There are two routes into a career in photography in India - the formal and the experiential. A formal training in the subject opens options for working with magazines or newspapers. With a regular income, there is always an opportunity to experiment with a wide range of subjects. The second is to learn as an apprentice to a professional photographer, which can involve learning the basic jobs before getting to know the real techniques of the profession. Technical training and information cannot make one `see` things unless one possesses that inner ability, an intelligent, curious and perceptive mind.
Most BFA or Applied Art Courses impart specialised training in photography. Design Courses at National Institute of Design have photography as a subject. Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi and Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia offer basic courses in Photography. After Class XII, one can join as an apprentice with a photography unit. Graduation could be pursued through correspondence.
Alternatively, one can join a graduate course in Applied Art. Commercial photographers generally begin by working in a studio to work for the ordinary customer
Some of the Indian institutions offering photography as a course are:
| Asian Academy of Film and Television, NOIDA. |
| Barkatullah Vishwavidyalaya, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal 462026, Madhya Pradesh. |
| B.C.L Institute of Colour Photography and Videography,Doctor’sTower,Changanacherry (1 year certificate course). |
| Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi |
| Bhopal Viswavidhyalaya, Bhopal |
| Deendayal Upadhyay, Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur-273009 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Department of Continuing and Adult Education and Extension Work, Church gate Campus, SNDT Women`s University, Mumbai-400020 |
| Film and Television Institute of India, Law College Road, Pune -411004 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai -600113 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Fergussen College, Pune ( B.A Degree Course in photography) |
| Garware Institute of Career Education and Development, GICE, Vidyanagari, Kalina Santacruz (E) Mumbai- 400098 |
| India International Photographic Council, 12, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi- 110001 |
| Indira Memorial Institute of Film and Technology, Berhampur-760004 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Institute of Film Technology, Adyar, Chennai-600020 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| International School of Photography, C-7/143, Safdarjung Development Area, Hauz Khas, New Delhi- 110016. |
| JJ School of Applied Art, Mumbai -400001 |
| Kashi Vidyapeeth, Varanasi-221002 (One year diploma in Still Photography) |
| MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamianagar, New Delhi -110025 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Jawaharlal Technological University, Masab Tank, Mahaveer Marg, Hyderabad-500028 (One year diploma in Still Photography) |
| Jiwaji University, Government Model Science College, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (3 year degree) |
| Maharaja Technological Institute (Nodel Polytechnic), Thissur (1 year certificate course) |
| Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi-221002 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| National Institute of Design, Allahabad-211002, Uttar Pradesh. |
| National Institute of Photography, 11/2, Ghamat Terrace, 2nd Floor, Above Shagun Hotel, S. B. Road, Opp. Dadar (WR) Station, Dadar (West), Mumbai. |
| Course details: Hobby & career oriented courses in photography. Part time & full time batches with durations ranging from 7 days to 6 months. |
| Photographic Society of India, D.N Road, Mumbai-400001 |
| Quick Photographic Technical Institute, Vantows Junction, Thiruvananthapuram (1 year certificate course) |
| Ravishankar University, Raipur- 492010 (Degree Course) |
| "Rupam" National Institute of Electronic Communication (affiliated to University of Rajasthan), Village- Kunda, Jaipur - 303101 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, E.M. Bye Pass Road, Kolkata - 700094 (Photography as a subsidiary subject) |
| Southern Film Institute, Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram (1 year certificate course) |
| Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati-517502 (One year diploma in Still Photography) |
| Sri Aurobindo Institute of Mass Communication, Pondicherry. |
| St. Xavier’s Institute of Communication, St. Xaviers College, Fort, Mumbai-400001 |
| The Film and TV Institute of Tamil Nadu, Chennai - 600113 |
| University of Allahabad, Allahabad - 211002, Uttar Pradesh (One year diploma in Still Photography) |
| University of Gorakhpur, Gorakhpur-273001, Uttar Pradesh (One year diploma in Still Photography) |
| Utkal University, BJB College, Bhubaneshwar College, Orissa (3 year Degree Course) |
| Verve Visuals, CMH Road, Indira Nagar, Bangalore-560038 |
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