New Zealand Diploma in Photography (Level 5)
Visual Arts
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
Kickstart your photography journey with a hands-on diploma designed to build your technical, creative, and professional skills. Learn through real projects, develop your own style, and prepare for freelance or entry-level employment in the creative industries.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Dunedin, Dunedin
It will take a total of 1 year
This course requires 37 hours per week
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More detailsUnlock these abilities
Develop technical proficiency in photography
Apply beginner to intermediate camera expertise, lighting techniques, and post-production editing for various photographic genres.
Master analogue and digital photographic processes
Use both digital and traditional analogue processes and tools to create and enhance images.
Understand photographic concepts and history
Investigate and apply historical and contemporary photographic ideas and cultural contexts.
What You're Signing Up For
This NZQA Level 5 diploma develops technical, creative, business, and professional photography skills through practical, client-based projects. You'll study camera and lighting techniques, digital and analogue processes, image analysis, professional workflow, and business skills. Graduates are prepared for entry-level or freelance work or for further study in creative fields.
Course Content
- Photographic Techniques: Camera skills, digital photography, and image enhancement.
- Lighting Techniques: Use and manipulation of lighting in varied photographic genres.
- Analogue Processes: Traditional photographic methods and application to creative briefs.
- Photographic Culture and Concept: Research into historical and contemporary photographic ideas.
- Contemporary Practice: Digital culture, emerging platforms, and professional workflow.
- Client Project: Responding to client briefs and industry-standard practice.
- Narrative Project: Storytelling, planning, production, and publication of photographic projects.
- Professional Practice: Exhibition, curation, and professional proposal writing.
- Business Skills: Budgeting, invoicing, charging, accounting.
- Portfolio Development: Building a body of work for professional presentation.
What you need to know first
Applicants under 20: NCEA Level 2 or equivalent, or an NZQA Level 3/4 qualification in a related field, or demonstration of equivalent knowledge/skills.
Applicants 20 and over: No minimum academic requirement.
Digital portfolio submission (5 examples of photographic work) as PDF.
Phone interview.
English requirements: New Zealand University Entrance OR IELTS 5.5 (no band lower than 5.0) OR acceptable alternative evidence.
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Creative industries
Media
Photography
Future employment opportunities might be
Freelance photographer
Entry-level in-house photography roles
Independent creative practice
Assistant photographer in advertising, fashion, editorial, news media, documentary, sports/events, weddings, portraiture
Post-production editor
Corporate/commercial photographer
Stills or video roles in the film industry
Coming Soon: Nexties Explorer
Our AI-powered Explorer is almost ready. Soon, you’ll be able to build a dynamic profile of your skills, goals, and strengths, and get a curated selection of courses just for you.
More details