• Certificate provides a professional credential to use when applying for positions or looking for clients.
• Improves proficiency in the craft of photography through study with master professionals.
• Offers tools needed to create a business plan including :
  • Starting a business.
  • Pricing, insurance, accounting.
  • Creating a marketing plan.
  • Preparing a professional quality portfolio.
• Provides insight into different careers and skills needed within the photography industry.
• Finishes with an individualized, free portfolio analysis.  Use your completed portfolio to gain clients and get hired.

Classes can be taken in any order. However, many of them require CES 3697 DSLR Photography Techniques 1 as a prerequisite.

Any class listed in the Schoolcraft Certificate of Photography that was completed after September 1, 2015 can be counted towards the certificate.

A recent DSLR camera (no more than five years old) or other camera with instructor's approval, a zoom lens or a set of lenses spanning moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto, a cable release, a tripod.

Yes, many of the classes require you to complete photo assignments to bring to the next class.

Students interested in exploring photography as a career or hobbyists who would like to expand their photography skills.

The cost to complete the certificate program will vary depending on the electives you choose to take. The cost for the core classes is approximately $2,000. The cost for the electives varies from $299 to $49 per class.

The certificate can be completed in one year. However, students may take up to three years to complete the certificate.

Some classes, including DSLR Photography Techniques 1 and 2, will be graded.

When you have successfully completed all of the core classes, four elective classes and the portfolio analysis you are ready to receive your certificate.  At that time please call the CEPD office at 734-462-4448.  We will confirm that the classes have been completed and send your certificate.

If your question is not answered on this website, call CEPD at 734-462-4448 or e-mail cepd@schoolcraft.edu. 

“How could someone catch such incredible beauty in a simple photograph?” – Dave Haupt on Ansel Adams

Ever since he was a small child, Dave was interested in pursuing a career as an artist. This interest was nurtured by his talented mother who was an incredible multi-media artist. Under her tutelage Dave excelled as an art student. Seeing his first Ansel Adams print inspired Dave to move into photography, incorporating his art training into a new media. 

Professionally Dave has participated in nine multi-artist gallery events and has held five solo exhibits. His photos also have been published. In 2010 he created vonHaupt Photography, and began teaching photography classes and on location photography workshops. In 2016, Dave co-created Creative Vision Photography Workshops to further developed high-quality photography education through Meetups, as well as classes and on-location workshops. His teaching style is one of understanding, mentoring, and of course, having fun.

John Campbell states, “I don’t photograph subjects. I photograph the way they make me feel.”

John’s 40 year photographic journey began as a young boy; he was fascinated by the images from National Geographic, Life, Look and other publications. As a student at the University of Michigan, he added to his photographic repertoire. Upon graduation, he continued to learn the mechanics of the dark room and the “perfect photo.” He studied photography with Monte Nagler and Howard Bond and took numerous workshops. John also has years of teaching experience as a high school biology teacher. He feels fortunate to be able to teach photography, finding joy working with students and colleagues.

"I have never found anything more challenging than photographing people,” John Sobczak has said. “During the brief moments we are allowed access to an individual we must discover something of his or her true nature and capture it on film. Often we must overcome the individual's own preconceived idea of themselves to do it."

John has been a professional photographer based in Detroit for over 30 years.  His images have graced the pages of Time, Newsweek, USA Today, as well as many local publications including Hour Magazine, Ambassador Magazine and Crain’s Detroit Business.  His commercial work has included billboards, brochures & annual reports for such clients as General Motors Corporation, AT&T, Chrysler, Lear and Ford Motor Company.

His work has been featured in many exhibitions including solo showings, and he has won numerous awards, including a regional and district Addy for a portrait of Jeff Daniels that appeared on the cover of Hour Magazine.  An ongoing theme in his work has been his pursuit of recognition for the many talented, creative individuals among us.  This led to the creation of two portfolios; the first being a series of portraits of jazz musicians, including Marcus Belgrave, Earl Klugh and Geri Allen, for the Graystone Jazz Museum. The second portfolio was a series of portraits of some of the area's funniest comedians, including Tim Allen, Dave Coulier and Soupy Sales, for the MS Society of Michigan. 

