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HomeStudyUndergraduate StudyFashion Photography BA(Hons)

Fashion Photography BA(Hons)

Develop your unique artistic voice and springboard into the industry as an innovative fashion photographer. You’ll become a networked fashion image-maker, teaming up with students from across the Fashion & Textiles Institute and pitching to a selection of top international clients.

Shot of model wearing a coat over her shoulders on a pavement at night.

Key details

LocationPenryn Campus
Course Duration3 years
AttendanceFull-time
UCAS codeW641
Contact01326 254350

Apply now

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Introduction

You'll learn how to create dynamic photography and moving image using alternative new media digital processes. You'll also have access to some of the most innovative equipment, including eight industry-sized studios, dark rooms, postproduction suites and an incredibly well-equipped photography resource centre.

You will:

  • Showcase your work to industry-leading clients.
  • Attend guest lectures and have access to world-leading practitioners such as Shonagh Marshall, Matthew Holroyd, Joseph Delaney, Ewen Spencer and Derek Ridgers.
  • Have the opportunity to work with leading names in fashion like Baron, Element, Nowness, River Island and SHOWstudio.
  • Pitch your projects to industry experts and work on live briefs set by international clients.
  • Attend industry-led trips such as London Fashion Week and real-life fashion industry shoots.
  • Learn from a renowned course team, who are internationally published with publications that include; The Face, iD, Arena, Beauty Papers, Re-Edition and Vogue Homme.

Covid-19 update

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have reviewed and made changes to our courses to provide flexible, blended delivery that offers high-quality digital engagement and access to face-to-face teaching in our facilities. You can see how your course may be adjusted by viewing the changes for the current academic year by visiting our welcome letters & latest course updates pages

  • Students
  • Graduates
  • Course details
  • How to apply
  • Fees, costs & funding
  • Ask a student

    What our students do

    Article
    Article

    Fashion Photography Students’ Winning Interview

    22 May 2020
    3rd Year Fashion Photographer, Georgina Abreu won the EyeEm International Women's Day 2020 mission...
    Article
    Article

    Fashion Photography ‘Doing it for Real’

    20 February 2020
    Fashion Photography staff are helping their students to 'do it for real' by using live briefs and...
    Article
    Article

    Institute of Photography Publishes Zine Celebrating Student Work

    23 June 2019
    Mayn Creative, our in-house photo and video agency, is excited to announce that the Institute of...
    Article
    Article

    Fashion Photography Student Shoots Talent of Tomorrow Campaign

    10 June 2019
    Nicholas Kristiansen, third-year BA(Hons) Fashion Photography student, has had the experience of a...
    Article
    Article

    Fashion Photography Student Commissioned by VICE’s i-D Magazine

    5 June 2019
    Being commissioned by a major publication is an unforgettable accomplishment; not only does it...
    Article
    Article

    Catwalk Calling for Fashion Student

    30 May 2018
    Shooting catwalk models at top-end shows is the dream for many seeking to enter the fashion...
    Article
    Article

    How I got my Internship at Vogue

    23 May 2018
    Second year Fashion Photography student, Vanessa Hastings, has been reading Vogue for a long time....
    Article
    Article

    Fashion Duo Featured in Vogue

    23 May 2018
    Fashion students Fadzai Kadzatsa and Angela Farrell have been featured in Vogue Italia's online...
    Woman in a black dress moving on the floor below a spiral staircase
    black and white image of a figure in a fat suit
    Student work form Fashion Photography course. Wanda, by Ceri Oxman
    Male figure in the woods wearing white pants with padding on his body
    Student work form Fashion Photography course. Photo by Kayesha Clarke
    Student work form Fashion Photography course. Photo by Lowri Linklater.
    Student work form Fashion Photography course. Photo by Helen Lang.
    Student work from Fashion Photography course. Photo by Esme Moore.
    woman looking round her shoulder at dusk
    Crop of model looking away from camera wistfully. Photo taken by Joceline Allen.
    young man with long brown hair lying down topless
    Model with yellow paint on face wears a variety of yellow fabrics of different textures and looks to camera. Head and torso crop.
    woman wearing a trench coat in front of a wooden fence
    abstract image of an outline of a person's head and shoulders in front of a lime green background
    topless figure with wild hair
    woman eating grapes in front of pale yellow fabric
    black and white image of woman with her back to the camera wearing a long black dress
    Woman on the cliff top wearing different materials
    a man lying on his stomach int he sand, wearing light jeans and black boots
    woman with long brown hair wearing a pink dress, stood on the street at night
    man stood in a field with his face to a wooded panel
    woman in a red dress standing at the edge of a road
    Headshot of model in heavy make up, blue shaded eyes, red lips and white hair and skin.

