Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

We are proud to celebrate Randolph Community College’s 57th graduating class of photographers! This talented group of 13 students completed concentrations in commercial photography, multimedia journalism, and portrait/wedding photography. Several graduates have already launched into full-time professional roles, others are establishing their own businesses, and one is off to film school in Barcelona, Spain (she joined us for graduation via FaceTime). We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and excited to see what the future holds for each of them.

At this year’s ceremony, we also honored Greg Stewart, who will retire as photo liaison for the department at the end of the year. Over the years, Greg has spoken to thousands of prospective students and has served as a passionate ambassador for our program across North Carolina. Greg, thank you for the many roles you’ve played and the lasting impact you’ve made. You will be deeply missed!

Want to know more about our program? Randolph Community College (RCC) offers a comprehensive Photography program designed to equip students with both technical skills and creative expertise for a successful career in the field. The program features a range of Photography degree programs catering to various specialized areas, including commercial photography, fine art photography, digital photography, analog photography, portrait photography, event photography, sports photography, product photography, wedding photography, and more.

Students gain proficiency in both traditional and emerging technologies such as digital imaging, photo editing, and multimedia storytelling. Instruction covers key skills in studio lighting, location lighting, photo editing, and darkroom techniques, alongside advanced techniques like film processing, color correction, and image retouching. Additionally, students learn to operate industry-standard software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, and Premiere Pro for post-production work.

The program focuses heavily on career preparation, offering opportunities for portfolio development, internships, and job placement. Students gain exposure to industry trends, business practices, and networking opportunities, making it an ideal foundation for freelance work or professional photography roles. Workshops, seminars, and guest lectures by visiting artists enrich the learning experience.

RCC’s photography program prepares students for a variety of careers, including photojournalism, fashion photography, architectural photography, and advertising photography. With a strong emphasis on both artistic and technical skills, students are trained to succeed in a rapidly evolving field that increasingly incorporates emerging image technologies such as drones and interactive imaging.

Located in Asheboro, North Carolina, Randolph Community College offers an accessible and specialized education in photography within the region, while being well connected to the broader photography community in the Southeastern US. Known throughout the industry as a one of the best for photography education, the program is designed to meet the needs of aspiring photographers, whether they wish to pursue a career in commercial or fine art photography, or explore specialized niches like wildlife, food, or travel photography.

Second-year photojournalism student Lydia Johnson was looking to purchase a second camera body to complement her DSLR. With the rise of mirrorless technology now dominating the market, she was uncertain whether to invest in a mirrorless camera or stick with a second DSLR. Seeking advice on this significant purchase, Lydia reached out to her instructor, Candace Barbot, for guidance. Determined to give Lydia the best direction, Candace consulted a trusted industry connection. She put Lydia in touch with Albert Diaz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist with extensive experience in documentary photography. After all, in the world of professional photography, what’s a chat among Pulitzer prize winning colleagues? (Candace won hers in 1993.) These days, it really is about who you know.

Randolph Community College’s (RCC) commitment to providing top-tier photography education stands out among regional photography schools. Our photography degree programs offer students the opportunity to gain practical, real-world experience through photography internships. RCC’s photojournalism students have even produced award-winning documentaries. But the benefits of RCC’s photography college go well beyond the classroom. Our extensive network of alumni, award-winning faculty, and industry professionals opens doors for students, offering invaluable photography career opportunities and access to photography networking.

Diaz’s advice helped Lydia make the decision to save her money and purchase another DSLR for now. He explained that switching between mirrorless and DSLR technology can be difficult, even for a seasoned photographer. Lydia plans to invest in a mirrorless camera when the time is right. In the meantime, the career advice and technical insights she received from Diaz turned out to be even more valuable than she initially anticipated.

Want to know more about our program? Randolph Community College (RCC) offers a comprehensive Photography program designed to equip students with both technical skills and creative expertise for a successful career in the field. The program features a range of Photography degree programs catering to various specialized areas, including commercial photography, fine art photography, digital photography, analog photography, portrait photography, event photography, sports photography, product photography, wedding photography, and more.

Students gain proficiency in both traditional and emerging technologies such as digital imaging, photo editing, and multimedia storytelling. Instruction covers key skills in studio lighting, location lighting, photo editing, and darkroom techniques, alongside advanced techniques like film processing, color correction, and image retouching. Additionally, students learn to operate industry-standard software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, and Premiere Pro for post-production work.

The program focuses heavily on career preparation, offering opportunities for portfolio development, internships, and job placement. Students gain exposure to industry trends, business practices, and networking opportunities, making it an ideal foundation for freelance work or professional photography roles. Workshops, seminars, and guest lectures by visiting artists enrich the learning experience.

RCC’s photography program prepares students for a variety of careers, including photojournalism, fashion photography, architectural photography, and advertising photography. With a strong emphasis on both artistic and technical skills, students are trained to succeed in a rapidly evolving field that increasingly incorporates emerging image technologies such as drones and interactive imaging.

Located in Asheboro, North Carolina, Randolph Community College offers an accessible and specialized education in photography within the region, while being well connected to the broader photography community in the Southeastern US. Known throughout the industry as a one of the best for photography education, the program is designed to meet the needs of aspiring photographers, whether they wish to pursue a career in commercial or fine art photography, or explore specialized niches like wildlife, food, or travel photography.