His books have included "The Vision of Words," a collection of works by Michigan writer with photo-illustrations by John; “Motor City Memoirs,” portraits and stories from notable and interesting Detroiters; “Cleveland Classics, Great Stories from the North Coast,” and “A Motor City Year.” His book of dance photography, “Dance / Box / Lens, Portraits in Motion,” was published in 2016.

In 2007 portfolios of his work became part of the permanent collections of two of the most prestigious museums in the country, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Detroit Institute of Art.

Monte Nagler began photographing seriously after studying with Ansel Adams. "It was during that period of intensive work that I realized that making photographs is a way to experience beauty instead of just looking at it," Nagler says.  He believes that photographers should communicate feelings that are inside them.  Through their photographs, a photographer should be saying: “This is what I saw and felt and I’d like to share that!”

Monte’s photographs, which have won numerous awards, are found in many private, public and museum collections including the Detroit Institute of Art; the University of Michigan Museum of Art; the Dayton Art Institute; the Grand Rapids Art Museum; the Flint Art Institute; the Center for Creative Photography; The Brooklyn Museum; The State of Michigan; General Electric Corporation; BASF Corporation; Compuware; and Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors. Galleries and agents throughout the country also represent his photography.

Monte is a noted writer, lecturer and teacher of photography and is the author of six successful photography books: “How To Improve Your Photographic Vision”; “Statements Of Light”; “Monte Nagler’s Michigan”; “Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand – A Photographic Journey”; “Amos Walker’s Detroit” (co-authored with Loren Estleman) and “Quartets - Photographs In Visual Harmony.” 

Monte has also conducted many classes and seminars throughout the world.  Frequently, he is called upon to judge contests and to speak on photography topics on local radio and television shows.Monte is a recipient of the prestigious Artist In Residence Award from the Farmington Area Arts Commission. 

In addition to the many awards and acknowledgements Monte has received, the State of Michigan Senate and House have honored him with proclamations for his contributions to fine art photography.

Monte’s desire to share and experience the emotional beauty of what he captures through his photography has been the driving force in his quest to have others sees the world in a finer light, and to appreciate life a little more.  His art is not only in private and corporate environments, but is also placed into healthcare facilities as ‘art for healing’. In addition, many of his images have been given as inspirational rewards for recipients of recognition/incentive programs.  What better way to say to someone “thank you for your commitment to us and to life”.

Shawn Lee is an accomplished artist, photographer and entrepreneur. He brings a wealth of photographic knowledge and experience to Schoolcraft as the instructor of CES 3694 Portrait Lighting: Create Stunning Effects.

As a photography professional, Shawn has been a featured speaker on the Speaker Team for Miller’s Professional Imaging, the largest professional lab organization in the United States. In 2014 and 2015 he was a platform speaker at the Wedding & Portrait Photography Conference in Las Vegas. Shawn’s work has been published and displayed numerous times. In 2014, his photography was featured on the cover of Rangefinder Magazine. As a “Spirit of Detroit” Award recipient, his winning photograph “Dawn of Detroit” was part of a four-month exhibition in London’s West End.

Coupled with a passion for community service for 17 years, Shawn’s energetic enthusiasm for life is demonstrated as the founder and director of "I SEE DETROIT,” an annual photographic tour that brings photographers from across the nation to photograph the jewels of the city of Detroit. You'll often hear Shawn say, "Run That!" or "Bring The Pain!", and most recently...“Rock That!” which are his unique terms for making life happen. He approaches photography, his love for people and his numerous community service initiatives very much the same way - with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Photography has been part of Tim’s life since he was 12 years old, when his father let him try out a 126 Brownie box camera.

While studying business and computer technologies at Macomb Community College and Wayne State University, Tim discovered digital photography, which led to the excitement of exploring this new method of photography. He has said, “I think I understand how past photographers must have felt when they were given their first roll of film instead of a stack of film plates.” 

His mission as a photographer is to capture subjects in a setting and manner that show the person in a natural state. He enjoys helping people step out of their shell in front of the lens. 

As an instructor, he’s been able to pass along both his passion for creativity and technical knowledge to make great photographs.

Alanna’s award-winning photos consists of cityscapes,
architecture and abandoned spaces in Detroit and many locations throughout the Eastern United States. She has been working as a professional photographer for eight years and enjoys showing students Detroit through her class,
Photography of Metro Detroit.

Her natural light photography conveys her interest in capturing the city, as well as old, historical locations. Her work has been featured on TV and in magazines, and is available at select art fairs and her website.