Higher National Diploma Classroom Based

This introductory lesson welcomes learners to their photography journey, encouraging creativity over expensive equipment. Students receive a clear overview of the course structure and learn how key camera features work, including the shutter button, flash, shooting modes, zoom and where to find these features on a smartphone camera. The lesson explores essential concepts such as focus, movement, depth of field, and panning. It introduces the fundamentals of light, covering natural vs artificial light, light modifiers, colour temperature, white balance, and shadow characteristics. The lesson also encourages students to plan their study time and begins building the foundation for confident photographic practice.

This lesson deepens students' understanding of the professional photography workflow, reinforcing and expanding on the foundational concepts introduced earlier. Learners explore workflows, emphasizing adaptability and key planning decisions. The importance of maintaining a visual diary and using Harvard referencing is introduced, alongside project planning phases: pre-production, production, and post-production. Students examine professional research methods, location scouting techniques, and aspects to consider when planning a photoshoot. Reflection prompts throughout encourage self-assessment and skill development. The lesson concludes with guidance on post-production considerations, including file management, backups, and file formats, helping students build a solid, professional workflow mindset.

This lesson introduces students to the exposure triangle, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, exploring their relationship and common challenges when experimenting with exposure. Learners examine how exposure, focus, and composition work together to achieve technical and creative control across genres. Key compositional principles and rules are explained, alongside an introduction to depth of field through practical examples. The lesson prepares students for their next assignment by discussing photographic genres, including portraiture, photojournalism, and still life. Self-assessment tools include scenario-based MCQs and reflection prompts, encouraging students to evaluate their understanding and build confidence in applying core technical and visual principles.

This lesson explores the "Day in the Life" project as a practical framework for integrating research, technical skills, and creative storytelling. Students learn to plan and execute a coherent visual narrative, exposure control, and focus techniques. The lesson introduces the concept of visual storytelling and highlights the importance of theme and concept development, story structure and narrative planning. Students will also learn how image selection and self-reflection can affect the final project. Emphasis is placed on using this project to develop technical confidence while fostering creativity and personal expression.

This lesson explores photography's rich origins and evolving role across social, technological, economic, political, and geographic contexts. Students examine key movements from Pictorialism and Bauhaus to documentary, modernism, and digital manipulation, and the emergence of diverse genres including portraiture, landscape, photojournalism, and fine art. The lesson explores the history of still life photography and will learn about the importance of Edward Weston's work through a case study. Learners also develop their understanding of formal elements, ethics in representation, colour theory, and core compositional techniques. Interactive multiple-choice questions help consolidate knowledge as students reflect on photography's historical impact and its foundations for contemporary creative practice.

This lesson traces the development of cameras, from early technologies such as the camera obscura, pinhole cameras, and cyanotypes to contemporary digital systems, smartphones, and computational photography. Students examine camera types including DSLR, mirrorless, medium and large format, and instant cameras. Core technical knowledge is developed around camera settings such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO and their relationship in the exposure triangle. The lesson explores camera control through depth of field, focal length, and focus modes. Foundational compositional techniques are revisited, including framing and golden ratio. Interactive multiple-choice questions with visual prompts help students apply technical knowledge in preparation for practical work.

This lesson introduces students to the principles and practice of studio photography, focusing on the controlled use of lighting, backgrounds, and camera settings to achieve professional results. Students learn about key studio equipment, including flash units, continuous lighting, reflectors, diffusers, and light modifiers. Students will learn how and when to apply different lighting techniques and how to work safely and efficiently in a studio environment. The lesson emphasizes creative experimentation and technical precision. Multiple-choice questions with images and video clips help students consolidate learning and prepare for independent studio practice.

Lesson 4 delves into the field of commercial and advertising photography, exploring its history, common styles, and practical applications. Through case studies and lifestyle photography examples, students will examine how commercial imagery communicates ideas and influences audiences. The lesson also introduces essential digital production workflows, including editing in Lightroom, file management, and output for various formats.

This lesson supports students in starting their photography project through an iterative development process. Key topics include defining aims and objectives, understanding audience demographics, identifying competitors, and working within brand, timeline, budget, and regulatory constraints. Students explore research methodologies, including primary, secondary, market, and thematic research, alongside creative ideation techniques such as mind mapping, storyboarding, and mood boards. Emphasis is placed on reflection, critique, and stakeholder input throughout the development cycle.

Lesson 6 focuses on key principles of location and studio photography, exploring how lighting styles and layouts influence the mood and quality of an image. Students explore practical techniques on how to use lighting in a studio environment and on location, supported by visual diagrams and a case study. A quiz reinforces their understanding of lighting setups, creative approaches, and technical considerations.

In Lesson 7, students expand their creative toolkit with advanced idea-generation methods, including simulation, role-playing, forced relationships, and de Bono's 'Thinking Hats'. They also develop critical analysis skills and learn how to embed quality assurance into their photographic workflow through documentation, technical checks, aesthetic consistency, version control, and systematic testing. These practices strengthen the creative process and the final output.

