BA (Hons) Commercial Photography

Overview

The commercial focus of our BA Commercial Photography programme includes excellent business and professional practice sessions and the opportunity to work on live briefs, and work placements with a wide range of brands and media titles.

Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to develop key transferable skills for employability in the creative industries and work in partnership with other sectors locally, nationally or internationally.

As soon as you enrol on this programme, you will automatically become a member of the prestigious Association of Photographers (AOP) and you’ll work alongside our expert teaching and technical team, as well as practitioners from industry who’ll help you to develop the confidence to respond to client briefs while demonstrating excellent creative problem-solving.

From writing and making the most of your CV to gaining industry placements, entering competitions and exhibiting at industry showcases, the acquisition of professional skills has been written into every programme of study at Arts University Plymouth, ensuring you gain real-world experience. This is further supported by our Industry Liaison Groups, who help inform the development of our higher education curriculum.

Our graduates succeed!

Many of our graduates progress into full time employed roles in the photographic industries, becoming assistants, e-commerce photographers, producers, stylists, picture editors and digital retouchers. The huge growth of online shopping in recent years has created a whole new industry, with many major brands developing their own photographic studios to produce digital content for online retail and social media. Locally based businesses that operate nationally such as the Range, Saltrock, Seasalt and Pro-Direct Sport all employ graduates from our degree course. Other graduates who have left the South West are now working in photographic and media production for companies such as Kurt Geiger and Audi UK.

Some of our graduates choose to progress into self-employment, becoming independent freelance professionals and business owners. Recent and notable successes include:

Community Photographic Studios: www.communityphotographicstudios.co.uk - Photographic business established by Alumni Hannah Cochrane

Grace & Mitch - www.graceandmitch.com - Wedding Photography business established by Alumni Grace Clarke

Andy Ford andyfordphotography.co.uk – Freelance photographer for NME, Kerrang, Converse, SoccerBible

Laura Stobart - www.laurastobartphotography.com - Fashion Photographer

Codie Hobbs www.codie-hobbs-photography.com – Fashion photographer

Tony Cobley tonycobley.com – Commercial photographer

Alumni Profiles

Andy Ford

Returning to education as a mature student, Andy quickly showed a natural flair for photography, shooting a cover feature of Biffy Clyro for the NME in his second year. Since his graduation, Andy has gone from strength to strength, shooting artists ranging from Beyonce to Slayer for some of the world’s most prestigious music magazines. Andy has also worked on large commercial commissions for major brands, including Red Bull, Converse, Peugeot and Disney. Interview with Andy Ford

Martha Fitzpatrick

Based in the South West, Martha Fitzpatrick graduated from BA (Hons) Commercial Photography in 2019, and has since gone on to work for Getty Images, Ramzine, Vulture Hound Magazine, Distorted Sound, Clunk Mag and On The House. Specialising in music, portraiture and editorial photography, Martha has worked with musicians and artists such as Cancer Bats, Papa Roach, Frank Turner, You Me At Six, Killswitch Engage and Yungblud. In 2020, Martha was a finalist for the Heavy Music Awards Young Photographer of the Year award.

Margo Ryszczuk

Born in Poland and living and working in Plymouth, Margo quit her job at the age of 33, and reignited her passion for photography by studying a BA (Hons) Commercial Photography degree at Arts University Plymouth, graduating with a First Class Honours in 2018. She completes her Masters in Photography in 2023 and her work has been shortlisted in a number of competitions, including winning a placement with Rankin, exhibiting across the UK and overseas. Margo’s wedding photography saw her win at the South West Wedding Awards 2021, being named the best Bespoke Wedding Photographer in the South West. Margo also works with small business owners and entrepreneurs producing brand photography and portraits.

Maia Cazzani

Based out of Tuscany, Italy, Maia graduated from BA (Hons) Commercial Photography in 2022 with a First Class Honours after previously studying Fashion Photography at Istituto Italiano di Fotografia in Milan.During her studies at Arts University Plymouth, Maia was shortlisted in the Association of Photographers Student Awards 2022 and had her work featured on the front of the Arts University Plymouth undergraduate prospectus. The same image is now featured on the side of the university’s Tavistock Place campus building.