Advanced Photography Practices

The Advanced Photography Practices Certificate offers intermediate and advanced photographers the supportive environment and professional framework for developing and publishing a long-term personal project. This flexible program can be completed in its entirety online yet also offers a variety of in person classes as well.

Leading local, national, and international practitioners guide students through identifying meaningful concepts and stories, adopting and applying professional methodologies, strengthening their visual storytelling skills, and synthesizing the essence of their work. Presentations, contemporary readings, and class discussions enable participants to dive into the artistic discourse that is essential for refinement of their projects and practices. Students are expected to complete assignments and participate in group critiques as they translate their ideas, passion, and artistic vision into powerful, personal bodies of work.

Topics include:

Artistic practices in various genres, ethical and social considerations, developing concepts and story ideas, conducting and applying research, matching artistic vision with visual storytelling, authentic and thought-provoking image-making, editing & sequencing, fine art printing, photobook design & publishing, and professional best practices.

Objectives & Outcomes:

Identify purposeful ideas while exploring your creative interests
Establish the conceptual and artistic framework of your project
Acquire and apply essential contemporary visual storytelling skills and approaches
Create an original, cohesive, and meaningful body of work
Prepare your project for potential contest submissions, publications, and exhibitions
Develop your portfolio, artistic background, and personal vision

Special Benefits

The Advanced Photography Practices Certificate Program offers the following special benefits:

15% discount on 4-6 classes included in the program
15% discount on Private Lessons (saving $19 per hour)
15% discount on Portfolio Reviews (saving $19 per hour)
15% discount on Mentorship Programs
Membership upgrade from Individual to Individual+ level (worth $40)
Extra Digital Lab (12 hours) or Lighting Studio (4 hours) coupons (worth $120)
Personal guidance from the Education department throughout the program
Free participation in exclusive online Student Critique Groups
Introduction Benefit: Free portfolio consultation at the end of the program (worth $125) focused on professional opportunities
Potential to be highlighted on HCP newsletters and/or HCP Instagram account
Official HCP Digital Advanced Photography Practices Certificate

Your total savings will range between $546 and over $1235 depending on the courses you choose, whether you decide to expand your Certificate Program (see Program Structure), and whether you enroll in a Mentorship Program (coming up later this year).

Program Structure

The Advanced Photography Practices Certificate Program includes 3 stages and requires the completion of at least 4 courses during a period of up to 1.5 years (18 months). Students can choose to expand their program and add 1-2 additional courses at the program’s special discounted rate (earning extra savings). Please review carefully the courses in each stage, important notes, and program’s prerequisites below.