This lesson introduces the history, scope, and practicalities of event and location photography. Students explore types of events, location planning, on-site strategies, and contingency planning to ensure successful outcomes. Tips for specific genres such as weddings, fashion, pet, and wildlife photography are discussed, supported by case studies on Annie Leibovitz, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Frans Lanting, who have shaped photographic practice. Emphasis is placed on adapting to varied environments while maintaining creative and technical control.

This lesson explores the collaborative nature of creative practice, examining key roles within production, creative, technical, managerial, and support contexts. Students learn how effective relationships and workflows operate across hierarchies, teams, and collaborative environments. Essential workplace health, safety, and wellbeing topics are addressed, including PPE, manual handling, COSHH, mental health awareness, resilience, and safe working environments. The lesson encourages students to understand the professional standards that underpin successful creative teamwork.

This lesson focuses on the practical planning and preparation required to bring ideas to life. Students explore considerations for working on location and in the studio, including selecting and directing models, managing props, backdrops, styling, costume, and make-up. The lesson also covers equipment maintenance, storage, and protection to ensure professional working standards. Emphasis is placed on translating creative concepts into effective photographic setups through careful planning. A group session via Calendly encourages discussion and peer feedback.

This lesson prepares students for the realities of working professionally in the photography industry. Learners explore how to select appropriate forms of output to meet the needs of different audiences and client types. The lesson emphasizes core professional skills, including time management, asset and resource management, and contingency planning to maintain high standards and reliability. Students gain insights into managing client expectations and delivering work that meets varied commercial and creative briefs.

This lesson introduces the ethical considerations essential to responsible photographic practice. Students learn about ownership rights, including copyright and intellectual property, and the importance of obtaining appropriate release forms. The lesson addresses professional ethics, protecting vulnerable audiences, equality, diversity, representation, and accessibility. Students also explore sustainability in photography, covering energy use, material sourcing, and environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle. Emphasis is placed on adhering to professional codes of conduct and fostering ethical awareness in all aspects of practice.

This final lesson prepares students to complete and present their photographic projects to professional standards. Students explore methods for preparing digital and printed portfolios, incorporating layout, sequencing, and image refinement. The lesson introduces key professional graphic design practices, including typographic principles, layout design, and visual hierarchy, showing how these influence photographic presentation. Emphasis is placed on curating work to meet client briefs and audience expectations. Students are encouraged to reflect on their work critically in preparation for feedback and future practice.

This lesson develops students' ability to communicate creative ideas and photographic outcomes professionally. Learners explore effective presentation formats such as written, visual, audio-visual, and interactive, using industry-standard software and conventions. Emphasis is placed on structuring presentations for different audiences, including clients, collaborators, peers, and stakeholders. Students learn how to edit and curate their content, use hierarchy effectively, and present ideas and progress through contact sheets, mock-ups, and visualisations. The lesson also covers collaboration, teamwork, receiving feedback, and refining work through testing.

This final lesson supports students in completing and refining their projects, ensuring their work meets professional standards and objectives. Students are guided through reviewing their creative process, consolidating feedback, and making final edits to imagery, layout, sequencing, and presentation materials. Emphasis is placed on ensuring technical accuracy, aesthetic coherence, and alignment with client or brief requirements. The session encourages students to reflect critically on their outcomes and prepare for submission or professional presentation.

This lesson explores key methods and processes of photographic creation and how practitioners situate their work within historical, cultural, and societal contexts. Students analyse how photography reflects and shapes society, exploring the relationship between photographic practice and external influences such as politics, culture, and technology. Through case studies and peer discussion, students examine how practitioners' intentions and contexts influence reception and meaning. The lesson encourages students to critically evaluate precedents and develop a deeper understanding of their own creative position and emerging professional voice within the photographic landscape.

In this lesson, students explore cultural and critical theories that shape photographic practice and interpretation, including structuralism, post-structuralism, feminism, queer theory, and media theory. Students examine how political, psychological, and social frameworks influence photographic meaning and reception. Students will learn how these theories have historically informed image-making and how they remain relevant today. The lesson encourages students to apply theoretical lenses to their own creative work, building critical awareness and fostering intellectual confidence when analysing photographic imagery and articulating personal creative intentions.

This lesson examines the economic contexts that influence photography, from globalisation to the commercialisation of culture. Students explore how global production drivers, rapid turnaround times, image libraries, AI, and social media saturation have reshaped professional practice. Sustainability challenges are discussed, encouraging students to consider their environmental and ethical responsibilities as creators. Case studies illustrate how photographers have navigated these pressures creatively and commercially. The lesson helps students critically reflect on the evolving professional landscape, equipping them to adapt to current and future challenges while maintaining creative integrity.

Students learn to reflect critically on their creative work, positioning it within historical and contemporary contexts. The lesson explores how audience reception, personal style, and market positioning contribute to a practitioner's unique selling point (USP). Students examine frameworks for critical reflection, developing strategies to refine their ideas and creative direction. Emphasis is placed on reviewing the progress, evaluating technical and aesthetic execution, and comparing their work against professional standards. This lesson empowers students to articulate their creative identity confidently and reflectively.

