COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Commercial Photography is an awesome and incredible high school program for students! It is a
Career & Technical Education program for students in Cherry Creek, Douglas County, Englewood,
Littleton, and Sheridan School districts. This class enables students to explore photography as a
possible career and is designed to help the student acquire practical photographic skills through an
interactive and hands-on educational experience.
Careers in photography vary and include portrait, fashion, sports, scenic, architecture, wedding,
forensic, documentary, photojournalism, and product advertising. The comprenhensive class offers
students an opportunity to learn fundamental principles and practices using a variety of cameras,
including 35mm film and digital, medium format, and 4x5 large format. Students develop and print
both black/white and color film in the darkroom as well as learn to use Photoshop and Lightroom. All
students are required to go out on-location and shoot their projects which are rich and diverse.
Throughout the year student will also enjoy presentations from variety of active professional
photographers. Students learn through the challenge of many different types of photographic
assignments and practical small business theory and practices. This is a challenging class that
emphasizes craftsmanship, teaming, organization, and demonstrating professionalism. To enroll, call
Mr. Todd Adams,Teacher: 720.554.4563.
Both the Digital and Comprehensive Commercial Photography classes provides students with the
opportunity to learn how to be a professional photographer while learning what it takes to be a
“professional.” Students learn various photography skills such as effective shooting techniques
while working with various cameras, working independently, teaming with other students, and
learning darkroom techniques. This class allows the student to draw upon his/her education and
incorporate this knowledge and their life experience into each assignment. This is a hands-on,
project-oriented class where students learn to problem solve and multi-task projects.
Digital Commercial Photography
Open to:
Grades: 10, 11 and 12
Credit:
1 Unit/Yr
Prerequisite:
Location:
Application; $50 fee per year; transportation to photo shoots
Cherry Creek Career & Technical Education Building
9150 E. Union Avenue
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Class Time:
7:10am – 8:01am
1st period bell-to-bell CCHS schedule
Intent: Digital Commercial Photography is intended to be a year program. Students start in the fall
the class in the spring. Mid-year approval is based on each student’s prior photography experience
and knowledge. All students must be able to travel throughout the Denver metropolitan area in order
to complete the projects.
Photographic Fundamentals:
 Elements of Art Theory
 Photographic Compositional Theory
 Principles of Design as they relate to photography
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During the first semester, students are introduced to the basic principles, techniques, and operation of
photographic equipment. This includes 35mm digital camera. Students are taught how to critique and
present images, as well as composition and editing processes are taught while emphasizing
craftsmanship. Visual elements of design and composition are emphasized. Students explore careers
in photography as several professional photographers and art schools are also invited to present to the
students. Assignments include: portraits; shadows; reflections; sports; angles; and forensics.
Students complete around 20 different shooting assignments all year.
Comprehensive Commercial Photography
Open to:
Grade 11-12
Credit:
2 Units
Sophomores may join if they have frequent transportation access.
Prerequisite:
Location:
Application: $75 annual lab fee; transportation to photo shoots
Cherry Creek Career & Technical Education Building
9150 E. Union Avenue
Greenwood Vlg, CO 80111
Class Time:
1:45 – 3:15pm
Intent: The Comprehensive Commercial Photography is intended to be a year-long class. This class
takes the students in-depth in areas of photography including: shooting skills/techniques, technical
knowledge, and experience with different cameras and processes.
Students will learn how to operate a 4x5 view camera, medium format camera, and digital camera.
During the second semester student will be shooting with color film, developing color film, and
printing from color negatives. Students enter various photography competitions and community based
projects.
COURSE PROJECTS
First semester of Basic Commercial Photography:
1. Anything Goes – First B&W Film & Darkroom Assignment
2. Digital Senior Portrait(s) plus Digital Printing / Matting
3. “The ‘Ole Barn” - Darkroom 1st Film B&W Printing Assignment
4. Rule of Thirds Shooting / B&W Film & Darkroom Assignment
5. Colorful Colorado – Digital / Film
6. Repetition – Digital / Film
7. Urban Life / Urban Decay – Digital; cross processing
8. 4X5 View Camera – Commercial Advertising – B/W Film
9. City / Landscape – Digital B&W
10. History Perspective - B&W Film and Darkroom
11. Friends & Family – Digital
12. Photojournalism Assignment – Digital
13. Famous Photographer Presentation & Formal Research Paper
Second semester of Basic Commercial Photography – projects are all digital:
1. Snow – due date TBD
2. Chocolate Chips Cookies or Brownies
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Bread with tension item
Plate with accent item
Super Bowl Ad
Shoes with reflection
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Coupon Ad with advertising text
Shadows / Angles with Gobo Effect
Reflections / Reflective
Splash!
