School of Photography

We Make Art Work

Take the Next Step

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Please enter numbers only

Education Level

I am a/an

United States Military Status

High School Graduation Year

By submitting this form, I give express written consent to receive communications about educational opportunities from or on behalf of ArtU via email, text message, OTT app messages (e.g., WhatsApp), and/or phone calls (including mobile and automated/pre-recorded messages) at the contact information I provided. I understand that:

Standard text and/or usage rates may apply.
My consent is not a condition of purchasing any goods or services or completing any application.
I may opt out of communications from Academy of Art University or its vendors by emailing Unsubscribe@academyart.edu or using the opt-out options provided in the communications.

Military No

Military Yes

comm_key_4

Every Frame. Every Shot. Every Chance.

You will sharpen your vision, precision, and creativity while capturing stunning images and developing your own style. Train in commercial, fine art, and documentary photography with courses in lighting, composition, motion capture, and AI. Learn from guest lecturers and industry pros, shoot with Phase One cameras, collaborate across schools, and exhibit your work in galleries. Graduate with a portfolio that doesn’t just show your work—it commands attention.

Join us: On campus in San Francisco, online, or virtually via Zoom (select classes)

Companies that Employ Our Students

Students & Alumni

At the Academy, creativity doesn’t pause at graduation—it accelerates. From day one, students arrive with bold ideas and leave with portfolios that speak louder than résumés. After graduation, they step confidently into creative, dynamic careers.

Our alumni are out in the world winning awards, leading teams, and shaping culture. Our School of Photography is where passion for photography meets purpose—where creative vision turns into real-world impact, on campus and throughout studios, galleries, and industries worldwide.

See More Success Stories

Justine Willard

“Choosing Academy of Art was easy. My teachers recognized my passion for concert photography and supported me in making it the focus of my final project.”

BFA Photography, Team Photographer at The Nevada Athletics

Laisha Barroso

“The Academy creates such a diverse creative community. I’ve met fashion designers, photographers, and artists from so many backgrounds, and the professors really prepare you for the real world. They remind us that rejection is part of the journey and encourage us to keep putting our work out there.”

BFA Photography, Recent Graduate

Michael Lafountain

“I would absolutely recommend the Academy. They take your passion and help it blossom into endless possibilities. Being an OS+ student has been amazing. I fly to San Francisco once a semester and complete the rest from my home in Georgia.”

BFA Photography Student

Rachelle Steele

“Whatever I could dream, the Academy had the equipment and support to make it happen. They encouraged me to identify my style, focus on it, and emerge with a portfolio that proves I can succeed in the industry.”

BFA & MA Photography Alumni, Award Winning Master Photographer

Facility Highlights

In the heart of downtown San Francisco, our five-story photography building at 625 Sutter is dedicated entirely to the art of photography. Create in three natural light studios, four black box studios, and a unique outdoor urban studio. Refine your skills in analog and digital labs. Exhibit your work in the first-floor gallery. Access advanced professional equipment, all under one roof and built for your craft.

Equipment Checkout

From Sony, Canon, and Phase One digital systems to Hasselblad and Mamiya analog rigs—including 4×5 Sinar large format—you’ll have access to the full range of professional tools. Our studios are equipped with Broncolor, Profoto, and KinoFlo lighting, along with audio and motion capture gear for any project. With equipment room experts by your side, you’ll have the technical support you need at every step of your education.

Digital Lab

From capture to print, you’ll get expert guidance in our color-managed Mac labs equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud. Scan negatives on Hasselblad large-format film scanners. Print on Epson large-format printers up to 40 x 60 inches. You’ll train on the same professional hardware used in top commercial and fine art studios,ensuring your work meets the highest industry standards.

Dark Room

Discover photography’s roots while experimenting with timeless processes in a modern context. Work in black-and-white darkrooms for film processing and printing. Explore a large mural darkroom. Push boundaries in our alternative process lab. From mural printing to tintype, cyanotype, Van Dyke, and platinum printing, you’ll transform historic techniques into your own creative practice.

Studios

Discover the art of working with light in every form. Our natural light studios on the upper floors capture light in its purest state, while black box studios below offer total creative control—from subtle continuous light setups to dramatic strobe lighting. With 40-foot ceilings and whitewashed walls, these spaces are built to shape and reflect light with elegance. At our Washington Street location, The Cove delivers 2,277 square feet for large-scale shoots and Phase One large-format classes. An enclosed outdoor studio adds yet another dimension where you’ll learn to photograph in shifting natural light.

Gallery

The gallery at 625 Sutter is a showcase for creativity, where students and alumni present their work in a professional setting. This space connects your photography to the wider artistic community and gives you real-world experience in presentation and curation. From intimate student showcases to large group exhibitions, the gallery highlights talent and vision while providing meaningful exposure in the heart of San Francisco’s cultural scene.