This lesson guides students through developing professional briefs and proposals that respond to real-world client and stakeholder needs. Students examine how to define objectives, deliverables, and KPIs, draft service-level agreements, and consider legal, ethical, and feasibility factors. The lesson explores strategy development for multi-platform and long-term projects, ensuring that proposals address market position and audience engagement. Students will also learn how to apply this knowledge to their future work, with emphasis on clear communication and professional standards in creative industries.

Students explore advanced research techniques to underpin sophisticated creative outcomes. The lesson covers primary and secondary research methodologies, including interviews, surveys, focus groups, market data, and literature reviews. Creative problem-solving frameworks such as GROW, lateral thinking, and the Double Diamond are introduced to help students move from research insights to innovative ideas. Emphasis is placed on iterative exploration and critically evaluating ideas in response to client briefs or personal project goals. Students learn how rigorous research supports originality and professional relevance in photographic practice.

This technical lesson deepens students' understanding of cameras, optics, and light. Students explore advanced camera formats and functions, lenses and focal length relationships, hyperfocal distance, optical aberrations, and manual focusing techniques. A detailed exploration of light properties, histograms, filters, and exposure compensation enables students to exercise precise technical control. The lesson integrates theory with practical examples, encouraging experimentation with different equipment types and lighting conditions. By the end of this lesson, students will have the confidence to work flexibly and creatively across challenging technical scenarios.

Students learn advanced skills for working in varied studio and location environments. The lesson explores complex lighting setups, including multi-flash configurations, lighting ratios, and creative use of hard and soft light. Techniques for managing challenging environments such as indoors and outdoors are demonstrated, including the use of correction filters, exposure compensation, and portable power sources. Students also consider composition, movement, and spatial arrangement for professional-quality results. Emphasis is placed on developing adaptable workflows that enable students to respond creatively to differing client needs and working conditions.

This lesson combines people-focused photography and introductory moving image practice. Students learn how to cast, direct, and collaborate effectively with models and subjects, with attention to styling, makeup, hair, and creative direction. The lesson introduces the fundamentals of video, including camera settings, sound recording, stabilisation, editing, and sequencing. Students explore hybrid practices where still and moving images work together, reflecting contemporary industry demands. Emphasis is placed on professionalism, communication, and creative direction in working with people on complex productions.

This lesson focuses on mastering advanced post-production workflows to ensure professional, polished outcomes. Students explore advanced RAW processing, highlight recovery, lens corrections, batch processing, and image sequencing for narrative coherence. The lesson covers combining image and text, layout design, print formats, book arts, and preparing images for digital and interactive contexts. Exhibition preparation, mounting, and presentation standards are discussed, helping students develop final outputs for diverse audiences. Emphasis is placed on maintaining consistency, technical excellence, and narrative clarity across varied output media.

Students develop key project management competencies applicable to creative practice. The lesson introduces key stages: initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closing. Students learn to apply tools such as Kanban boards, Gantt charts, RAID logs, and Critical Path Analysis to manage time, resources, and risk effectively. Agile and Waterfall methodologies are explored, helping students select appropriate approaches for different types of creative projects. Emphasis is placed on delivering projects that meet client expectations, creative objectives, and quality standards, preparing students for managing real-world commissions.

This lesson equips students with frameworks and tools to ensure quality throughout the creative process. Topics include quality assurance at production stages, milestone reviews, interim outputs, and audience testing. Students learn methods for checking resolution, colour accuracy, cross-platform compatibility, and preparing work for print or digital delivery. Emphasis is placed on iterative review, identifying and addressing errors, and maintaining consistency across deliverables. By the end of this lesson, students will understand how professional standards of quality assurance contribute to reputation, reliability, and audience satisfaction.

Students explore practical strategies for building a career in photography. The lesson covers networking, self-promotion, professional associations, pitching, setting fees, understanding business models, tax, and insurance. Emphasis is placed on developing an effective portfolio and personal brand that showcases creative identity and professional capabilities. Students learn about opportunities for employment, freelancing, and entrepreneurship, gaining confidence in navigating the creative economy. The lesson encourages students to map their current skills, set career goals, and identify pathways for continuous professional development.

This lesson develops students' communication skills for engaging effectively with clients, collaborators, and wider audiences. Students learn about professional standards, cultural sensitivity, accessibility, and adapting communication for different contexts. The lesson covers consultation, pitching, briefings, updates, negotiation, and feedback, as well as the use of visualisations, reports, and online platforms. Emphasis is placed on maintaining clarity, coherence, and consistency, ensuring that communication supports successful project outcomes and builds strong professional relationships.

This capstone lesson supports students as they complete and deliver their final major project. Emphasis is placed on iterative development, integrating stakeholder and peer feedback, refining creative and technical execution, and ensuring readiness for exhibition, publication, or portfolio inclusion. Students reflect critically on their creative process, positioning their work in a professional context and articulating its relationship to historical, cultural, and industry precedents. This lesson prepares students for the transition from study to practice, ensuring they leave the course ready for employment or further academic progression.