT CODE | UNIT NAME | |
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CUAACD504Research and apply light and colourUnit code: CUAACD504 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to research and develop own ideas about light and colour for integration into a body of creative work. |
Research and apply light and colour | |
CUAACD512Work with photomedia in creative practiceUnit code: CUAACD512 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work with any type of photomedia professional creative practice. |
Work with photomedia in creative practice | |
CUADIG405Produce innovative digital imagesUnit code: CUADIG405 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to experiment with digital imaging techniques and ideas to develop an individual style or voice. |
Produce innovative digital images | |
CUADIG508Refine digital art techniquesUnit code: CUADIG508 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to refine digital media techniques and to develop own digital art style in a body of creative work. This occurs through a process of research, refinement and evaluation, and encompasses animation, video and sound production. |
Refine digital art techniques | |
CUAIND402Provide freelance servicesUnit code: CUAIND402 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work as an independent operator within the creative arts industry. |
Provide freelance services | |
CUAPHI403Enhance, manipulate and output photo imagesUnit code: CUAPHI403 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to enhance photo images ready for output. This process could be digital or using a wet darkroom. |
Enhance, manipulate and output photo images | |
CUAPHI503Explore the descriptive and emotive nature of photo lightingUnit code: CUAPHI503 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce creative photo images using photo lighting principles |
Explore the descriptive and emotive nature of photo lighting | |
CUAPHI505Produce commercial photo imagesUnit code: CUAPHI505 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce commercial photo images, liaising with clients, art directors and associated professionals. |
Produce commercial photo images | |
CUAPHI506Provide photographic portrait servicesUnit code: CUAPHI506 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce portrait images for personal, family or corporate collections. |
Provide photographic portrait services | |
CUAPHI507Produce media photo imagesUnit code: CUAPHI507 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to produce photo images for media services. |
Produce media photo images | |
CUAPHI511Make illustrative photo images for publication and displayUnit code: CUAPHI511 |
Make illustrative photo images for publication and display | |
CUAPPR502Develop own sustainable professional practiceUnit code: CUAPPR502 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish goals for own professional practice and to determine how one’s practice can be developed in a sustainable way, taking account of all aspects of sustainability – individual, social, environmental and economic. |
Develop own sustainable professional practice | |
CUAPPR503Present a body of own creative workUnit code: CUAPPR503 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use creative, technical and project management skills to produce a professional and innovative presentation of own creative work. |
Present a body of own creative work | |
CUAPPR605Evolve ideas for professional creative workUnit code: CUAPPR605 Unit description: This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop the conceptual aspects of any creative practice, including through the processes of evaluation, critical thinking and research. |
Evolve ideas for professional creative work | |
CUAPPR606Extend expertise in a specialised art form to professional levelUnit code: CUAPPR606 Unit description: This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to extend own expertise in a specialised art form in order to develop a cohesive body of professional work for the public domain. It involves self-directed research and the independent, highly developed use of specialised materials, processes and techniques. |
Extend expertise in a specialised art form to professional level |
Note: For some courses, not all electives are available at all campuses.
Studying on campus is a great way to enjoy the benefits of face-to-face education in a way that is far removed from a typical school. No matter which campus you choose, you know that you will be learning in an adult environment where you will be respected and nurtured. Attend a campus to learn face-to-face with a teacher in one of our learning spaces; such as a classroom, workshop, laboratory or simulated environments, or interact with teachers using real-time video or web conference tools. Learn more
Campus | START DATES
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Duration | WORKLOAD
![]() How much time you will need to commit to successfully complete your course, combining face-to-face and self-directed study and any required placements. |
STUDY MODE
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COST
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South Bank | 25 January 2021 | 1.5 years | Full time 3 days per week | Classroom | Full fee: $22,080 Subsidised: $17,130 Concession: $17,130 |
Courses delivered on campus may have a combination of online and classroom based learning. Students are expected to undertake additional personal study to complete the course requirements.
If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.
Learn more about university pathwaysNo matter what your circumstances, TAFE Queensland has a payment option to suit you. If you are unsure of what's right for you, get in touch. We're here to help.
This may be the full fee for the course, or the student contribution amount if you are eligible for a subsidy or concession.
This is an interest-free personal loan from the Australian Government that provides eligible students access to capped funding to help pay for their studies.
