This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.
Overview
This qualification reflects the role of individuals who have professional level specialised, technical and theoretical skills to plan, carry out and evaluate photo imaging services. The outcomes of this qualification apply to a range of industry contexts in commercial, domestic portrait, media, wedding, illustrative, institutional and art photography work environments, among others. These may be within organisations or of an independent nature.
The job roles that relate to this qualification may include Photographer, Compositor, and Digital Retoucher. It may also provide a pathway to other photography and photo imaging job roles.
Practice at this level is underpinned by application of design theory and the ability to critically analyse and synthesise information from a range of sources.
There are 0 minimum work placement hours required for this unit.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification considerations
Qualification
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
Units of competency in qualification
Some individual units of competency may have their own licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements. Users must check individual units of competency for licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements relevant to that unit.
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Financial help
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Cost
Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.
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VET Student Loans are available
See training providers offering VET Student Loans -
You may need to pay for equipment or materials.
To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.
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On-the-job training
- Apprenticeships and traineeships are not available for this course.
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Entry requirements
This course has entry requirements. See more information at the National Training Register
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Duration
You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.
- Qualification only:
1–2 years
- Qualification only:
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Delivery options
You may be able to access this training in these ways:
Course content
This course is made up of units.
All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.
For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.
| Unit | Unit type |
|---|---|
| Apply visual communication theory to photo imaging practice | Core |
| Employ colour management in a digital imaging workplace | Core |
| Explore and apply photo lighting techniques | Core |
| Research and apply photo imaging trends and emerging technologies | Core |
| Author interactive media | Elective |
| Build and maintain business relationships | Elective |
| Capture images using drone technology | Elective |
| Collaborate in creative processes | Elective |
| Contribute to managing work-related psychological health and safety | Elective |
| Coordinate the learning and development of teams and individuals | Elective |
| Create multiplatform advertisements for mass media | Elective |
| Create observational drawings | Elective |
| Create user interfaces | Elective |
| Design digital applications | Elective |
| Design user interfaces | Elective |
| Develop and implement an e-commerce strategy | Elective |
| Develop and implement own self-care plan in the creative industries | Elective |
| Develop and manage a budget | Elective |
| Develop self as artist | Elective |
| Develop social media engagement plans | Elective |
| Develop strategies to monetise digital engagement | Elective |
| Develop sustainability of own professional practice | Elective |
| Employ specialised imaging technologies | Elective |
| Enhance professional practice using creative arts industry knowledge | Elective |
| Ensure a safe workplace for a work area | Elective |
| Establish and maintain environmentally sustainable creative practice | Elective |
| Establish and maintain safe creative practice | Elective |
| Establish and monitor the marketing mix | Elective |
| Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures | Elective |
| Establish operational strategies and procedures for new business ventures | Elective |
| Establish, negotiate and refine a design brief | Elective |
| Evaluate and review compliance | Elective |
| Extend expertise in a specialised art form to professional level | Elective |
| Extend expertise in specialist creative fields | Elective |
| Identify and evaluate marketing opportunities | Elective |
| Implement design solutions | Elective |
| Implement preventive conservation activities | Elective |
| Integrate disability access and inclusion | Elective |
| Interpret compliance requirements | Elective |
| Investigate printmaking materials and processes | Elective |
| Investigate technologies for the creation of digital art | Elective |
| Lead team effectiveness | Elective |
| Make illustrative photo images for publication and display | Elective |
| Manage budgets and financial plans | Elective |
| Manage business operational plans | Elective |
| Manage business risk | Elective |
| Manage copyright arrangements | Elective |
| Manage feedback on creative practice | Elective |
| Manage media assets | Elective |
| Manage personal and professional development | Elective |
| Manage specialised finishing processes | Elective |
| Manage team effectiveness | Elective |
| Negotiate contracts | Elective |
| Originate and develop concepts | Elective |
| Plan and produce stock photo images | Elective |
| Plan and produce visual art photo images | Elective |
| Plan and style merchandise photo shoots | Elective |
| Prepare digital images for pre-press processing | Elective |
| Prepare to work with confronting material and processes in the creative industries | Elective |
| Present a body of own creative work | Elective |
| Produce commercial photo images | Elective |
| Produce innovative digital images | Elective |
| Produce media photo images | Elective |
| Produce technical photo images | Elective |
| Provide freelance services | Elective |
| Provide photographic portrait services | Elective |
| Provide wedding photo imaging services | Elective |
| Realise a body of creative work | Elective |
| Refine 2-D design ideas and processes | Elective |
| Refine digital art techniques | Elective |
| Refine printmaking techniques | Elective |
| Select and refine a specialised drawing technique | Elective |
| Source funding for projects | Elective |
| Undertake project work | Elective |
| Work with diverse people | Elective |
| Work with photomedia in creative practice | Elective |
| Work with the human form in creative practice | Elective |
Job prospects
The Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.
