Photography training is commonly available through certificate and associate degree programs offered by 2-year community colleges.

Wildlife Photography Programs-

Certificate Programs

Certificate programs often provide students with a background in photography without the obligation of general education courses.

Certificate training includes courses in:

Digital photography and imaging
Indoor and natural lighting
Photo manipulation
Video editing and photo presentation

Associate Degrees

Associate degree programs combine core professional courses with electives in wildlife and nature photography.

Students may choose a broad education in several photographic disciplines, such as wedding, portrait, exhibition and evidentiary photography, or they may select courses that focus on a single area.

Examples of course topics include:

Color and black & white photography
Digital image editing
Two- and three-dimensional imaging
Nature and landscape photography
Photojournalism
Photographing animals

Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degree majors in the broad subject of photography allow students to explore the artistic aspects of the profession.

Common coursework includes:

Photography
Photo editing
Media law and ethics
Digital imaging and production
Lighting and landscape options
Portfolio management and marketing

Master's Degrees

A master's degree in photography may be completed in two years and offers more flexibility in choosing wildlife photography as a specialty than an undergraduate program.

Students may use their studio courses as a venue for perfecting their style and technique in the field of wildlife photography.

In addition to extensive studio time, graduate-level training includes courses, such as:

Digital photography
History of photography
Conceptual imaging and theory
Photo manipulation
Documentary imaging

Top Photography Schools in United States

School of Visual Arts
Yale University
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Rhode Island School of Design
California Institute of the Arts
University of New Mexico
Rochester Institute of Technology
University of California - Los Angeles
California College of Arts
Columbia College - Chicago