Photography
Photography
Program
The Photography Program at California Baptist University in Riverside, California, explores the practice and theory of photography via technical understandings and methodological explorations of the photography medium as applied to commercial, fine art, and social practice. Through the introduction of narrative, conceptual development, and Christian worldview – students will acquire a unique stylistic aesthetic and photographic voice, leading to a professional portfolio. Best practices, latest technologies, ideation, craft, and business acumen are embedded into the instruction and mentorship – all with the intention of sending graduates out to make an impact for the Kingdom.
Real World Experience
Living and studying within proximity to the major photographic markets of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties, our students are given opportunities to engage with professionals at industry events, attend artist talks, and view contemporary exhibitions. These real-world opportunities will nurture their artistic practice in their future careers.
Degree Offered
By completing 54 units towards a BA in Photography, students will be prepared with the technical skills and creative thought needed to produce professional imagery that is engaged with their intended audience.
Alumni Spotlight
Jacob Gonzalez
jgonzalez.photography
Only after a few years of graduation, Jacob Gonzalez has become a nationally recognized sports photographer with current roles as the LA Clippers Photographer and a photographer for the NFL. Jacob was awarded the 2018 NFL Photo of the Year, and his photo was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Ready to See Differently?
The Photography Program at California Baptist University explores the medium of Photography as applied to commercial, fine art, and social practice.
Whether you are looking to pick up an Elective, add a Minor, or even declare a Major? All that we ask of you is one thing:
See Differently.
B.A. Photography
The Photography major explores the practice and theory of photography via technical understandings and methodological explorations of the photography medium as applied to commercial, fine art, and social practice. Through the introduction of narrative, conceptual development, and Christian worldview – students will acquire a unique stylistic aesthetic and photographic voice leading to a professional portfolio.
General Education Courses
The general education requirements will follow the curriculum set forth for other university programs. Some general education requirements will be met through specific major requirements.
Lower Division Requirements
DES 110 Creativity: Process and Purpose
Units: 3. Offered: Fall, Spring.
This course provides an introduction to creativity through discussion and project-based learning. The course provides overview and practice of creative processes (e.g. ideation, research, empathy, proto-typing, etc), in-depth discussion of the theological foundations for creativity, and practice for developing creative habits.
PHO 105 Digital Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Fall, Spring.
Students will understand, and become comfortable, with the foundational use of the camera by understanding exposure through metering and the relationship between – ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Students will begin to implement foundational design elements through composition, and compression through different lens focal lengths. Students will produce and analyze photographs by employing professional photographic techniques and the introduction of a digital workflow.
PHO 110 Commercial Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course surveys contemporary genres within Commercial Photography. While introducing the practical skills of production and conceptual development, students will work to plan and execute camera-based assignments in the areas of editorial and advertising photography. Prerequisite: PHO 105.
PHO 120 Fine Art Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This introductory course explores the conceptual and expressive principals of Fine Art Photography through lectures, discussions, assignments and field trips. Students will submit their work for critique, refining the theoretical and practical skills needed to create meaningful imagery. Prerequisite: PHO 105.
PHO 140 History of Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Fall, Spring.
This course follows movements and themes in the history of photography from its inception at the turn of the 19th century to today. In this class, students will identify key works and discuss their significance in a historical context. On a more theoretical level, photography will be observed as cultural production that shapes personal and political ideology. Photographic examples will be presented from photojournalism, documentary, fine art, advertising, fashion and academia to more vernacular uses in everyday life. Through readings, discussions and assignments students will build the visual literacy needed to experience, understand and analyze images.
PHO 250 Post-Production
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
Through this course, students will develop the technical foundation needed to process and retouch images with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Students will build a professional workflow utilizing digital asset management, image selection, and global adjustments with non-destructive methods. Further pixel adjustments will be made within Photoshop for advanced retouching.
Upper Division Requirements
DES 310 Creativity: Collaboration and Context
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course builds on a foundational understanding of creativity’s process and purpose. The aim of the course is for students to apply these foundations to the act of completing interdisciplinary creative projects in context. Prerequisite: DES 110.
PHO 310 Process and Practice
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
This course further explores the medium of photography specific to commercial, fine art, and social practice. Students will begin focusing on a body of work specific to their genre of photography. Further refinement through technical demonstrations and critique will allow students to begin to define an artistic style that is viable within their intended marketplace. Pre-Requisite: PHO 350.
