Photography Digital Technician

Completion of this program helps student prepare for a permanent or freelance position as a Digital Technician. A "Digital Tech" is an important part of a commercial photography team who is responsible for camera handling, filetransfer, management and backup, post production preview and on set assisting.

From 2011-Spring 2018 approximately 182 degrees and Certificate of Accomplishments were delivered in PHOT. We are seeking to convert our current CTE programs to Certificate of Achievements. 

CB01: Course Department Number	CB02: Course Title	Annual # Sections	Cap per class	Annual Enrollment Totals
PHOT51	Beginning Photography	24-28	25 per class	600
PHOT 85A	Beginning Lighting	2-4	30 per class	60-120
PHOT 81D	Intermediate Photography Digital	2	25 per class	50
PHOT 60A	Beginning Photoshop	6-8	30 per class	200
PHOT 60B	Intermediate Photoshop	1-2	25 per class	30
PHOT 102C	Phase One Capture One	2	30 per class	40
PHOT 140	Industry Internship	2	25	10

In the bay area a "Digital Tech" is an important part of a commercial photography team who is responsible for camera handling,file transfer, management and backup, post production preview and on set assisting. Most “Digital Techs” are encouraged to have training and certifications in Phase One / Capture One systems.

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

·     Use the digital tools and techniques of photography necessary to fulfill a role as a Digital Technician.

·     Use digital software management and editingtools to prepare to work as a Digital Technician.

·     Work in a team environment with photographers and lighting assistants in the role as a Digital Technician.

Students must complete 4 of 6 courses at City College of San Francisco. All courses must be taken within a 4-year period.

The minimum time for completion of this certificate is 2 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of classes completed per semester.

Required courses and recommended sequence (20+ units):

1ST SEMESTER	PHOT 51 ­	Beginning Photography	3 units	Fall or Spring
1ST SEMESTER	PHOT 60A	Beginning Photoshop	3 units	Fall or Spring
2ND SEMESTER	PHOT 81D	Intermediate Photography - Digital	4 units	Fall
2rd  SEMESTER	PHOT 60B	Intermediate Photoshop	3 units	Spring
2rd SEMESTER	PHOT 85A	Beginning Lighting	4 units	Fall or Spring
3rd SEMESTER	PHOT 102C	Phase One / Capture One	2 units	Fall or Spring
3rd SEMESTER	PHOT 140	Industry Internship	1-8 units	Fall or Spring

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Total: 20.00 

Transfer preparation information: Students prepare to transfer within the CSU system as well as to non-profit private colleges such as CCA. We are part of the 2+2 program within California College of the Arts (see attached). Upon complete of this certificate students will be able to waive most of CCA’s “tools” classes. Students can also challenge to waive more courses depending on how much they’ve completed at CCSF PHOTO. See attached 2+2 agreement. CTE Photography Digital Technician Certificate of Achievement (20 units) Job demand for Digital Technicians working in commercial photography and related occupations in the bay area is on the rise. In the east bay the projection for job increase according to https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov is +14.3% and in San Francisco County 9.4%. Our certificates train students to work in the profession and to transfer to four-year colleges. Our alumni are successful entrepreneurs and also working onsite at studios such as Robyn Kessler photography, Sandbox Studios, Williams Sonoma, Airbnb, Instagram and Orange Studio among others. Industry studies According to our Industry Advisors (meeting minutes attached) wage summaries on the “doing what matters” website are low. This might be in part to the fact that they survey lower income companies such as department stores and retail outlets whereas most photographers are independent entrepreneurs or work in the bay area for large studios such as Restoration Hardware, Taylor Brands, Google, Ebay, The Gap, Levis, Sandbox studios etc. **On 11/3 a request for labor market demand and supply data for “Photographer and Digital Technician” was submitted from the Bay Region Center of Excellence and is attached. However attached results are in relation to Digital Photography Lab workers so share some data but it is not the same job. This data does not take into account entrepreneurs or freelancers who are earning wages of $80,000 per year plus according to alumni surveys as Digital Technicians. https://coeccc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5bsVg9uvO1Ym7uR Job advertisements and description of roles for positions under “Digital Technician” https://jobs.lever.co/dollskill/654dd3fa-3d9b-487b-83c3-b527384645a9 https://blog.photoshelter.com/2017/02/digital-tech/ https://www.indeed.com/q-Digital-Tech-Photography-jobs.html?vjk=5c15b892f7b156a7 https://wonderfulmachine.com/member-blog/expert-advice-digital-techs-role-on-set

We are the most comprehensive program attracting students from other institutions such at Foothill College, Skyline college and Laney college who have smaller programs but are not as comprehensive and are outside of San Francisco proper. AAU offers similar course work but is a private college with high fee tuition. We are the only CC offering Phase One/Capture One training and certification. We serve many Industry partners in the bay area such as Google, The Gap, Williams Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, Sandbox Studios, and Capital Art studios among others. San Francisco State University offers a BFA degree in Studio Arts but is not vocationally focused and we serve many of their students. The Academy of Art University offers a degree in Photography however it is over $25,000 a year. City College San Francisco serves a separate urban population.