Photography
13 courses · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
PHOT 009 Photography Lab
- Units
- 0.5
- Hours
- 27 Lab
- Corequisite
- Concurrent enrollment in: another photography course
Sign-in/out supervised laboratory. Work on assignments from other photography courses or on independent projects. Completion of new and more advanced assignments each semester. Accumulation of 24 hours earns 0.5 unit. Requires concurrent enrollment in a photography course.
PHOT 150 History of Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
A survey of the history, aesthetics, and technical evolution of photography including an in-depth view of artistic styles and individual photographers' contributions from the 19th century to the present.
PHOT 160 Introduction to Photojournalism
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
- C-ID
- JOUR 160
Explores the photographer as a journalist, focusing on theory and practice in press and publications photography, with emphasis on using the camera as a reporting and communications tool. Stresses news, feature photography, and photographic essays, including composition, impact, and creativity, for newspapers, magazines, internet, and other mass communications media. (Same as JAMS 160).
PHOT 180 Beginning Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Transfers to
- CSU, UC
This course provides a firm foundation in digital photography using manual exposure functions on digital single lens reflex and mirrorless cameras. Professional editing techniques and inkjet printing will be taught according to industry standards.
PHOT 185A Landscape Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course concentrates on landscape photography using available light and industry-level camera techniques. Students will learn to control image quality from camera to computer to printer in a variety of outdoor settings to document manmade and natural environments.
PHOT 185B Intermediate Landscape Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 185A
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course concentrates on contemporary landscape photography using advanced industry-level camera and editing techniques alongside creative processes. Students build on skills from PHOT 185A to craft a more robust landscape photography practice and personally focused portfolio. Instruction in intentional usage of tripods, lenses, gimbals and different lens filters to increase image control options in documenting a variety of environments. Fine inkjet print production at larger sizes using professional paper types.
PHOT 191 Commercial Studio Business Practices
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
Commercial Studio Business Practices instructs students in the industry-level techniques and business practices of commercial studio photographers. Emphasis will be on creating a refined, professional portfolio with a personal voice and an array of business and marketing materials in preparation for client-driven work.
PHOT 194 Digital Workflow
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
This class provides a foundation for professionally selecting, capturing, organizing, processing and printing digital photography files with industry-level tools, from camera to computer to printer.
PHOT 196 Commercial Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers lighting techniques and equipment commonly used by industry level commercial photographers to create client-driven work in a studio and on location. Students will practice different genres of commercial photography such as portrait and product to craft a portfolio communicating a personal vision. Commercial photo editing software for tethering camera to computer will be taught.
PHOT 197 Intermediate Commercial Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 196
- Transfers to
- CSU
Intermediate techniques in commercial photography using available and studio lighting. Further studies in the commercial subject areas of portrait/wedding, architecture, table top/product illustration, stock photography and photojournalism.
PHOT 291 Wedding and Quinceañera Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course presents the fundamental concepts, industry-level equipment requirements, photographic techniques and business practices used by professional wedding, Quinceañera and event photographers. Students will learn to create and edit photographs that thoroughly describe the story of an event through candid and portrait photography coverage.
PHOT 292 Portrait Photography
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course explores the essential components of portrait photography using contemporary, industry-level camera, lighting and image editing techniques. Students will photograph in the studio and on location as they create an intentional portfolio investigating the subject-photographer relationship.
PHOT 294 Color Photographic Expression
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 Lecture, 54 Lab
- Prerequisite
- Completion with a grade of "C" or better or a Passing grade in: PHOT 180
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of color in fine art photography. Course material includes color-focused lectures, interpretive (field) assignments, critiques of color photographic work and engagement with historical and contemporary practitioners. Fine tuning color photographs with professional color correction techniques for print and screen will be taught.