PHO 330 Visual Storytelling
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course integrates a conceptual framework and narrative structure into the photographic process. Utilizing color, design and visual communication skills to evoke emotion, students will learn how narrative shapes messaging. The course supports students involved in a wide range of photographic disciplines where visual storytelling is critical to a work’s reception. Pre-Requisite: PHO 310
PHO 332 Studio Lighting
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
This course will implement a practical workflow within a controlled space, utilizing the tools and techniques of studio photographers. Students will gain an understanding of light quality and how it relates to ideas, and the emotional depiction of a subject. Students will understand how to craft their lighting to the specific subject they are photographing. Labs will be hands-on, integrating professional studio practices for digital capture and utilizing industry-wide workflow standards related to the latest software and hardware. Pre-Requisite: PHO 105
PHO 350 Digital Printing and Color Management
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course presents students with the digital workflow techniques needed to produce archival photographs. File preparation, resolution selection, print-profiling, paper selection and soft-proofing techniques will be covered. Students will learn the techniques of digital color management by applying color profiles to produce archival prints for the purpose of promotional, gallery, and printed portfolios. Pre-Requisite: PHO 250 or GDM 235
PHO 400 Special Topics in Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
This course focuses on different topics in the field of photography each time it is offered. May be repeated three times for credit with change in topic. Pre-Req: PHO 350
PHO 415 Context and Narrative
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
Students will apply their knowledge of photographic processes and visual storytelling to the development of a cohesive and professional body of work as their authentic voice. Emphasis is on advanced level conceptual development, contextual research, image making, and critique. Resulting in an approved proposal allowing them to proceed with their senior project.. Pre-requisits: PHO310.
PHO 432 Location Lighting
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
Students will be able to approach locations efficiently to determine what artificial lighting methods to introduce, to create technically refined photographs. While also introducing these techniques creatively to further demonstrate mastery of photography through the use of location lighting. Prerequisite: PHO 332.
PHO 433 Studio Practice
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course will address project cohesiveness, work quality, concept and process through critique and feedback. Students will apply all skills and theory learned to further define a contextual response to their photographic narrative. Students will demonstrate a detailed understanding of the photographic process including research, concept, design and documentation in preparation for their final presentation. Prerequisite: PHO 415
PHO 450 Digital Asset Management
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
Students will curate, control, and communicate their photographic library by gathering and assembling current assets in one collaborative location. Establishing digital workflow best practices for the entire asset life cycle, by integrating their image library with other applications and services. Pr-Requisite: PHO 350
PHO 485 Photography Business
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
Students will understand and develop the principles of running a successful photography business. With a hands on practical approach in relationship to; self promotion, marketing, accounting, copyright, permitting, contracts, artist representation, and the procurement of work. Prerequisite: PHO 415
PHO 499 Portfolio and Gallery
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
Students will apply the skills necessary for the professional presentation of a completed body of work including editing, sequencing, printing, marketing, portfolio design, and gallery presentation. Prerequisite: PHO 433
Student Learning Outcomes
Photography Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
- Students will define a unique stylistic aesthetic while demonstrating elements of visual storytelling through narrative, concept, design, and Christian worldview.
- Students through the critique process, will be able to articulate key formal and conceptual issues in photographic work using language specific to their field.
- Students will be proficient in studio and location lighting, utilizing tools current in the photography industry.
- Students will demonstrate a professional digital workflow; from capture, to post-production, to digital delivery and print output.
- Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of business practices and industry standards relevant to their concentration.
Photography Minor
The Photography minor allows students majoring in another degree path to become introduced and practiced in the fundamental skills and processes within photography. Students are required to complete 24 units as listed below.
Lower Division Requirements
PHO 105 Digital Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Fall, Spring.
Students will understand, and become comfortable, with the foundational use of the camera by understanding exposure through metering and the relationship between – ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed. Students will begin to implement foundational design elements through composition, and compression through different lens focal lengths. Students will produce and analyze photographs by employing professional photographic techniques and the introduction of a digital workflow.
PHO 140 History of Photography
Units: 3. Offered: Fall, Spring.
This course follows movements and themes in the history of photography from its inception at the turn of the 19th century to today. In this class, students will identify key works and discuss their significance in a historical context. On a more theoretical level, photography will be observed as cultural production that shapes personal and political ideology. Photographic examples will be presented from photojournalism, documentary, fine art, advertising, fashion and academia to more vernacular uses in everyday life. Through readings, discussions and assignments students will build the visual literacy needed to experience, understand and analyze images.
PHO 250 Post-Production
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
Through this course, students will develop the technical foundation needed to process and retouch images with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Students will build a professional workflow utilizing digital asset management, image selection, and global adjustments with non-destructive methods. Further pixel adjustments will be made within Photoshop for advanced retouching.
