Advertising Photography Option - Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA
Advertising Photography Option
Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA
Overview
The advertising photography option prepares students for diverse and rewarding careers in the field of visual communications. While encouraging and nurturing students’ individual image-making practice, students learn to create photographs and moving media for a wide range of commercial use in today’s fast changing media environment. This option is part of the Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA program.
The option provides flexibility and specialization within the course curriculum, providing students with a broad overview of the field. Advanced courses allow students to explore a variety of commercial specializations from traditional still life and portraiture, to interdisciplinary courses that model real world team collaborations with graphic designers, new media artists, industrial designers, and computer scientists. This flexibility also enables students to take elective courses from other departments across the university, in majors as diverse as graphic design, visual culture, philosophy, or fine art, in order to enrich their personal visual expression. Within the curriculum, advertising photography students study the inner workings and business aspects of the photographic and imaging industries. In an ever-growing global market, the school encourages and offers many study abroad opportunities for students.
The faculty consists of both full- and part-time professors—all of whom continue their personal photo arts practice and have extensive commercial experience as professional photographers. Students work collaboratively to conceive and execute camera-based work that is both cutting-edge and strategic. Along with conventional print-based imagery, students may also work in moving media, emerging and interactive technologies that have real-world application in the commercial industry. Students build a strong professional portfolio throughout their time in the program.
Join us for Fall 2023
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling, space-available basis.
Careers and Experiential Learning
Typical Job Titles
| Advertising Photographer | Architectural Photographer |
| Art Director | Art Producer |
| Artists’ Agent | Editorial Photographer |
| Entrepreneur | Fashion Photographer |
| Food Photographer | Image Retoucher |
| Photo Editor | Portrait Photographer |
| Prop Stylist and Videographer | Sports Photographer |
| Still Life Photographer | Studio Manager |
| Studio Photographer |
Salary and Career Information for Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA
Cooperative Education and Internships
What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart.
Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Co-op in the College of Art and Design provides hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
Advertising Photography Internships: Students participate in internships with some of the nation’s most respected professional photographers, advertising and design agencies, magazine publishers, photography agents, equipment rental, and production services. Working in a variety of commercial and studio environments, students have the opportunity to learn from photographers, picture editors, art directors, and other professionals. In collaboration with their professors and the Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education, students identify and apply for relevant internships, which provide real-world work experience that becomes an invaluable part of students’ educational experience.
Creative Industry Day
RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Day, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more. You’ll be able to network with company representatives and interview directly for open co-op and permanent employment positions.
Career Opportunities in Advertising Photography
A significant number of graduates become self-employed freelance photographers working all over the country. They also work at advertising agencies and magazines as producers and picture editors. Companies hiring our graduates include Saks Fifth Avenue, Conde Nast Publications, Martha Stewart Living, Neiman Marcus, and many others.
Featured Work
Photographing Bills Mafia
Clay Patrick McBride
RIT faculty and students captured the unique pre-game traditions and unbridled passion of Buffalo Bills fans for a story and picture essay featured in Sports Illustrated.
Renowned Editorial and Commercial Photographer
Clay Patrick McBride
Senior Lecturer Clay Patrick McBride is an editorial and commercial photographer celebrated for his portraits of world-class athletes, musicians and celebrities. He has captured portraits of the likes...
Portfolio Development
Fourth-year students in Senior Lecturer of Advertising Photography Clay Patrick McBride's Portfolio Development class were tasked with using string as their subject matter for an...
Featured Profiles
Why You Belong in RIT's College of Art and Design
Todd Jokl, Mari Jaye Blanchard, Melissa Dawson, Clay Patrick McBride
Get an in-depth look at RIT's College of Art and Design from our faculty and students. Let us share with you how our community of artists pushes the boundaries of creativity and innovation. And...
Industry-standard Photography Equipment
RIT's School of Photographic Arts and Sciences Cage is an unparalleled checkout space housing a range of photography equipment you won’t find anywhere else. From specialty lenses to camera...
Unmatched Photo Studios
With 28 photo studios and a well-stocked equipment cage designed to support studio needs, RIT's School of Photographic Arts and Sciences students have access to all the necessary resources to execute...
Admissions and Financial Aid
This option is part of the Photographic and Imaging Arts BFA. Please visit the degree program page for admission requirements.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
100% of all incoming first-year and transfer students receive aid.
RIT’s personalized and comprehensive financial aid program includes scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment programs. When all these are put to work, your actual cost may be much lower than the published estimated cost of attendance.
Learn more about financial aid and scholarships
Latest News
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January 17, 2023
![A group of Bills fans pose for a photo.]()
Students, faculty photograph Bills fans for 'Sports Illustrated'
RIT photographers captured the pre-game traditions and tailgate experience that have made Bills games a pilgrimage for many NFL fans.
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October 4, 2022
![An overhead view of a student getting their portfolio reviewed by RIT faculty.]()
RIT welcomes prospective students for National Portfolio Day
RIT's College of Art and Design faculty, along with those at 25 other top art and design schools, reviewed students' portfolios as they prepared their artwork for the college admissions process.
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September 12, 2022
![green overlay on image of two students working on a 3D printer.]()
RIT cited as one of the best universities in the nation by ‘U.S. News’
Innovation, value, co-op education, and excellence in undergraduate teaching are among the categories in which RIT is highly ranked and listed as one of the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report.