    What our graduates do

    Our graduates have got their foot in the door at companies like Adidas, Vivienne Westwood, Big Sky Studios, River Island, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Ted Baker, DC, Toni & Guy, Paul Smith, i-D, TANK, Christopher Kane and 1883 Magazine.

    Article
    Article

    Dancing in Isolation

    25 August 2020
    Fashion Photography graduate, Tom J. Johnson, has been commissioned by the Royal Opera House in...
    Article
    Article

    Photography Graduate Celebrates Magazine Win

    19 August 2020
    Falmouth University, Fashion Photography graduate, Megan Jackson, has been selected in the annual...
    Article
    Article

    Alumni Winners in Cornwall’s 30 Under 30

    9 March 2020
    Cornwall’s 30 under 30 for 2020 have been announced. Congratulations to the Falmouth alumni who...
    Article
    Article

    Fashion Photographer Shortlisted for Film Award

    4 November 2019
    Fashion Photography graduate Esmé Moore was a recent finalist at this year's SHOWstudio Fashion...
    Article
    Article

    Award-Winning Fashion Photography Graduate Continues to Rise

    21 January 2019
    From the age of fourteen, Sophie Webster, Fashion Photography graduate, knew she wanted to tell...

    Course details

    What you'll learn

    On this fashion photography course, you'll combine creativity with technology, developing your skills, confidence and imagination. Working across film, photography and animation, you'll explore studio and location practices, high-end retouching, specialist editing techniques and fashion film.

    From catwalks to street style, we'll cover all areas of fashion. You'll learn about advertising campaigns, produce fashion photographs for clients and our gallery, and create web-based work, fashion fanzines and designer look-books.

    • Year one
    • Year two
    • Year three
    Year one

    You'll get a feel for industry life by working as a fashion photographer in a team, and exploring the industry's analytical, creative and technical aspects, both in the studio and on location. Learning the history and theories behind the industry, you'll explore the fashion styles of historical subcultures, develop high-end retouching techniques, and learn how iconic fashion image-makers use handmade publications to narrate powerful stories.

    Modules

    Subcultures & Styles

    You'll begin by developing your understanding of photographic representation through the application and understanding of visual language, while exploring fashion style through the theme of sub-cultures.

    Handbook to Industry

    Running alongside the Subcultures module, we'll work with you to facilitate the foundations for professional approaches to image creation. Through the investigation of the responsibilities of the main contributors, Handbook to Industry unpacks the processes and modes of fashion image production.

    The Body & Ethics

    This module gives you the opportunity to explore and experiment with a variety of critically challenging photographic approaches to the visual representation of the human form. You'll investigate the codes and conventions of dressing and situating the body within a fashion context, provoking debates about gender, beauty, sexuality, ethnicity, morality, social position, body image and self-representation; ultimately exploring your own role and responsibilities as a fashion photographer.

    The Edit

    In this module, you'll investigate how the order of photographs in fashion spreads is constructed by contemporary fashion publishing, both in print and online. You'll consider how stories are told in fashion photography within different published contexts. Alongside this, you will also explore the typographical relationship of image and text, and the process of editing and sequencing images. You'll be asked to curate a sequenced editorial output of your choice, such as an editorial in a magazine, photo-book, zine, newspaper or digital media.