Upper Division Requirements
PHO 310 Process and Practice
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
This course further explores the medium of photography specific to commercial, fine art, and social practice. Students will begin focusing on a body of work specific to their genre of photography. Further refinement through technical demonstrations and critique will allow students to begin to define an artistic style that is viable within their intended marketplace. Pre-Requisite: PHO 350.
PHO 330 Visual Storytelling
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course integrates a conceptual framework and narrative structure into the photographic process. Utilizing color, design and visual communication skills to evoke emotion, students will learn how narrative shapes messaging. The course supports students involved in a wide range of photographic disciplines where visual storytelling is critical to a work’s reception. Pre-Requisite: PHO 310
PHO 332 Studio Lighting
Units: 3. Offered: Spring.
This course will implement a practical workflow within a controlled space, utilizing the tools and techniques of studio photographers. Students will gain an understanding of light quality and how it relates to ideas, and the emotional depiction of a subject. Students will understand how to craft their lighting to the specific subject they are photographing. Labs will be hands-on, integrating professional studio practices for digital capture and utilizing industry-wide workflow standards related to the latest software and hardware. Pre-Requisite: PHO 105
PHO 350 Digital Printing and Color Management
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
This course presents students with the digital workflow techniques needed to produce archival photographs. File preparation, resolution selection, print-profiling, paper selection and soft-proofing techniques will be covered. Students will learn the techniques of digital color management by applying color profiles to produce archival prints for the purpose of promotional, gallery, and printed portfolios. Pre-Requisite: PHO 250 or GDM 235
PHO 432 Location Lighting
Units: 3. Offered: Fall.
Students will be able to approach locations efficiently to determine what artificial lighting methods to introduce, to create technically refined photographs. While also introducing these techniques creatively to further demonstrate mastery of photography through the use of location lighting. Prerequisite: PHO 332.
Career Opportunities
Follow us on LinkedIn, CBU Photography, we receive job postings daily from recruiters seeking to place top-level candidates with photography and design degrees with companies nationwide.
Clients are now going in-house. The opportunity to secure a job is now more possible than ever because of the shift from agency to client direct work, and the reclassification of the freelancer to an employee. Historically, these positions have been limited to the major advertising markets and to the contracting of freelancers.
Studies in Photography can lead to a variety of roles within the Photography Industry.
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Photo / Lighting Assistant
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Digital Technician
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Digital Asset Manager
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Photo Retoucher
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Photo Producer
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Location Scout
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Studio / Location Manager
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Photography Manager / Agent
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Photo Researcher
- Photo Editor
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Art Buyer
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Curator
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Gallery Manager
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Editorial Photographer
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Ecommerce / Catalog / Studio Photographer
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Commercial Advertising Photographer
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Wedding & Portrait Photographer
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Fine Art Photographer
Industry Recognition
Students continue to be recognized by the industry for their photographic works. Nationally by; Communication Arts, American Photography, and the American Photographic Artists. And internationally by the Lucie Foundation’s International Photography Awards.
Award-Winning
2023 International Photography Awards – Official Selection
2023 American Photography 39
2023 Communication Arts Photography Annual 64
2023 Communication Arts Photography Shortlist
2022 Untitled Show – APA San Diego
2022 International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention
2022 Communication Arts Photography Annual 63
2022 Communication Arts Photography Shortlist
2022 American Photography 38
2022 Communication Arts Student Showcase
2021 Untitled Show – APA San Diego
2021 International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention
2021 Communication Arts Photography Shortlist
2021 American Photography 37
Student Work
Faculty
Real World Engagement
Classrooms are integral but they are a place to stagnate. Whether it is a mountain shoot, internship, studio tour, desert shoot, pool shoot, field trip, speaking engagement or just fellowship, we build a community of designers that connect on campus and off. Our students learn to understand the power of their work and grow to direct others — then to change others.
Desert Shoot
The classroom is only the start. Each year, CBU design students arm themselves with cameras and head out to the desert.
Underwater Shoot
Pool. Professional Models. Underwater cameras. Hands-on.
Doing what you do out of school. Doing what the profession does.
On-Location
From the beach to the mountains. Hand-held cameras and drones. CBU students in design learn to apply what they learn in real-life scenarios.
International Service Projects
CBU is committed to fulfilling Jesus’ mandate in the Great Commission “to go and make disciples of all nations.” To this end, CBU believes that God bestows upon every student gifts and passions to accomplish their purpose. To that end, CBU sends out more students worldwide than any other college in the country. For more information see the Office of Mobilization.
