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- Undergraduate Courses
- BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
- Careers and industry
BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
- Duration: 3–5 years full-time
- Placement year: Optional 1 year
- Course code: W644 (UCAS)
- Institution code: A66 (UCAS)
Meet our Industry Patron – James Hancock
Meet the Industry Patron for BA (Hons) Commercial Photography – James Hancock.
James is the founder of photographic agency Hancock and Handsome (H&H), which works with brands and agencies to create engaging, impactful imagery and film with personality.
As well as representing talent, they're a full production agency and happy to contribute as much or as little as clients need, to make their shoots a success. H&H’s wider team of stylists, hair and make-up artists, directors of photography, etc., are industry-leading, and most importantly, great people to have on set.
Career destinations
On BA (Hons) Commercial Photography, you'll have great employment prospects – even before you graduate! In recent years, students have been commissioned and published while still on the course through prestigious competitions.
Career options are varied too. As well as setting up freelance businesses, graduates go on to work in a variety of roles within studio management, retouching, assisting, styling, and advertising.
BA (Hons) Commercial Photography alumni have gone on to work for clients including Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney, Chanel, The Times Fashion Supplement, Love Magazine, Dazed and Confused, Huck, Kit Magazine, The Telegraph, The Guardian, Vogue (UK, India and Italy), Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, The Wall Street Journal and the BBC.
Other roles include:
- Wessex Photographic – Branch Manager
- Double Exposure Photographic – Retoucher
- Burton Menswear – Photoshoot Coordinator
- Momento Studios and Promotions – Bookings Co-ordinator
- Harvey Nichols, Surfdome and Laura Ashley – Photographer
- Magine TV – Marketing Consultant
- Popcorn Learning Media – Digital Learning Designer
- The Economist – Picture Editor
- Salvatore Ferragamo, Pitti Uomo/Bimbo, New York Fashion Week, Guess by Marciano – Photographer
- NOW TV – Design Creative
- ASOS – Retoucher, Senior Retoucher
- Closer Magazine – Junior Picture Researcher, Picture Desk Assistant
- Hut Group – Junior Food Photographer
- Automotive Magazine – Staff Photographer
- Grazia Magazine – Picture Researcher
- Condé Nast India – Junior Photo Editor
- Show Studio – Photography Technician
- Sunbeam Studios London – Studio Assistant
- Holland Publishing – Assistant photographer
- Dreamer Productions – In-house Photographer
- Photographic Freelance – Various
- Photographic Agent – Visual Artists
Alumni
Our students go on to create images for international magazines and newspapers, picture desks, ad agencies, fashion houses, and more. Explore some of our alumni stories and profiles below to find out more.
A rising star of street photography: Ethan Parker on recognition following graduation
Following graduation only this summer, there’ve been no lulls in business for BA (Hons) Commercial Photography alumnus Ethan Parker...
Rhea Thierstein – BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
Since graduating, Rhea has had a varied and extensive career. Now an international British...
Mattia Holm – BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
Mattia’s experience at AUB profoundly impacted his personal and professional growth. He described his time...
Mitch Payne – BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
After graduating, I knew it was still life photography I wanted to pursue still-life photography, having completed...
Gabriel Bush – BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
Gabriel Bush has been widely recognised for his highly successful final year...
James Stopforth – BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
I've done a lot of work assisting British fashion photographer, Nick Knight. I've worked with him for...
Amy Maidment – BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
I have been a big football fan since my dad took me to my first game when I was five...
Awards
Our BA (Hons) Commercial Photography students and graduates have gone on to win great things.
2025
- Winner | British Photography Awards, Best Events Photographer – Ethan Parker
- Shortlisted | British Photography Awards, Best Street Photographer, Best Events Photographer – Ethan Parker
- Shortlisted | Portrait of Britain Volume 8 – Ethan Parker
- Winner | Portrait of Britain Volume 7 – Nicholas Teo
- Winner | Amateur Photographer Awards, Emerging Photographer Award – Ethan Parker
- Winner | AOP Student Awards – Thomas Percival-Stein
- Winner | AOP Discover Award, Fashion and Beauty – Ruben Davies, Liturgy of the Unseen
- Silver | AOP Emerging Talent – Ruben Davies
- Bronze | PX3/Paris Photography Awards, Professional Analogue and People category – Fin MacMillan
- Longlisted | Taylor Wessing/National Portrait Gallery, Portrait Awards – Finlay Williams, Joseph Gaines
2024
- Winner | British Photography Awards, People's Choice Street Photography – Ethan Parker
- Winner | The Anne Corkett Prize for Photography – Thomas Percival-Stein
- Shortlisted | British Photography Awards, Best Street Photographer, Best Documentary Photographer, Best Events Photographer – Ethan Parker
- Shortlisted | Taylor Wessing/National Portrait Gallery, Portrait Awards – Ethan Fraser
- Shortlisted | Portrait of Britain Volume 6 – Nicholas Teo, Jacob Cramp
2023
- Winner | British Photography Awards, Portrait – April Ironside
- Winner | Eizo Student Awards, Student of the Year – Honor West (watch below)
- Gold | Association of Photographers Student Awards, People – Nicholas Teo
- Gold | Association of Photographers Student Awards, Food and Drink – Frankie Turner
- Shortlisted | British Photography Awards, Fashion – Emily Hazlerigg
2022 – Beautiful Bizarre Art Award | Photo North Festival, Student Award
2021 – Holocaust Memorial Award
2020 – Fresh Meet Award