PHO 360: Project Management and Workflow
Define your portfolio goals and enhance your professional workflow
What kind of photographer do you want to be? Are you interested in developing Commercial, Documentary/Editorial and/or Fine Art photography? In collaboration with your faculty mentor you will review and analyze your current portfolio and workflow strategies, identify the type of work you want to create, develop your customized academic plan that will serve as a roadmap for the remainder of your Bachelor’s degree program, and expand your depth of experience with photographic project workflow components such as budgeting, estimating, scouting, shooting, processing, file management, and delivering client-based or exhibition ready work. This multi-faceted course has been provided as an opportunity for you to define your creative path with an emphasis upon academic and professional success.
About This Course
Project-Based Learning
In the first few weeks of this class, we will focus on assessing your career and portfolio goals. We will develop a customized education plan to enable you to get the most out of your program. On the creative side, you will complete three distinct projects that will assist you in creating a professional workflow for all aspects of your photoshoots. The projects will be an opportunity to explore each stage of the creative workflow mapped out in the lecture.
What Skills Will I Develop?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Examine your photographic portfolio to identify areas of opportunity to enhance existing work as well as a develop a plan to create additional pieces aligned with your career and creative goals.
- Research and examine the work and portfolios of recognized photographers/artists who are working within your creative industry or professional paths aligned with your goals.
- Effectively conceptualize and produce images based upon research and by applying your professional workflow that could be utilized when producing commercial and/or fine art work.
- Professionally present research and creative work in alignment with the course content, assignment criteria, and presentation guidelines.
- Begin the process of preparing for the upcoming internship course by developing a list of potential employers and/or clients to work with and contact.
- Actively participate in class discussions/meetings, constructively assess the work of your peers, and enhance your creative work based upon feedback.
- Where applicable, demonstrate effective and efficient use of your camera and create photographs with careful consideration of lighting, color, exposure, composition, art/design principles, and point of view in alignment with the course content and assignment criteria.
- Where applicable, apply and demonstrate technically proficient retouching, careful consideration of contrast, cropping, exposure, and color correction techniques to improve or enhance photographic images to a professional level utilizing appropriate software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
What Software and Supplies Do I Need?
- A computer with Internet connection (56 Kbps modem or faster).
- Digital camera required, adjustable ISO and adjustable white balance features recommended.
- Adobe Lightroom Classic or equivalent program.
- Basic experience in the software package needed for this course.
Course Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Felicia Kieselhorst
Felicia Kieselhorst is freelance photographer with her own business based in Oakland, CA. Felicia specializes in wedding and product photography, and works in digital and film photography, using primarily Nikon, Hasselblad, and an array of toy cameras.
Course Outline
Assessing Your Portfolio and Career Goals
Let's discuss how we will use this course to assess your portfolio, identify your career goals, create your educational plan, and prepare for your internship.
Reverse Engineer a Photoshoot
Let's self-critique and assess a photoshoot that could use improvement. We'll evaluate your process from start to finish…shoot planning, photography workflow, lighting/technical, professionalism, post-processing, after the shoot. Where are your weak points? What is holding you back from being able to jump into this as a career?
Steps to the Sale
Let's explore all the key aspects before a shoot: client management and rapport, proposals, treatments, setting your price, client communications, brochures/packages.
Professional Delivery
Let's practice efficient post-processing for full-time schedules, professional delivery practices, copyright, and dive more deeply into what is considered a professional aesthetic.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do The Courses Work?
Our courses are project-based and instructor-led. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures, projects, discussions, and critiques designed to stretch your creative skills. Weekly assignment deadlines keep you on track, so you can build your studies around your schedule. Two live Zoom meetings in this course provide the opportunity to work 1to1 with your instructor.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our industry-leading faculty of creative professionals. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work. View our Student Gallery for featured student projects.
When Can I Start?
Classes start January, April, and August, and this course is completed in a 15-week term. This course is part of a Bachelor's Degree program at Sessions College.
How Do I Register?
To register for a program, complete our program application. This course is not available for individual enrollment; it can only be taken as part of a program.
Is Sessions College Accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).