Mandatory requirements
This program requires you to provide your own photography equipment and materials, including a digital camera with interchangeable lenses (DSLR or mirrorless). Point-and-shoot cameras and mobile phones are not suitable. If you plan to use a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera (MILC), it must be approved by your instructor. Please review the Costs section on each course page within this certificate for the complete equipment list before registering.
Overview
Great photography is more than knowing how to point and click. It’s about developing your unique artistic vision and the skills to tell a visual story. Whether you're an aspiring professional or a photography enthusiast, our Photography Certificate of Completion gives you the knowledge, tools, and techniques to elevate your camera work.
Led by industry experts, this in-person program covers digital camera settings, composition, and digital image processing while giving you the skills to optimize shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for precise exposure. You’ll explore focal length, depth of field, and flash techniques, refine your action and event photography skills, and build a portfolio showcasing your work. Plus, you’ll gain insight into the business of photography and learn how to market yourself to stand out in the industry.
Then, when you are ready to expand your expertise, you can take SAIT’s complementary standalone courses: PHOT 009 Black and White Darkroom Techniques, PHOT 001 Black and White Darkroom Lab Time, and PHOT 119 Intro to Adobe Lightroom.
This program is ideal if you:
- want a strong technical foundation in photography
- seek to control light, exposure, and perspective for different styles
- are ready to build a polished portfolio that reflects your creative vision
- want to produce professional-quality images for personal or commercial use.
Upon successful completion of this program, you’ll be able to:
- apply advanced equipment, exposure, and focus techniques to capture action and event photography effectively
- utilize off-camera flash techniques with wireless triggering methods to enhance lighting and image quality
- plan, develop, and execute a long-form photographic project that aligns with personal artistic vision and industry standards
- implement self-promotion and marketing strategies to create and maintain a professional online or print portfolio.
SAIT has one of the finest darkroom facilities in Western Canada. I've enjoyed working with hundreds of students over many years in our beautiful space. Works created by students in SAIT's darkroom class have been published nationally and internationally.
George Webber
Published photographer, SAIT Instructor
Program outline
To earn this certificate, you must complete the three mandatory courses below. Start with PHOT 021 Photography Foundations 1, then take the remaining courses as listed. Note prerequisites.
Required courses and electives
How to apply for this certificate
Once you have registered for any course offered in this certificate, you will be automatically eligible to complete the certificate. You will have up to three years to complete this program. You may track your progression by signing in to your Continuing Education student account.
Certifications and professional designations
Upon successful completion of all the required courses in this certificate program, you’ll receive an electronically issued SAIT Certificate of Completion and transcript. For each SAIT Micro-credential earned, you'll also receive a shareable digital badge.
If you are interested in our Journalism – Photojournalism diploma, you can receive credit toward the PHOT 216 Visual Journalism 1 course. Contact Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition for more information on this process.
Costs
This program consists of three mandatory courses with varying fees. Please review the individual course pages for this certificate to determine costs and to learn more about additional learning materials, including textbooks.
Financial support
Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants, including the Canada Alberta Productivity Grant.
Careers and opportunities
This certificate develops your technical and creative photography skills, preparing you for work in visual media and content creation. Career paths may include portrait, event or commercial photographer, photo editor, studio assistant, content creator or freelance photography business owner.
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Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.