Last week’s portfolio show was a successful wrap to our first-year students’ busy semester. Each student photographed and displayed 5 images around a common theme. This year’s topics included emotions, decades, clowns, textures, teapots, and vampires, among many others. One student displayed “color” as demonstrated through a black and white medium. This project is the culmination of a study of design and allows students the creative outlet to speak to their passions while perfecting the technical execution of photography. It’s a welcomed end to a rigorous season of assignments.

Want to know more about our program? Randolph Community College (RCC) offers a comprehensive Photography program designed to equip students with both technical skills and creative expertise for a successful career in the field. The program features a range of Photography degree programs catering to various specialized areas, including commercial photography, fine art photography, digital photography, analog photography, portrait photography, event photography, sports photography, product photography, wedding photography, and more.

Students gain proficiency in both traditional and emerging technologies such as digital imaging, photo editing, and multimedia storytelling. Instruction covers key skills in studio lighting, location lighting, photo editing, and darkroom techniques, alongside advanced techniques like film processing, color correction, and image retouching. Additionally, students learn to operate industry-standard software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, and Premiere Pro for post-production work.

The program focuses heavily on career preparation, offering opportunities for portfolio development, internships, and job placement. Students gain exposure to industry trends, business practices, and networking opportunities, making it an ideal foundation for freelance work or professional photography roles. Workshops, seminars, and guest lectures by visiting artists enrich the learning experience.

RCC’s photography program prepares students for a variety of careers, including photojournalism, fashion photography, architectural photography, and advertising photography. With a strong emphasis on both artistic and technical skills, students are trained to succeed in a rapidly evolving field that increasingly incorporates emerging image technologies such as drones and interactive imaging.

Located in Asheboro, North Carolina, Randolph Community College offers an accessible and specialized education in photography within the region, while being well connected to the broader photography community in the Southeastern US. Known throughout the industry as a one of the best for photography education, the program is designed to meet the needs of aspiring photographers, whether they wish to pursue a career in commercial or fine art photography, or explore specialized niches like wildlife, food, or travel photography.

First-year students are often surprised when they hold a medium-format, black-and-white film camera for the first time. They are heavy and often it is the first time they have ever seen one. Randolph Community College (RCC) is one of the few remaining photography schools that begins by teaching the fundamentals of photography using film and a darkroom. The future photographers check out one of the more than 40 cameras available for student use.

Faculty members know the value of learning in film. “If you learn the basics, you can apply the concepts to whatever camera you have. A camera is a tool. If you know how it works, you can use any camera you pick up,” says Will Parham, instructor for first-year students.

The first semester classes of the photographic technology curriculum teach both the technical basics such as the exposure triangle, freezing motion, and depth of field and the key elements of design. Students use the concepts from both classes to create beautiful images worthy of a portfolio show at the end of the semester. They also learn how to print and process in the darkroom.

When students arrive on the RCC campus, they all come from a variety of different skill levels.  A film camera “puts all the students on the same level. It’s the great equalizer. It helps give those without experience some confidence,” says Greg Stewart, former program director and life-long photographer.

Candace Barbot, multi-media instructor, is grateful that she learned in film. “You have to slow down and really think about what you’re doing. Think about composition and light. You see photography in another way,” she says.  Because film has 12-16 exposures available, “you have to stop and think about whether or not you want to take the photo. You have a limited number of clicks.”

“All the complications you deal with in digital are stripped away. It’s an easier process.  I ended up better with the digital camera because of it,” says Lydia Johnson, second-year student. “It’s about paying attention.”

“I was intimidated at first,” says first-year student Sollyn Lindsay. “It was stressful, but I got the hang of it. It makes you think about what you’re doing. You have to make sure things are framed right and that you have the proper exposure. You have to think about the printing process too because you don’t want to waste paper,” Lindsay continues.

By starting students in film that has a very limited set of options to play with, RCC teaches students to get it right in the camera, from the beginning.

Want to know more about our program? Randolph Community College (RCC) offers a comprehensive Photography program designed to equip students with both technical skills and creative expertise for a successful career in the field. The program features a range of Photography degree programs catering to various specialized areas, including commercial photography, fine art photography, digital photography, analog photography, portrait photography, event photography, sports photography, product photography, wedding photography, and more.

Students gain proficiency in both traditional and emerging technologies such as digital imaging, photo editing, and multimedia storytelling. Instruction covers key skills in studio lighting, location lighting, photo editing, and darkroom techniques, alongside advanced techniques like film processing, color correction, and image retouching. Additionally, students learn to operate industry-standard software tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, and Final Cut Pro for post-production work.

The program focuses heavily on career preparation, offering opportunities for portfolio development, internships, and job placement. Students gain exposure to industry trends, business practices, and networking opportunities, making it an ideal foundation for freelance work or professional photography roles. Workshops, seminars, and guest lectures by visiting artists enrich the learning experience.

RCC’s photography program prepares students for a variety of careers, including photojournalism, fashion photography, architectural photography, and advertising photography. With a strong emphasis on both artistic and technical skills, students are trained to succeed in a rapidly evolving field that increasingly incorporates emerging image technologies such as drones and interactive imaging.

Located in Asheboro, North Carolina, Randolph Community College offers an accessible and specialized education in photography within the region, while being well connected to the broader photography community in the Southeastern US. Known throughout the industry as a one of the best for photography education, the program is designed to meet the needs of aspiring photographers, whether they wish to pursue a career in commercial or fine art photography, or explore specialized niches like wildlife, food, or travel photography.