Key takeaways
- Fine art photography classes can teach you the art of artistic expression through photography.
- If you want to get into fine art photography, you need to learn technical skills, different photography concepts, and post-processing.
- Fine art photography aims to portray a concept, idea, or thought rather than simply capture visuals.
- Creative Live offers one of the best fine art photography courses.
- You can pursue a degree in fine art photography from the Academy of Art University, Arizona State University, Art Center College of Design, and more.
Digital photography is a vast field encompassing many different sub-fields, including photojournalism, where you document events, product photography, fashion photography, and so on. Fine art photography is a subfield of photography that focuses on creativity and artistic expression. If you want to channel your inner artist through your camera’s lens, this is the field for you.
The United States educational landscape is filled with high-quality educational institutes, several of which offer fine art photography classes for aspiring photographers. In this guide, we discuss what fine art photography entails, list some of the best fine art photography programs out there, and more.
What is fine art photography?
Fine art photography is a genre within photography that focuses purely on artistic expression. Images produced by fine art photographers aim to capture the photographer’s vision, depict ideas, and encourage viewers to tap into their imaginative sides. Unlike other forms of photography, such as product photography, fine art photos are not for commercial purposes.
Here, the photos serve as the medium to demonstrate or further a photographer’s conceptual ideas. Fine art photos depict an artist’s talent and vision and are merely for display. Fine art photographers are not bound by limitations, and they use a variety of techniques and shooting styles to capture and represent their intent and communicate ideas with their audience.
Thus, they can use a variety of styles, such as landscape photography, portrait photography, still life photography, and more. Some key features of fine art photography include:
- The purpose of fine art photography is artistic expression, such as conveying ideas and emotions.
- A photographer’s vision or conceptual focus is more significant than what is being captured as it is the vision that will determine how and how much to capture.
- Fine art photographers use images to invoke thoughts and emotions.
- Technical skills are of the utmost importance in fine art photography.
How to start with fine art photography?
Fine art photography is all about learning to channel your inner artist. Your camera and its lens are just tools for your artistic expression. It is the artistic concept that sets fine art photography apart from other forms where you just click images of a particular physical subject. Here, the subject is the concept, and the visuals are mere vessels of communicating that concept, thought, or idea.
If you want to get into fine art photography, here are a few tips to help you get started right.
Understand the different types of fine art photography
Firstly, but most importantly, you need to understand the difference between expressionistic, impressionistic, realist, and surrealistic photography concepts.
Realistic photography
Unlike other art forms such as painting or writing, a fine art photographer is often bound by the limitations of what is. Their task is to find art within what already exists and is real, which can prove quite challenging as other artists generally start with a blank page or canvas with only their imagination as a guide.
Thus, the realistic photography concept is often best suited for photojournalism and other genres. However, finding art, visuals, and stories within the mundane is a testament to a fine art photographer’s ability, and many do excel in the field.
Surrealistic photography
As the name suggests, the images in surrealistic photography are just surreal. But because we live in the real world, finding surreal images is challenging, and thus, photographers turn to the production of surreal concepts with the help of editing and other techniques. The sky is blue, but if a photographer chooses only to highlight reddish hues in a picture of the sky and title it ‘the sky is burning’, they take a real image and turn it into a surreal one.
Expressionistic photography
Expressionistic photography uses realistic settings to express certain sentiments. Here, the relationship between a concept and the image already exists, and photographers only use editing to highlight it, whereas in surrealistic photography, the editing is the primary tool for building a bridge between the image and the concept. The expressionistic photography concept is somewhat of a middle ground between realistic and surrealistic concepts.
Impressionistic photography
As the name suggests, impressionistic photography is impactful, and its main purpose is to leave a strong impression on the viewer. Here, it is important to remember the distinction between journalistic and fine art photography. Even though real images and moments captured are often the most impactful, they don’t qualify as fine art. Producing fine art images using the impressionistic photography concept generally involves the use of symbolism, contrasting images, different lighting, and so on.
