Photography GCSE provides the opportunity to learn camera skills like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Students learn to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to edit photos and create digital illustrations. Lessons involve photoshoots, camera use, image editing, learning about photographers, and creative projects. Students are assessed on editing, camera techniques, presenting personal response, and critical and contextual understanding shown through coursework projects and a 10-hour practical exam unit. Photography GCSE suits creative students interested in aesthetics who enjoy hands-on, practical work and would be good preparation for further photo-related education and careers.

1. GCSE
Photography

2. Photography GCSE – Why Take
Photography?
Photography GCSE gives
you the opportunity to
learn how to use a camera,
how to compose beautiful
images and how to express
your ideas through

3. Photography GCSE – What do we
learn about?
Photography GCSE allows
you to learn a whole range of
skills including;
- How to use a DSLR camera;
using shutter speed,
aperture and ISO to control
how you photographs look
- How to use Adobe
Photoshop to edit your
images
- Digital Illustration using
Adobe Illustrator
- Hand-rendered editing
techniques
- Studio lighting skills
Lessons are spent – doing
photoshoots, using
cameras uploading
images, editing
photographs, learning
about different
photographers, creating
digital illustrations,
experimenting and
generally being creative!

4. These are the four
categories that your
work will be marked on
and these will be the
skills you are aiming to
show in your courswork
projects. These are the
same as the Art GCSE
so they work very well
together
Photography GCSE - How is it
assessed?
Photography GCSE is ENTIRELY practical.
The assessment is made up of 60% coursework and 40% ‘Exam unit’ – BUT
this is not an exam where you sit in the hall and write answers.
You will spend 10 hours (imagine two normal school days with breaks)
working on a final piece for a project. This might be a photoshoot, an edit or
a combination of severa techniques.
EDITING

5. Example pages from Photography Coursewo

6. Photography GCSE – Who would it
suit?
Photography GCSE
is the ideal course for
someone creativethat
love a hands-on,
practical way of
working.
If you are always taking
photographs and love
capturing aesthetically
pleasing images, then you will
be ideally suited for

7. Where would this lead?
Photography GCSE can
lead to A Level
Photography and
further, such as a
Photography degree.
There are many
different career paths
involving photograpy,
including:
Commercial Product Photography, Medical
illustrator, Fashion Photography,
Photojournalism, Studio Photographer, Television
camera operator, Graphic designers as well as
roles in social media, digital content creation, and
many more......

8. Photography GCSE – FAQ's
"Do I have to have a Camera to take Photography?"
- No, it is helpful but not essential. Lots of our students use their
phone cameras to complete photoshoots outside of lessons with
brilliant results. We have a class set of DSLR cameras for use in
lessons.
"Do I have to have Photoshop at home?"
No, we use Adobe Photoshop in lessons and students have access
to computers and software at breaktimes and lunchtimes to finishe
off work if necessary. The course will never require students to use
Photoshop at home for homework.
"Do I have to do any writing? Photography's just taking pictures,
right?"
Photography GCSE requires you to explain your ideas through
your photographs as well as the written work in your coursework.
You will need to express the concepts behind your projects, your
technical understanding and opinions through analysis, mind
maps and written annotations throughout your work .