Photography and Communication - Level 3 Diploma

Images are part of everyday life; do you love looking at and creating images? 

If you are keen to develop your understanding of photography and graphics-based communication, then this course is ideal for you. The aim of this course is to provide technical skills and theoretical knowledge for contemporary image-making creating ideas through photography and graphics. This course introduces and develops your technical understanding and visual communication through a wide variety of photographic imagery and graphic project briefs.

You will be introduced to both traditional darkroom and digital photographic, graphic-based techniques and processes. You will research a wide array of artists to discover how they go about producing their work and allow their work to inform your ideas. You will learn how to master Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and other software as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud of programs, exposing you to the powerful bit map and vector base manipulation tools used by leading photographers and designers within the industry.

Units studied in this course include:

• Unit 1 – Introduction to media processes and technical Skills
• Unit 2 – Introduction to design and research skills
• Unit 3 – Professional Practice
• Unit 4 – Critical and contextual awareness
• Unit 5 – Investigating auditory production and technology
• Unit 6- Investigating visual production and technology
• Unit 7 - Investigating interactive media production and technology
• Unit 8 – Developing a creative media production project

You will need:

• 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, with English Language or Maths being at a grade 4 or above
• Level 2 Diploma at a Merit and either English Language or Maths being at a grade 4 or above
• A successful interview with a Lecturer to look over your portfolio

Aged 16-18

If you will be aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31st August prior to the start date of your course and you have the legal right to remain in the UK for the duration of your programme then your study with us will be free. Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

Adults - Level 3

If you will be aged 19 to 23 prior to the start date of your course, and do not already have a full Level 3 qualification, you may be eligible for a Level 3 entitlement, in which case your study with us will be free. If you are older, or already have a Level 3, we have many other Level 3 courses that are also free to study. Otherwise, you will have to pay the fees yourself or apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.

Please see here for the documents you will need to show us.

Some courses will have other associated costs, such as for specialist materials and trips. Many of our students are eligible for financial support, see here for details.

This course will help you to move on to higher-level courses, such as a Bachelor of Arts, an apprenticeship, or other employment.

With over 27 years’ worth of teaching experience both in FE and HE and 10 years in industry (private sector and local government). Paresh holds a (Hons) Degree in Photographic Sciences and Digital Imaging from the University of Westminster and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the Institute of Education, University of London.

Paresh joined Westminster Kingsway College in April 2006 and enjoys combining his practice in Photographic Imaging (Analogue and Digital) theoretical knowledge with practical insights guiding students on ways to snowball their ideas through creative experimentation. His learning style merges traditional methods with current digital systems for blending and personalised learning in view to improve attainment and retention, better motivation; and improve quality of student experiences together with inclusivity and widening participation.

Paresh is a UAL Awarding Body External Moderator for Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production qualifications. He is also affiliated with the Royal Photographic Society, the Imaging Science Group and Somerset House Studios.

Valentina joined Westminster Kingsway College in 2015, where she has been teaching Creative Media across the Digital Media department. In September 2023 she became the course leader of the Access to HE Creative Media course. 

After completing her Diploma in Photography at Riccardo Bauer School of Photography of Milan, she moved to New York to progress her portfolio. This was a significant turning point – she discovered her passion for teaching, whilst working as a teacher assistant at the International Center of Photography, Upon returning to Italy, her home country, she worked for a variety of commissions including Grazia Neri Photo Pres Agency, Universal Music, Milano Film Festival and Pirelli P Zero Photo.

In 2006 she moved to London to start a Master's course in Documentary Photography at London College of Communication. From 2010 to 2014 she directed Fotosynthesis C.I.C., a non-profit organisation that uses participatory photography for positive social change. 

In 2014 she undertook a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Greenwich. Valentina is currently working on an ongoing documentary project about an Irish traveller community-based in East London.

At Westminster Kingsway College she has been able to continue nurturing and developing her passion for teaching Creative Media, as a way to empower and give a voice to people. 

The teachers listed may change, these shown are an example of the teachers who teach on these programmes.