Photography (Editorial and Advertising)

Editorial & Advertising photography is everywhere you look. 

Editorial photography is about creating stories. It’s in magazines, in print or online, it’s content creation for social media, and behind the scenes photography for Films, TV and Brands. 

Advertising photography promotes, sells, raises awareness for brands, products, services, charities and organisations, in print, magazines, posters, sides of buses, and everywhere online, from social media to banner ads. 

You’ll become part of our mutually supportive photography and creative community that works across courses and has a fantastic network of alumni all there to encourage the development of your creative practice. 

Our students create photography and moving image, for editorial and advertising clients from fashion to food, studio to automotive, music to still life, portraits to interiors, so whatever your interests we will help you develop your creativity and learn how to apply this professionally. 

Our graduates become successful freelancers and get jobs in photography and the wider creative industries. 

In the first year, you’ll learn many new photography skills, using our professionally equipped photography studios and on location. You will create moving image and still photography, you will develop skills relevant to your chosen area of photography while discovering the subjects and styles you’re passionate about. 

Year two is about building your skills and creativity. You’ll develop your online website, Instagram etc in preparation for securing work experience matched to your areas of interest. 

With access to our photography equipment store you’ll be able to use everything from high-end medium format digital and film cameras to large format cameras. 

In your final year you’ll create your major project, source your own commission and develop your business know-how. 

You’ll exhibit your work at your end-of-year degree show in Cheltenham and have the opportunity to exhibit in London, which attracts creative employers from across the capital. You’ll learn everything you need to know about setting up as a freelance photographer or working as an employee. 

We have extensive global links with book and magazine publishing houses, galleries, advertising agencies, photography festivals and photographic events. Global brands we’ve worked with include Converse (China), Superdry (UK), Specialized (US) and Lululemon (Canada). 

Placement opportunities have included working at magazines and newspapers such as InStyle, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. Many students get commissions from their placement organisations while studying and move into full-time work with them on graduation.

Students also gain valuable experience meeting and assisting photographers and have previously exhibited work in London, Milan, Paris, New York, London, Shanghai and Vancouver. 

Career opportunities include professional photographer, film maker, videographer and social media content creator. Alternatively, graduates may choose to pursue a career as a photo editor, stylist, image re-toucher or photographic agent.