Welcome to your Photography course

Hello New Photography Students 

Welcome to one of the most established photography courses in the country. The course team from Photography can’t wait to meet you and begin what will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. The course develops your conceptual, creative, and technical skills through a wide range of photographic projects and tasks. Exciting times ahead! 

We are looking forward to meeting you all at Welcome Week.

Paul O’Leary

Course Leader BA Hons Photography 

Course Delivery

In September you will embark on an exciting learning journey that will explore the world of visual communication.

This course seeks to nurture new talent, encouraging students to develop imaginative approaches to image-making, as well as the technical knowledge required to become leading industry professionals. 

The current team brings a wealth of experience from across the photographic and art sector – from editorial, advertising, public relations, fashion, documentary and art practices. We also have a team of Apple and Adobe certified technical instructors.

Semester one activities

We’ve listed a little light reading before the course starts but you might also advance your practical skills. How confident are you with your camera? In the first year of the course you will study Image Technologies. This module is set out to give you control over your camera, lighting and post-production. Why wait for the course to start, get out and use your camera now!

Before you start - what can I look at to prepare me for the course?

“If I have any ‘message’ worth giving to a beginner it is that there are no 

short cuts in photography.” Edward Weston

Starting a new course can be both exciting and a little daunting. During the interview process we saw the potential in you to ‘make’ great photographs. The first year of the course is designed to give you the practical and theoretical tools to take control of this beautiful medium. We’re always looking for advantages that you can pursue, and the summer is an opportunity. Before the course you might advance your knowledge in regards what photography actually is and how practitioners use it. The first two books on the list below are great and worth a read before and during your course. The others are great but will be available/introduced when you start the course.

Jaeger, AC (2007) Image Makers, Image Takers.
Cotton, C (2004) The Photograph as Contemporary Art. Thames and Hudson
The Essential Guide to Photography by Those in the Know. Thames and Hudson
Clarke, G (1997). The Photograph. Oxford University Press 
Hill, P (2007). Approaching Photography. Photographer's Institute Press 
Szarkowski, J (2007). The Photographer's Eye. The Museum of Modern Art 
Szarkowski, J (1973). Looking at Photographs: 100 Pictures from the Collection of the Museum of Modern Art. New York: Museum of Modern Art

Equipment and software

Some students come to the course with their own DSLR camera and others don’t. We have a range of Nikon, Canon, Sony and Fuji digital cameras that we will introduce to you. Knowing which brand and how much to spend on camera equipment is a difficult choice for yourself. We’ll run through your options whilst you’re on the course. Post production is also a key aspect of our medium. We have state of the art Apple computers with the latest software. All tradespeople benefit from having their own equipment but this isn’t a necessity before arriving.

Download software

Course Trips

Title: Paris Photo 2025

Location: Paris, France

Dates: 14-16 November 2025

Costs: Funded by students, approximately £400 p/student

Exhibitions are part of our course, and we believe that students need to view some major works to have an understanding of what is a ‘good exhibition’

Paris Photo is a major event in the international photographic community, and offers students the opportunity to see, first hand, some of the major works of the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty first century all under one roof. The event offers installations from international galleries, providing students with a vital opportunity to see how the art market functions, and how photography plays a significant role within it.

Groups and Societies

StaffsUniPhotography - Instagram

Meet the team

Paul O'Leary

Senior Lecturer

As a socially-engaged photographer Paul O’Leary records the time in which we live and the lives of others. His current practice explores post-industrial towns/cities, looking at old/new forms of civic identity.

Paul's profile

Rick Barks

Senior Lecturer

Rick has extensive professional and teaching experience, and currently plays a major role in the delivery of contextual studies across the BA Photography course.

Rick's profile

Rebecca Nunes

Associate Professor Of Lens-Based Media

I am a lens-based artist, researcher, and educator. My research maps planetary relations through a post-human feminist lens. My works are held in national and international private collections and museums.

Rebecca's profile

Karina Lyburn

P/T Lecturer (Hrly) - Photography

Karina's profile

What to expect on Welcome Week

We're so excited for you to join us on campus and to welcome you to where you matter. During your welcome week you'll be able to meet our friendly student services teams, connect with new friends, join societies, explore on-campus venues attend club nights and much more.

We look forward to welcoming you to the campus in September.

If you have any questions, please send them to paul.o’leary@staffs.ac.uk or r.j.barks@staffs.ac.uk

BA (Hons) Photography Course Team