    Year two

    By studying experimental fashion film, animation and photo manipulation, you'll explore the impact of new media on the fashion communications industry. You'll also have the chance to build your critical understanding of contemporary theory and research methodologies. And by discussing and experimenting, you'll explore light, colour, tone, composition and form, as well as histories and theories, as you create a professional portfolio.

    Real-world experience comes from live project collaborations with industry brands and clients, a live brief exploring fashion filmmaking and photography, and an optional study trip. You'll also have the chance to build your professional network, working with brands such as Element, Griffin and Ted Baker. Guest lecturers include Matt Damsell (Ted Baker), Tom Alexander (SHOWStudio), Creative Director, Harris Elliott and Jonathan Hempstead (HempsteadMaye).

    Modules

    Fashion Film

    The hunger for fashion films amongst other digital media outputs is unprecedented in our contemporary world. Fashion films are used on a regular basis as communication tools for the branding and promotion of fashion goods, reflecting trends and moods of the current times. This module introduces you to a broad range of technical and professional methods for the creation of your own fashion film. We'll provide you with an understanding of how fashion can be promoted through moving image, enhancing your research and conceptual skills, planning and shooting, as well as editing.

    Advancing Professional Skill-Sets

    This module plays a vital role towards the development of your individual visual voice, as well as developing you as an employment-ready creative practitioner. You'll be asked to become more autonomous in your practice by specialising in the area of technical and practical skills, underpinning a potential career path.

    Fashion Image

    In our postmodern condition of photography, with its ceaseless flow of images, the internet is serving as a laboratory for image-making experimentation. It's within this context that the notion of image making has become an artistic form rather than promoting the traditional act of 'taking an image'. In this module, you'll be encouraged to challenge photographic conventions and explore other forms of expression, which could include photogrammetry, 3D scanning or montage.

    Advancing Theories for Practice

    At this stage, you'll be given the opportunity to advance your research tools to support your theoretical understanding and development. This will enhance your ability to communicate the central theoretical and conceptual concerns of your visual practice in written form.

    Year three

    In the final year of your Fashion Photography degree, you'll have the chance to collaborate with internationally renowned names like Baron Magazine, Nowness and Shonagh Marshall. You'll work with clients on professional briefs, and build networks and relationships to help you launch your career.

    We'll encourage you to look into publishing your work as you define and complete a final major project, give you a "careers boot camp" and help you develop a professional identity with the opportunity to be part of an industry-facing end-of-year showcase event.

    You'll get the chance to attend a series of masterclasses run by leading photographers such as Ewen Spenser, Derek Ridgers, JoyceNG and Danny Treacy. Photographers' agent Claudio Napolitano (Today Mangement), Curator Karen McQuaid (Photographer's Gallery), and artists Steffi Klenz and Melinda Gibson will also contribute to your preparation for industry.

    Modules

    The Client Brief

    In this module, you'll have the opportunity to work with a selected client on a proposed professional brief. From generating initial ideas through to delivering image production, you'll learn how to work in an industry-facing manner; presenting your ideas efficiently and effectively will be key. You'll be asked to respond to the client's brief with your own authentic take on fashion photography, while ensuring that their intended message is clearly and compellingly translated into innovative and forward-thinking photographs.

    Research into Practice

    This module is very much about 'theory to practice/practice to theory'. You'll have an opportunity to articulate your research in the form of a dissertation, while also producing a project proposal presentation ahead of your final major body of work.

    Final Major Project

    The Final Major Project unit is an independently led project in which you’ll draw on your extended knowledge of contemporary image making, critical theory and technical skills to support the production of a final body of work at a professional level. 

    The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.

    From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details

    How you'll learn

    You'll take on live client editorial and advertising briefs with accompanying lectures and workshops. This respected fashion photography course is centred around regular tutorials, lectures, seminars and technical workshops in the studio and on location. There'll be opportunities to attend fashion weeks and take study trips to world-renowned fashion centres.

    You'll also have a high level of contact time with your staff and tutors, who'll encourage you to gain a diverse and global understanding of the industry through international placements.

