Foothill College has built a strong reputation for its comprehensive photography program, which is designed to guide students from their first steps behind the camera to professional or academic advancement. The program blends technical training with creative exploration, ensuring that students not only master the mechanics of the medium but also discover their own artistic voice. Whether one’s goal is transferring to a four-year institution, launching a career in photography, or pursuing personal enrichment, the program provides a solid foundation.
The curriculum covers a wide spectrum of photographic practice. Students gain experience in traditional black-and-white film processing and printing, digital workflows, color photography, and studio lighting. Courses also emphasize experimental approaches, inviting students to push the boundaries of the medium. Alongside technical instruction, classes in photo criticism and portfolio development cultivate the ability to analyze and present work with confidence, preparing students for real-world opportunities.
A central goal of the program is to encourage the development of an expressive, individual style while achieving technical excellence. Students are also invited to consider photography’s cultural and social role, learning how images shape perception and meaning. This balance of practice and theory ensures graduates are not only skilled image-makers but also thoughtful visual storytellers.
Foothill College offers an Associate in Arts degree in photography as well as a variety of certificates tailored to different career paths and levels of commitment. These options allow students to focus on areas that match their aspirations, whether that be fine art, commercial photography, or related industries. An active advisory board of industry professionals further supports the program, ensuring that instruction remains aligned with the skills most in demand in today’s photography field.
With outstanding faculty, modern facilities, and strong ties to the industry, Foothill College provides a dynamic environment for aspiring photographers to learn, experiment, and thrive.
Foothill College Photography Program
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
expand_circle_rightWhere Photography Happens
expand_circle_rightPhotography Events Ending Soon
Daido Moriyama: The Hunter
Jun 06, 2026 – Sep 05, 2026
Peter Fetterman Gallery
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Marilyn Monroe: A Silent Life
May 30, 2026 – Sep 05, 2026
Peter Fetterman Gallery
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Don Thompson: Visions of Time and Transformation
Jul 18, 2026 – Sep 05, 2026
The Hulett Collection
Tulsa, OK, United States
Kinship & Community: Selections from the Texas African American Photography Archive
Apr 18, 2026 – Sep 05, 2026
CAAM - California African American Museum at Art + Practice
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Rahim Fortune: Between a Memory and Me
Apr 18, 2026 – Sep 05, 2026
CAAM - California African American Museum at Art + Practice
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Thirty Years: The Legacy of John Cleary Gallery
Jun 27, 2026 – Sep 05, 2026
Catherine Couturier Gallery
Houston, TX, United States
New Acquisitions: Photography
Jun 12, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
The High Museum of Art
Atlanta, GA, United States
Chicano Camera Culture: A Photographic History, 1966 to 2026
Feb 07, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
The Cheech
Riverside, CA, United States
Off the Coast of Paradise: Artists and Ossabaw Island, 1961–Now
Mar 13, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
Telfair Museums
Savannah, GA, United States
Upstate Photography Biennial
May 30, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
CPW - Center for Photography at Woodstock
Kingston, NY, United States
Tamary Kudita: African Victorian and Birds of Paradise
May 03, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati, OH, United States
Give Me One Good Reason for Leaving the House
Aug 15, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
CPW - Center for Photography at Woodstock
Kingston, NY, United States
Selections from the Photography Collection: Textiles on Film
Mar 14, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
AAM - Allentown Art Museum
Allentown, PA, United States
Edward Steichen and the Garden
Mar 27, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
George Eastman Museum
Rochester, NY, United States
Nepantla: The Land is The Beloved
May 18, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
TAM - Tacoma Art Museum
Tacoma, WA, United States
2026 Handmade Photobook Exhibition
Jun 12, 2026 – Sep 06, 2026
Griffin Museum of Photography
Winchester, MA, United States



