By Daily Press staff
Santa Monica College is one of eight higher education institutions in the U.S. — and the only public two-year college — to be picked for a new national program designed to help students establish successful careers in commercial photography.
The Advertising Photographers of America has announced it has developed the “Successful Emerging Photographers” program, designed to offer tips and techniques for photography students to make a smooth transition into the profession.
“We picked a few schools we thought had a great reputation,” said Bobbi Lane, APA’s education chair. “And SMC is known as having a terrific photo program.”
The APA program, which was launched in May at the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Massachusetts, involves an intensive one-day seminar that provides an overview of the commercial photography industry and gives useful information about business plans, marketing, copyright and licensing, and more.
Photography professor Ford Lowcock said the seminar at SMC will be offered Nov. 12, and advanced students will be required to attend. He said the seminar also will be open to other students and alumni.
“It’s one of the best things that has been offered to our students, to get knowledge of the business, and other aspects of commercial photography,” Lowcock said.
APA President George Fulton said his organization has “a grand goal to help develop successful future photographers by inspiring them through our members’ successes.”
The other colleges confirmed for the program in 2004-05 are the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Art Institute of Atlanta, Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, and the Parsons School of Design in New York. Aside from Hallmark, the program also was offered this summer at the International Center for Photography in New York.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 1, 2004. Read the original PDF.