The MA Commercial Photography course is the perfect springboard for ambitious photographers wishing to become practitioners at the forefront of the industry.
MA Commercial Photography
The course is founded on the assertion that commercial photography is a powerful form of mass communication that potentially connects with an audience of millions. The course offers an exciting combination of art and commerce and comprises of three highly practice-focused units. This is to allow the production of substantial bodies of work that could become an exhibition or publication.
The course is designed for ambitious photography graduates or experienced photographers who wish to develop their knowledge and expertise in order to reach the very top of their field. We look for students with a passion for the subject and who are willing to take risks, and in doing so, push themselves to new heights.
Course Duration
1 year (full-time, 45 weeks)
2 years (part-time, 90 weeks)
Course Leader
Paul Wenham-Clarke – Course Leader
Professor of Photography, FBIPP and AoP Member
Professor Paul Wenham-Clarke has been a professional photographer and educator for over twenty-five years and has won eighteen national and international titles in professional competitions or awards. In 2010 he won an Association of Photographers Gold Award (commissioned documentary category) which is considered to be one of the most prestigious awards in the industry, other recipients include Nadav Kander and Simon Norfolk.
Course Philosophy
What defines it as commercial is that it’s conceived and created with a specific audience in mind, conscious of how meaning is affected by sociopolitical criteria. It can be utilised in a variety of ways: to stimulate commerce; promote new trends; deliver complex narratives; and inform and express opinions. In the process, opportunities arise for creative practitioners working in commercial contexts to produce innovative work.
The MA Commercial Photography course is structured in such a way that learning develops systematically and with an emphasis on the independent learning abilities required for continuing professional development and the advancement of your career.
The course allows you to undertake advanced study in a wide range of areas including advertising, documentary, editorial, fashion and portrait photography. Through originality in the application of contemporary academic research and professional practices to the production of new complex work, you will challenge the accepted conventions of the genres.
By a combined approach of practice, theory and professionalism, the course will provide a challenging and stimulating environment in which you are able to develop your full potential, with the aim of becoming a practitioner at the forefront of the discipline. You will expand your commercial potential by applying genre practices across contexts; for example, the aesthetics of documentary can be applied to advertising, editorial, and fashion outcomes.
The course enables you to develop an in-depth and critically informed understanding of the commercial photography industry. You will engage with key themes in emerging and established critical analyses that underpin each professional genre. This will equip you with the theoretical understanding to progress your practice and effectively articulate your concepts through the production of advanced outcomes to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
You’re encouraged to make industrial links across a broad range of organisations relevant to your chosen professional specialism. Using these links, you will learn to manage and exceed client expectations through the application of your new academic understanding of the production of inventive commercial work.
Studios and Resources
Studying our MA Commercial Photography course means you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and industry-standard equipment. Our studios and resources support all photography practices from analogue through to high-end digital production.
Our photography department is equipped to the highest professional level – there are seven studios and numerous location kits of with Profoto and Broncolor lighting equipment.
The digital camera equipment includes Hasselblad and Phase One as well as numerous high-end 35mm based DSLRs. There are two photography-dedicated, retouching suites all equipped with top-end Apple tower computers all with the latest versions of Adobe Creative Suite software.
We have digital printing in the digital suites to A2 and in addition a 40-inch-wide large format inkjet printer plus an amazing Chromira printing system that prints digital files onto C-type light-sensitive colour paper. This printer is the same type as several of the top London professional photographic laboratories. In addition to all the digital equipment, we have a comprehensive set of analogue facilities.
There are two large B/W darkrooms, one wet and one dry plus c-type darkroom printing and high-end scanning available.
We have numerous film cameras of many types including Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Toyo and even a 10×8 camera.