     

    How you'll spend your time 

    Year

    Timetabled teaching and

    learning activity

    Guided

    independent study

    1

    35%

    65%

    2

    30%

    70%

    3

    25%

    75%

     

    How you'll be assessed

    Year

    Written exams

    Practical exams

    Coursework

    1

    0%

    0%

    100%

    2

    0%

    0%

    100%

    3

    0%

    0%

    100%

     The above percentages relate to 2019/2020 data.

     

    Assessment methods

    • Continuous assessment of visual, verbal and written assignments.
    • Portfolio submissions, support work and online presence.
    • Final-year portfolio.

    Staff

    The team is made up of award-winning educators and leading creatives in their fields, like photographers Jonathan Simms (Vogue Homme, Glamour, GQ), Donald Christie (I.D, Dazed, The Face), Fashion Director Philip Scurrah (Wallpaper, Russh, Selfridges) and Eloise Parry (Dazed, Helmut Lang, Topshop).

    Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every member shown here.

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Jonathan Simms

    Course Leader BA(Hons) Fashion Photography

    Jonathan Simms is the Course Leader for BA(Hons) Fashion Photography at Falmouth University. As an...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Donald Christie

    Senior Lecturer

    Donald’s iconic photography career is instrumental in defining the anti-fashion 1990s youth...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Philip Scurrah

    Senior Lecturer BA (Hons) Fashion Photography

    Philip Scurrah is Senior Lecturer for BA(Hons) Fashion photography. Philip's fashion styling and...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Eloise Parry

    Lecturer

    Eloise Parry is a British photographer born in Middlesbrough. She has shot for magazines such as M...

    Staff profile
    Staff profile

    Dave Mann

    Technical Instructor

    I have worked as a professional photographer and photography educator for many ...

    Facilities

    • Eight large, fully equipped professional studios - frequently in demand from external professionals outside of term time.
    • Fully colour-managed digital suites with specialist print processing facilities.
    • Specialist software training with Adobe Creative Suite.
    • Photography store containing an extensive range of industry-standard equipment available for loan from 9am-9pm, 7 days a week during term time.

    Take a virtual tour

    Work by Nicole Loucaides

    How to apply

    Apply via UCAS

    Ready to join us? If you're applying through UCAS Apply and Track, you'll need to reference the university and course codes below.

    • University code: F33
    • Course code: W641

    Apply now

    Applying as an international student? 

    International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the university. For more information about how to apply as an international student, visit our International applications page.

     

    International applications

    Application advice & interview information

    Go to Toolkit
    • Entry requirements
    • Language requirements
    • Deadlines
    Entry requirements

    We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you’ve specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.  

    As a guide our typical offer at undergraduate level is 104 – 120 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-levels, a BTEC Extended Diploma or a Foundation Diploma. 

    Check how many points your qualifications are worth

    Language requirements

    For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent. 

    If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard, which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.  

    If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you'll need to take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the University. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.

    Deadlines

    UK/EU applications: 29 January 2021 (for equal consideration) 

    Late applications will be considered if there are places available. 

    International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.

    What we're looking for

    We want someone who:

    • Shows creative flair and technical ability.
    • Thinks conceptually.
    • Has photographic communication skills.
    • Can experiment.
    • Has fashion knowledge.

    Fees, costs & funding

    Tuition fees

    • Tuition fees 2020-21
    • Tuition fees 2021-22
    Tuition fees 2020-21

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK/EU

    £16,000 per year - full-time international

    Tuition fees 2021-22

    £9,250 per year - full-time UK

    £16,950 - full-time EU

    £16,950 - full-time international

    Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

    Typical course costs

    • £300-£600 - Recurring annual costs
    • £200-£300 - One-off costs for the course duration (compulsory trips, final portfolios or shows, etc)
    • £1,750 - Optional study visits and placements for the course duration

    If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your Welcome Letter.

    The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

    Funding

    For information about funding available, please visit our undergraduate funding page

    Ask a student

    What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students? 

    From course details, our facilities and the local area to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

     

    Open Days and Campus Tours

    See how we turn real industry experience into real careers.

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