ACTING & FILM SCHOOL

Programs Offered: • MFA in Photography • 8-Week Photography • 12-Week Evening Photography

• 1 Year Photography Program • 4-Week Photography

New York Film Academy Photography School

Photography is an art form, a way of seeing the world, and the most popular hobby on the planet, with a commensurate growth of photography schools and photography programs.

However, while a digital camera may give instant reassurance that an acceptable picture has been made (without the expense and mess of film and chemicals), you've probably already discovered that even the most technologically advanced camera in the world has absolutely no idea how to take a great picture. Technology has not altered the challenge to make a photograph that is the perfect combination of a compelling moment, strong composition, and magical light.

Great art can only come from the vision of an artist who has mastered the broad technical and aesthetic challenges that require every photographer to make a dozen split-second decisions - shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition, focal length, gesture, and the precise moment of exposure, just to name a few - so quickly that the photographer herself isn't consciously aware of them. For that, expert instruction, critical guidance, and consistent, focused practice are an absolute necessity-and this is where photography schools come in.

The NYFA Photography School offers unique, total immersion programs. Instructors are all working professional photographers teaching from fresh experience as well as graduate-level education. Using the latest state of the art equipment and software, students are given comprehensive instruction in the aesthetics, techniques, and business of photography through hands-on, experiential assignments.

Calling on a network of working photographers, editors, publishers, curators, and potential employers, we expose you to the professional world, and prepare you to enter it with the confidence that can only come from firsthand experience. Guest speakers tell you exactly what's happening in the business right now - who's buying what, how much they're paying, who can get your work noticed. Weekly visits to world-class galleries, museums, and the studios of successful working photographers give you an insider's look at what's happening in the world of photography.

"I learned more in eight weeks at NYFA's Photography School than I learned in an entire year at my previous school." R.K. , March 2012 8-week photo student

What makes the NYFA photography school different from other programs?

Our students tell us that it is the exceptional, clear, and practical quality of the instruction, the supportive, no-nonsense environment, the hands-on classes, and the chance to practice every major genre of photography with aesthetic and technical guidance from specialists in some of the most exciting locations in the world. They also mention how working with other students from all over the world is itself a life-changing experience.

One-year and MFA students are handed a brand new Canon or Nikon camera and top-of-the-line lens on their first day of class. A four week immersion in HD digital filmmaking reflects the industry's demand that photographers also have filmmaking skills. Students go to shoot on unforgettable locations on weekly field trips with an expert instructor providing real-time guidance.

Perhaps most importantly, you will leave NYFA not just with a portfolio of spectacular images, technical expertise, sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities, and a firm idea of what kind of photographer you want to be, you'll also know how to make a living. Every assignment you are given in your second semester is treated like a professional job, from bids to licensing agreements, detailed budgets, contracts, pitches, and deliverables. The reality is that professional photographers are entrepreneurs who run their own business, and we tackle that challenge head-on until there are no more unknowns to fear.

Our Philosophy

The working philosophy of the NYFA photography school is simple: we train you to produce consistently excellent work on-demand - work whose unique style and ideas could only have come from you. We give you the tools to achieve your personal vision through photography, but we also make sure that you know how to find the right audience to pay you to do what you love to do, be it art collectors or magazine editors.

Looking for more information? Click on the individual programs for detailed descriptions of courses and programs. We also encourage all prospective students to visit the photography school, sit in on classes, meet the faculty and current students, see for yourself what you'll be doing and what tools you'll be using. If you can't visit one of our locations, we encourage you to contact us and speak directly with our faculty and staff.

You'll also find answers to frequently asked questions in the photography school FAQ. We look forward to helping you make your dreams a reality!