Dominate Elements
Magazine/CD Album Cover
Forensics Photography – (time permitting)
Nighttime Photography
Inspirational Poster
Portraits
Fundraiser – Portraits on one Saturday Morning mid February required
Illustrating Poems
Sports / Action
Community Outreach Assignment – Assisted Living Ctr
Personal Resume and Cover Letter
Photo Mystery
Peculiar Perspective / Peculiar Subject – (time permitting)
Hershey Bars & Pizza (time permitting)
Candles (time permitting)
Pets! (time permitting)
Pricing and Marketing / Business Aspect of Photography
1. Contests, include: State Spring Competition; PSA; Cherry Creek West Art Festival; and Littleton’s
Young Youth Art Show
Extra Credit Assignments:
 Printing Color Wheel - Color Film & Darkroom
 Day in the Life of a Student (Photojournalism)
When working with digital photography, students who complete their projects early may explore additional Adobe Photoshop
projects that include but are not limited to:
 Creating Mask / Layering
 Using Actions
 Stitching an Image
 High Dynamic Range (HDR)
 Illustrating a Poem
 Tilt / Shift
 Scavenger Hunt
 Small Objects / Macro: “What Is It?”
 Bokeh Effect
 Creating a “reflection” and “cross processing” image in Photoshop
 I-Movies: build a slide-show with pictures set to music
Projects for the Advanced Students:
 “Know Your ABC’s” – digital & digital printing
 Scavenger Hunt: Shooting for Elements of Art – digital & digital printing
 Specific Themes
o September’s Flowers – digital & digital printing
o “Wet & Water” – digital & digital printing
o Shooting for the Direction of Light
o Opposites / Contrast
o Coffee
 Scenic / Landscape: 35mm film and Medium Format Camera film
o Fall Colors entitled “Colorful Colorado” – color 35mm film
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o Cityscape of Denver – digital printing
o Cars – digital & digital printing (optional)
Architecture Photography, includes: 4x5 View Camera & Digital
o Shooting / Developing a Real Estate Brochure - digital
o Interior Architecture Photography – digital & digital printing
o Exterior Architecture Photography – digital & digital printing
Product Commercial Advertising: 4x5 View Camera - film
o Shooting for Stock Advertising Purposes
o Shooting Products for Catalog – montage print
o Shooting Products for Single Page Ad
o Shooting / Developing an Advertising Promotion (optional)
Famous Photographer Research & Presentation Project – students actually schedule/meet with an active pro
photographer and conduct research in order to produce a written paper plus corresponding Keynote/PPT presentation
Lifestyle Photography – digital & digital printing
“Shooting Something From Nothing” – using video light/digital; off camera flash
Studio Portraiture – digital & digital printing
o Single Light; Two Lights; Multiple Lights
o Low Light; High-key Light; green screen w/ digital backgrounds
o Fashion Photography (tentative)
o Group
o Portraits of Children, High School Seniors & Senior Citizens
o Portrait Fund Raiser - required
On-location Portraits – digital & digital printing
o Interpretative / Documentary of Veteran/Fireman/Police Officer
o Self Portraits
Photojournalism Assignment (optional)
Forensics Photography – digital – (as time permits)
Nighttime Photography – digital & digital printing
The Melvin Baxter Project – digital (optional)
Shooting Glass
Shooting Silverware
Develop a “How to Series” – digital images with corresponding text directions
Make Something Delicious – (finished product plus recipe)
Stock Photography, or “The David Hockney” Project – digital (optional)
Joint photo and graphic design assignment
State Photography Competition Contest - required
Portfolio Development – optional cost $30-35 for actual album
Photo Mystery, or Photoshop Filter Assignment – digital & digital printing
Senior Project – Student’s Choice
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Shooting / Developing a: Calendar/Recipe Book
By the time a second year Commercial Photography student completes this program, they will be
exposed to these tools/functions within Photoshop and specifically its Toolbox capabilities:
Rectangular marquee tool, magnetic lasso tool, spot healing brush, healing brush, patch tool, red eye
tool, clone stamp, eraser tool, blur tool, sharpen tool, smudge tool, brush tool, pencil tool, history,
gradient tool, paint bucket, dodge tool, burn tool, text tool, rectangle tool, line tool, eyedropper tool.
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