The Complete Photography Course (SEG Award – Level 2 Certificate)

Ages: 18+
Term: Autumn
Length: 30 weeks

Overview

This 30-week course gives you the opportunity to develop sound photography skills and earn an accredited Level 2 qualification from Skills Education Group.

Want to book this course? This course isn't taking bookings at the moment, but we expect to publish our new course dates and open for bookings in April 2026. Make sure you’re the first to know when you can book our short courses by signing up for updates using the link below.

About this course

This 30-week ‘Skills Education Group’ (Level 2 accreditation) is for anyone that wishes to develop an understanding of photographic processes, practices and the photo-imaging industry.

This short course will allow you to develop skills that enable you to take and manipulate images using a range of equipment, techniques and image processing software. Plus, as a Level 2 course, you’ll have the opportunity to prepare for progression into employment or further learning.

You'll be guided through the fundamentals of photography and explore creative techniques in photography to gain a greater understanding of how to ‘tell a story' through your photographs and find your photographic style. You'll take part in a variety of studio shoots including still life, portraiture and commercial, as well as a series of location shoot exercises in the wider Bournemouth area.

Through a series of talks, demonstrations and practical projects, you'll develop your awareness and understanding of the different roles and employment opportunities available within the photographic industry. It also includes an exploration of the legislation relevant to photographic practices, copyright, intellectual property and photographers’ rights.

Post-production workshops will increase your knowledge of photographic processes and editing software. You'll understand how to professionally prepare and print images and build a selection of your images taken during the course to construct your professional portfolio.

Through a wide variety of group and personal projects, you'll develop your ideas and create challenging, informative photographs that communicate and conform to portfolio/exhibition standards.

You'll be expected to continue with personal project-based photographic research and assignments out of course hours, which will ultimately expand overall knowledge, heighten proficiency and offer improved image making capabilities. Submitted project-based images will be assessed by course tutor with group critique to inform and assist all students.

Creative controls offered in modern DSLR cameras
Essential add-ons such as tripods, speedlights, lenses, filtration
Light, light quality and control
Metering and histograms
Lighting techniques (studio and location)
Post-production options and applications, image enhancement, professional web/print output options and optimum settings
Image-based visual communication
How to turn ideas into creative concepts
Considering themes and subject matter
Individual and group – project-based assignments
Working to a project brief
Image critique and portfolio building
Presentation skills

At the end of the course you'll:

Be prepared and confident in taking the next step in your creative journey, including pursuing further academic studies
Possess improved artistic skills and have what it takes to be a successful photographer
Have a strong portfolio of work showcasing your skills developed throughout the course
Be able to demonstrate a wide range of photography techniques
Understand historical and cultural influences and styles
Be able to independently plan, source locations and resources
Be able to work from a brief and know what it’s like to run your own project, from concept to print
Possess an enhanced ability to visually communicate your ideas and develop your visual voice
Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
Have boosted creativity and imagination
Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course
You can request a certificate to confirm your achievements, providing you've a 100% attendance record. To request a certificate please get in touch with us at academy@aub.ac.uk and confirm your name and the title of course you've completed

Will I be assessed?

Yes, if you complete this one-year programme and meet the necessary ongoing assessment criteria set by Skills Education Group you’ll be awarded an accredited Level 2 Skills Education Group certificate.

You’ll take part in group discussions and share your work for feedback. As the course progresses your tutor will measure your overall performance and offer essential guidance and feedback, so you know how you're getting on.

Meet your tutor

Jason Bascombe Lecturer – Creative Technologies

MA, BA (Hons), FHEA

Email me jbascombe@aub.ac.uk

What you need to know

Autumn term 2025

Wednesday 8 October – 10 December 2025 (10 Wednesday evenings, 18.00-21.00)

Saturday 29 November 2025 (09.00-16.00)

Continuation in Spring term 2026

Wednesday 14 January – 18 March 2026 (10 Wednesday evenings, 18.00-21.00)

Saturday 14 March 2026 (09.00-16.00)

Continuation in Summer term 2026

Wednesday 8 April – 10 June 2026 (10 Wednesday evenings, 18.00-21.00)

Saturday 16 May 2026 (09.00-16.00)

Please note, it’s not possible to enrol on this course part-way through. You’ll need to attend from the start date in October.

You’ll be expected to complete projects, exercises, and research outside your sessions at AUB. You’ll be provided with more details about timelines and project submission deadlines at the start of the course.

Age

Suitable for adults aged 18+.

Level

Intermediate or anyone with some experience who want to refresh or develop their skills further.

Experience or qualifications required

You should possess some photography knowledge or experience in order to benefit the most from this course. Ideally, you’ll have previously completed Digital Photography – Essential Techniques. You’ll need to be familiar with camera controls and functions.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: academy@aub.ac.uk or 01202 363222.

£1,299

Deposit

You can choose to secure your place with a deposit of £400 and pay the remainder of your fees in two further instalments of £400 and £499. Simply, choose this option when booking your place online. The total balance of your course fee is payable by 1 October 2025. See our T&Cs (below) for further details.

Any additional costs

You'll need to provide own camera. This'll incur an additional cost if you need to purchase one for the course. See the 'What to bring to class' section below for full details.

Course materials included in the price

Any additional materials and resources not listed below will be provided by AUB.

You'll require a digital camera with full manual controls (including instruction manual) and any accompanying equipment you wish to use, USB cable for card reader/computer connection, USB memory (8 GB recommended).
Further expense may be necessary when printing your images or say preparing for a personal project/shoot.

As part of your studies you may be using licensed software during classroom sessions. Please be aware that access to this software is only available whilst on campus in sessions or in the AUB Library. To benefit most from your course, we advise you to arrange private access to software; however, AUB is unable to provide software for personal use.

A student stands painting two cherries in a sketch book.

Suggested Suppliers

Information about resourcing specialist materials/consumables that you may need to bring these with you

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AUB Academy FAQs – Evening and Weekend and Saturday Art School

If you have any questions about our Evening and Saturday Short Courses, you may find the answers in here.

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AUB Academy booking T&Cs

Please read our Terms and Conditions carefully before booking onto our Evening and Weekend courses.

Photography gallery

Students learning about how to light a subject

Person posing, turning their body to face the camera

Four people sitting around a table in a classroom with cameras in front of them.

Four people in a photography studio, examining a box near a lighting box and stand.

A person sits on a chair with their hands in their lap and their fingers pinched. Another person stands behind them holding up a piece of photographic equipment.

Two people stand smiling in a photo studio with a large piece of reflective photo equipment in the background to the right.

Beyond the course

This could just be the start of your creative journey! After this course, you could look to the future and explore our creative qualifications that can prepare you to further your current career, enable you to retrain to an alternative career path or prepare you for future creative arts studies.