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Photographer
ANZSCO 211311
Take commercial or artistic photographs using digital or analogue camera technologies.
Recommended education level:
Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree -
Photographer's Assistant
ANZSCO 399915
Photographer's Assistants assist Photographers in taking and developing photographs.
Recommended education level:
Certificate II or III
Training providers delivering Diploma of Photography and Digital Imaging
It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.
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TAFE QUEENSLAND (RTO code 0275)
Government funding
- Skills Assure Supplier
Contact this provider
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Australian Institute of Fashion Design Pty Ltd (RTO code 31301)
Contact this provider
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ENTREPRENEUR EDUCATION PTY LTD (RTO code 40952)
Contact this provider
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INSTITUTE OF MAKEUP ARTISTRY (RTO code 45423)
Contact this provider
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PSC Creative College (RTO code 0111)
Contact this provider
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TAFE NSW (RTO code 90003)
Contact this provider
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The Centre for Creative Photography (RTO code 40029)
Contact this provider
How to enrol in this course
To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.
When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.
The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.
How do apprenticeships and traineeships work?
Apprenticeships and traineeships let you combine hands-on work experience with training. You’ll gain job-ready skills and earn an income while you complete a qualification.
As an apprentice or a trainee, you work with an employer while completing your training. Most of your time is spent learning on the job, with some classroom or online training to support the skills you're developing in the workplace.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Find out more about apprenticeships and traineeships.
See more information about the apprenticeship or traineeship you’re interested in pursuing on the Queensland Training Information Service.
How long will this course take?
This course is competency-based training, which means you progress as you demonstrate your skills and knowledge, rather than in a set amount of time.
The duration shown here is an estimate for full-time study based on how long most people take to complete the course. You may finish earlier than other people, or it may take you a bit longer.
If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get credits or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the time needed for training.
Duration for apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships take longer than doing the qualification on its own, but you learn valuable hands-on skills.
For some jobs, you may need to do an apprenticeship or traineeship before you are allowed to work as a qualified tradesperson. For example, you need to do an apprenticeship if you want to work as a licensed electrician.
Learn about how courses are delivered
Different courses have different delivery options. Consider your needs when you’re researching courses. Some courses may be delivered entirely online or partially online. Others may be delivered in a classroom.
Some courses, like those delivered through apprenticeships and traineeships, are mostly based in the workplace but with some classroom or online study.
If a certain type of delivery is important to you, talk to your provider before you enrol to make sure they offer that delivery option.
How to reduce the cost of your course
There are lots of ways you can reduce the cost of your course.
- The government could partly or fully cover the cost of your course. See information about financial help and government funding on this page.
- The government also offers funding for some costs related to your course.
- If you’ve already completed training or have worked in a relevant area, you could get a cost credit or recognition of prior learning. This can reduce the training you need to complete a qualification, which could reduce the cost.
Learn about financial help and government funding
The main cost of training is usually the course fees, which vary depending on things like which course and training provider you choose.
You may be able to get your training for free or at a reduced cost, or you could get help with paying for training-related costs. You can also pay for some courses with a VET Student Loan.
Find out more about getting help paying for your training or check if you're eligible.
What are entry requirements?
Some courses have conditions you need to meet before you can enrol in the course. They help make sure you have the right background or skills for the training.
Entry requirements might include a certain education level, skills or knowledge, work status, or experience.