instructor broome with photography students

photography certificate program

The UWG Photography Certification consists of a series of two courses: Photography I and Photography II. The Photography Certificate Program is a non-credit program offered by UWG Continuing Education and is open to the community. All courses are instructed by Steven Broome. The Fall 2024 Series is being held at UWG Newnan. 

Registration Opening Soon for Spring 2025 Photography Courses

Program Content and Structure

The Photography I and Photography II courses consist of 15 hours of classroom instruction and 2 hours of fieldwork for a total of 34 hours for the Certification. Photo I and Photo II must be taken in sequence for completion of the Photography Certificate, thus Photo I is a prerequisite of Photo II. 

Fall 2024 Program at UWG Newnan

Photography I - Fall 2024 - Course Complete

Meets: Tuesdays from 6:30 - 9:00 PM

Class Dates: 8/20, 8/27, 9/3, 9/10, 10/1, & 10/8 (No Class on 9/17 & 9/24) 

Saturday Fieldwork: 9/7

Location: UWG Newnan

Photography II - Fall 2024 Course - Course in Session

Meets: Tuesdays from 6:30-9:00 PM

Class Dates: 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12, & 11/19

Saturday Fieldwork: 11/2

Location: UWG Newnan

The Photography I course explores the myriad of functions available in today's popular DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) and mirrorless cameras and how they relate to great picture-taking. Exposure modes, white balance, shutter speeds, and f/stops will be among the many topics covered. 

Participants should bring their camera and owner's manual to class. The class will meet on Tuesday evenings and on a Saturday, for a two-hour shooting workshop. The instructor and class will determine the time and location for the Saturday workshop/fieldwork. In addition to class lectures and demonstrations, students will be given out-of-class assignments to practice technical skills. Students will share their images and participate in class discussions to improve learned techniques throughout the course. 

The Photography II course is designed to build upon the basics of your DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) and mirrorless cameras learned in Photography I. It will give you a more in-depth understanding of exposure and will cover image composition, subject matter, and - most importantly - lighting. Class assignments will be given to help you learn to "see" unique photographic opportunities out of the seemingly ordinary. Students will share their images and participate in class discussions throughout the course. 

Participants should bring their camera and owner's manual to class. The class will meet on Tuesday evenings and on a Saturday, for a two-hour shooting workshop/fieldwork. The instructor and class will determine the time and location for the Saturday workshop.

Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Participants earning a UWG Continuing Education Photography Certification will be able to maximize the use of their digital and mirrorless cameras in order to produce a “professional” grade photograph suitable for use in brochures, publications and personal display.

Program Leadership  

Photography is an art form like no other. It captures a particular moment and freezes reality for one precious second. For Steven Broome, photography has been his life’s joy since he got his first camera in the fourth grade. As part of the UWG family, Steven channels his passion into creating stories and memories through photography and other visual technology. Steven has been part of the University of West Georgia family for more than two decades, having received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university, joining the staff in 1989, and retiring in 2020. He has received several honors, including an APEX Award of Excellence for a photo taken on campus just following September 11, 2001, as well as being part of the team that won a CASE Gold Award for Campaign Publications during the UWG Centennial. As the former Associate Director of Visual Services, Steven supervised a team of skilled photographers and videographers who work hard at showing the story behind UWG and what makes it great. He finds inspiration in the unbridled spirit embodied by the UWG community. Steven collects old cameras, a collection that has grown to include approximately 100 different types. In his words: “these are the tools that allowed regular people to document their own history, and it's that vernacular history that I find very interesting.”

Program Contact

If you require additional information or clarification, please contact Erika McClain at emcclain@westga.edu or (678) 839-6611.

Additional Photography and Creative Software Courses

View Online Photography and Creative Software Courses