If you have difficulty paying for the full cost of a course upfront, you may be eligible for a payment plan.
To enter this qualification, individuals must have the conceptual, technical and organisational skills to use of a range of professional digital and/or film cameras and accessories to produce a folio of photo imaging work that demonstrates the ability to respond effectively to different photo imaging challenges and requirements.
Skills and knowledge may have been acquired through experience, or through formal study.
Domestic and International Students
Entry into this course is via an application process that includes submission of a portfolio of photographic work with an outline of the following:
A Portfolio is to be submitted upon application. In approximately 250 words explain why you want to be a photographer and what your expectations of the course are. Your folio should demonstrate your skill in communicating and composing images with a camera. It is acceptable for the images to be processed and printed commercially. Please indicate if the work has been processed and printed by you.Include 10-15 black and white or colour images.
There are 5 set and 10 optional topics.
Set topics:
1. A character portrait of a family member or friend.
2. A landscape or architectural image.
3. An advertising image that would be used to sell a product.
4. An abstract design /composition.
5. A self-portrait / self -image.
Please identify each set topic, plus 5 - 10 photographic images of your choice. Submit your portfolio in an A4 folder with plastic sleeves if possible otherwise electronic copies are acceptable.
Please note: An interview may be required if not enough evidence is provided.
International Students
The following Selection criteria requirements apply only to International Students:
English Language Proficiency: Academic IELTS 5.5 (no individual band less than 5.0) or ISLPR 2+ on all skills or other - view a list of all English Language tests accepted by TAFE Queensland International
Academic Requirements: Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent). Non school-leavers must have relevant work experience or qualification that indicates likely success of course completion. View more information on the international education achievement levels equivalent to Year 10 and 12.
Students should be a minimum of 18 years of age. Student visa applicants under the age of 18 will be accepted where they demonstrate that they will be accompanied by a parent, legal custodian or a suitable relative who is aged 21 or over. This arrangement requires the approval of the Department of Home Affairs. For more information visit Department of Home Affairs - Welfare Requirements for Student Visa Applicants under 18.
Cameras: Access to or having your own Digital SLR camera is highly advisable. A Digital SLR will be essential as you progress through the course. The market for technology changes rapidly and current recommendations and options will be discussed at your orientation session
Software: Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard image editing application. Photoimaging Students can buy this professional software at reduced prices (subject to availability). Further information will be supplied at orientation.
Computer: A PC or Mac computer capable of running Adobe Photoshop. Further details and options will be discussed at orientation.
You should also allow approximately $250 extra per semester for expenses such as photographic paper and prints, folio presentations and other miscellaneous items. These items will be essential in presenting your work in a professional manner consistent with current industry standards.
"Book a tour"
There is an opportunity to receive a great insight into our program and studio facilities by arranging a tour directly with our Centre for Creative and Digital. During the tour you will be able to meet the teaching team and ask any questions you may have about the program. It is also an excellent opportunity to meet our current Diploma students and see some of their very creative work in progress. To arrange a tour please email our Centre for Creative and Digital at DeliverySupportCentreCreativeandDigital.EastCoast@tafe.qld.edu.au
Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at TAFE Queensland, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning. Read more about assessment methods.
Disclaimer
All information was accurate at time of publication, however TAFE policies, tuition fees and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.
If you're ready to get started, simply hit the Apply Now button on your preferred course information page and get your application underway online.
You can apply to study this course through the Queensland Tertiary Admission Centre (QTAC). You will need to submit your application on the QTAC website. It will be assessed, and if you are successful you will receive an offer directly through QTAC. You will need to accept your offer from QTAC before enrolling with TAFE Queensland.
Fast track your way to a formal qualification by earning credit for the things you already know. Getting recognition for the skills you've gained from the workplace or previous learning means less study time for you, and getting the paper to prove you're qualified a whole lot sooner. We can assess your skills, directly apply credits from previous successful study, and give you advanced standing in your course.
If you have read and understood the student rules, refund policy, understand your fees and payment options, have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and checked you meet the entry requirements and selection criteria for this course, you're ready to get started.
If you want to go on to further study at university, TAFE Queensland has a pathway option to get you there. In many cases, completing one of our diplomas may give you a full year of credit towards a degree with one of our partner universities.
Learn more about university pathways