Learn post-processing
Post-processing is incredibly important in fine art photography as it is what helps the photographer tailor the image captured to best represent their vision. It is also what will help you convey moods and set a scene. In fact, as mentioned earlier, fine art photographers often rely on the power of editing to bring their ideas, emotions, and concepts to life. Thus, if you want to be a fine art photographer, you will have to learn the use of editing tools such as Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and more.
Enroll in fine art photography classes.
Fine art photography classes offer the best chance to be able to develop an artistic sense alongside technical skills. Through the program, you will learn how to take a concept and turn it into a creation such as a picture series worthy to be displayed at an art gallery. Fine art photography courses are especially ideal for those who want to pursue the field as a profession.
Comprehensive list of the best fine art photography classes
Here, you will not only find fine art photography courses but also a list of colleges offering a digital photography degree with a fine art concentration. If you are an aspiring fine art photographer, a bachelor’s degree can be the ideal program for you to enroll in. Not only does it present a broader scope of learning, but you can also benefit from industry networking opportunities arranged by the college.
Moreover, programs are generally taught by industry professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and professional experience to the classroom. Plus, you benefit from a plethora of hands-on learning opportunities in the form of projects, assignments, college competitions, internships, and so on.
Arizona State University – Online
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Fine Art program that provides extensive hands-on learning opportunities. The program curriculum is designed to encourage students to create visual experiences. Experienced faculty and qualified peers then offer constructive critiques to help students improve their work. Here, you will learn from a variety of industry leaders through a variety of activities, enabling you to understand the relationship between concept, aesthetic, and technique.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Distance-learning | 64% | 37% | $7,496 in-state
$14,957 out-of-state |
Creative Live
If you don’t want to commit to a four-year bachelor’s program, CreativeLive is a digital learning platform offering one of the best fine art photography courses. It is a fun program where you will undertake a variety of exercises to help you understand the ins and outs of fine art photography. Here, you will learn everything from the development of a concept to the use of tools and techniques used to produce breathtaking visuals. If you are looking for a short-term, learn at your own own pace program, this is a good choice for you.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Distance-learning | N/A | N/A | $199 |
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Art Photography focuses on developing the skills needed for photographic expression. The program prioritizes industry exposure and gaining hands-on work experience. You will benefit from regular visits, guest lectures, events, and talks, all of which will help you develop a diverse range of skills. Here, you will also benefit from paid internships and co-op work opportunities, enabling you to build a portfolio and gain industry exposure.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Rochester, New York | 67% | 67% | $58,324 |
Academy of Art University
Defy the ordinary, create the extraordinary. The university’s tagline says it all! Here, you will learn to channel your inner artist in everything you do. Aspiring fine art photographers can greatly benefit from the curriculum of the Bachelor of Fine Art with a concentration in photography. You can pursue the program either online or on-campus and benefit from the comprehensive program curriculum touching upon every aspect of fine art photography and more.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| San Francisco, California | 100% | 7% | $28,024 |
Art Center College of Design
The Art Center College of Design offers an excellent BFA program with a concentration in photography and imaging. The college offers a very close-knit and personal learning experience, guaranteeing the feel of a one-on-one learning style. Here, you will develop a variety of technical skills, engage in activities designed to broaden your horizons, and learn to stay true to your originality. If you want to pursue fine art photography as a profession, this is a great program for you.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Pasadena, California | 71% | 74% | $51,640 |
Enroll in fine art photography classes right away!
Learning the technicalities is easy. You will learn how to use the camera, camera gear, and post-processing software very early on in your fine art photography courses. However, it may take you years, even a lifetime, before you develop your personal style and learn to honor your originality. Through a formal education, you can significantly speed up the learning process with the help of a well-thought-out curriculum emphasizing practical learning.
Moreover, such college programs place industry networking opportunities at the center of the curriculum, providing students with a wealth of opportunities to build their professional careers. So, if artistic expression is your passion and photography your medium of expression, enroll in fine art photography classes right away!