Photography Emphasis
God loves a good image. He gives us these snapshots everyday. Part of the program at Union is to teach students to recognize these moments and when to click the shutter. In the Photography emphasis, we look at the history and contemporary trends of the medium. We discover new and old processes to find where they meet our professional practice.
Union's Photography emphasis is ranked second in the Nation in Christian Art Programs from Study.com. The photography emphasis at Union, situates it's teaching model in the historical practice of the medium — film & darkroom, as well as, digital photography. Students learn alternative processing techniques alongside studio lighting, professional skills and conceptual development. The students create works that move seamlessly from gallery walls to magazines learning the techniques and equipment needed to keep up with this ever changing medium.
Student Outcomes Curriculum Student Work
Jobs in Photography
- Multimedia Specialist
- Magazine and Publications
- Promotion for Company
- Commercial Art Gallery Artist
- Real Estate Photography
- Wildlife Photographer
- Wedding Photographer
- Travel Photographer
- Stock Photographer
- Theatre Photography
- Advertising Agency
- Editorial Photographer
- Community Arts Worker
- Marketing Agency
- Food & Lifestyle Photographer
- Business Owner
- Photo Technician
- Content Producer
- Portrait Photographer
- Fashion Photographer
- Studio Manager
- Corporate Photographer
Our Facilities
Students are equipped with 24-hour access to a darkroom, printing lab and lighting studio on campus. The "photo house" lab (as we love to call it) is a former house that has been converted to our classroom and studio space. Students have the ability to explore and develop their own conceptual bodies of work as well as create a professional portfolio that is ready for the wedding, family or next special moment that might need to be captured by their camera. Our graduates are ready to take on the challenge of being a photographer in a world that loves constant visuals.
So much of my learning and
imagination has been formed by
the ways I was able to connect to
other forms of art and philosophy,
and that was made possible by
professors who took the time to
connect dots to experiences outside
of their own classes. Those are often
the moments that I look back on as
the most inspiring and exciting for
me as an artist.
The photo program at Union laid such a solid foundation for me as I launched my photography business after graduating. Photography has always been a passion, but I didn't realize the fulfillment it could bring me or the career path opportunities I had until I joined the photo program. I gained so much appreciation for the art and experience learning the tools, and I'm so thankful for the one-on-one, hands-on approach to education I was given.
I never truly understood my manual camera settings until I went through Union art department's photography classes. I believe everyone should start their photography journey by learning how to use a manual film camera and make their own prints in the dark room. You can truly understand what buttons and settings on a digital camera mean. As you get in more advanced classes, it's not just all about how to use your camera. I learned how to apply design principles and the elements of art into my photographs and how to make statements in my photos. I'm now a wedding photographer, who stands out in her field because of my art and photography education.