Stage I focuses on introducing students to their preferred photographic genre, discussing fundamental subjects related to this genre, and reviewing concepts/ideas for potential personal projects students will develop through the program. Students must complete at least one 5-week course from any of the categories below:
Documentary Photography
- The Poetics of Documentary Photography (Tom Griggs)
- The Photographer as a Storyteller (Danielle Villasana)
- Introduction to Documentary Photography (Natan Dvir)
- Introduction to Visual Journalism and Storytelling (Raquel Natalicchio)
- Finding Beauty in the Mundane: Documentary Family Photography (Marvi Lacar)
Portrait Photography
- Self-Portraiture: Creating Narrative Through Identity (Gabi Magaly)
- Contemporary Non-traditional Portraiture (Karen Navarro)
- The Conceptual Portrait (Anthony Francis)
Fine Art
- Know Thyself: Perspectives in Art-making (Lisa Volpe)
- Mining Your Archive: Identifying Personal Series (Violette Bule)
- Discovering Your Photographic Voice: From Themes to Concepts (Stephan Hillerbrand)
- Contemporary Reinterpretations of the Family Photo Album (Kelly Lee Webeck)
Upcoming Stage I Courses
Stage II provides students with an environment to develop their personal projects under the guidance and support of their instructors and peers. Various advanced techniques and practices will be reviewed and practiced. Students must complete at least two of the following 8-10 week courses:
- Visual Authorship: When Concept Meets Form (Sanne De Wilde)
- Finding your Voice: Developing a Personal Project (Marvi Lacar)
- The Photo Essay: Creating Personal Projects (Natan Dvir)
- Developing Documentary Projects (Tom Griggs)
- Fine Art Projects & Portfolio (Violette Bule)
Upcoming Stage II Courses
Stage III offers students a variety of courses designed to further advance their personal project and help lead it toward completion. Students must complete at least one course from any of the following categories:
In-Progress Projects
- Advanced Photo Critique and Professional Practices (Natan Dvir)
- Sharpening Your Visual Language Through Editing (Danielle Villasana)
- Editing & Sequencing: Highlighting Your Best Pictures (Natan Dvir)
- Fine Art Printing (Mark Chen or Laura Burlton)
Finalizing Projects
- Photobook Design and Publishing (Alexa Becker)
- Publishing Your Photobook: The Photographer's Guide (Sanne De Wilde)
Upcoming Stage III Courses
In addition to courses included in this Certificate Program, students may enroll in up to two professional practices courses from this list at the program’s discounted rate (Expansion Courses may not be credited toward certification):
- Introduction to Video for Photographers (Stephen Hillerbrand)
- Receiving Exposure in the Art World (Wiktoria Michałkiewicz)
- Claiming Visibility: Marketing Your Photobook (Alexa Becker)
- How to Succeed in Photography (Natan Dvir)
- The Business of Photography (Joe Aker)
Upcoming Expansion Courses
- A different selection of courses in the program will be offered each term (not all listed courses will be available). Students will have multiple courses in each stage to choose from.
- Completion of multiple courses in Stage I can not count toward the requirements of other stages in the program.
- Stage III courses can be taken only after successfully completing at least one course in Stage II.
- Registration to this Certificate Program is allowed retroactively after completing one of the courses in Stage I or Stage II.
- Students who started a project can be approved to start their program at Stage II pending a review of their project by the Managing Director of Education. Students starting their program in Stage II need to complete an additional Stage II or Stage III course toward their certificate.
  Clarification: having started a project is not a prerequisite for this program.
- Past courses taken from 2022 onward may be credited toward this certificate pended the student attended at least 70% of classes. No retroactive discounts will be applied.
- All courses (except for Expansion Courses) must be completed within a period of 1.5 years (18 months).
- Students’ decision to expand their program must be made before certification.
- The Advanced Photography Practices Certificate Program is designed for Intermediate and Advanced photographers. Students are expected to be comfortable using their camera equipment and be able to submit their images for review in class.
- Having started a personal project is not a prerequisite for this Certificate Program!
- Students are expected to meet the prerequisites of each course they register for at HCP.
- Students must be Mac OS proficient to use HCP’s Digital Lab Computers.

Tuition & Enrollment

Enrollment in the Advanced Photography Practices Certificate Program is open year-round. To enroll in the program, please submit the application form, include samples of your work, and specify any courses previously completed at HCP that you would like to credit toward the program (see Special Promotion).

Approved applicants will be asked to pay a $250 deposit which will be applied toward the tuition of the last course in their program. Once completing this payment, students will receive their personal discount code and may register for courses at their own pace.

This program’s financial benefits offer at least $546 total savings (see Special Benefits). The overall tuition may vary depending on the specific courses students study as part of their program. The minimal overall tuition is $1704 (instead of $2005).

Please review the Certificate Programs FAQs and Policies pages. Email education@hcponline.org or call 713-529-4755 ext 104 with any questions or requests for personal consultations.

Submit Application

Certification

To receive their Photography Foundation Certificate, students must:

Attend and pass all courses they would like to credit towards their certificate following the program’s structure (excluding Expansion Courses).
Attend a free consultation with the Managing Director of Education during Stage II of the program (special benefit).
Submit an edited and sequenced selection of 10-20 pictures from their project and an artist statement.

All program requirements must be completed within a period of 1.5 years (18 months).
Once ready, please submit a request to receive your certificate.

Request Certificate