Photography, BFA

Explore every facet of photography as you develop your creative vision. Pratt prepares you to flourish as an independent artist and a professional photographer.

A photo edit that shows two gallery rooms and the inside of the wall connecting the too. There are projectors installed in this in-between wall. There is an assortment of photos, paintings, prints and sculptures laid out in the gallery.

Type: Undergraduate, BFA
Credits: 126
Duration: 4 years
Courses: Plan of Study
School and Department: School of Art,
Photography

A double-page spread from a book featuring two young girls in matching red, white, and blue dresses with star patterns, standing on a boardwalk. They are holding pink shoes. In the background, crowds of people are visible on the boardwalk. Below, a close-up of a man and a woman inside a car, with the man appearing to look at the woman who is touching her hair, both engaged in conversation. On the opposite page, a blurry boat can be seen. — Photograph by Noor Shoresh, BFA Photography ’25

An Expansive View of Photography

Study all aspects of photography in our hands-on program. From day one, you will be practicing both digital and analog photography. Our program and facilities stay current with advances in technology and practices, allowing you to experiment and push the boundaries of photography.

Student Work: Vision in Practice

See how our students push the boundaries of the medium.

A black and white photograph of a woman seated outdoors, holding a framed photograph with two images. The image on the left shows a group of children sitting together, while the right side features adults posing in front of a building. The woman wears a black top and patterned pants, adorned with several rings. Her hands prominently display the frame, and she smiles gently while looking at it. — Photograph by Haley Sessoms, BFA Photography ’25

Develop Your Critical Practice

Photography as a medium inspires critical thinking. At Pratt, you will gain a critical understanding of photography and its place in contemporary art. Through intensive studio work, visiting artist lectures and critiques, the study of photographic history and contemporary art, and the development of your writing skills, you will acquire the dexterity and language to thrive as a professional and an artist.

State-of-the-Art Facilities and Exhibition Space

A photography studio setup featuring softbox lights on either side, a gray backdrop, and a stool positioned in front. A computer monitor on a cart displays the live feed from the camera. The floor is covered with light-colored tiles, and various lighting equipment is arranged around the space, with cables visible on the ground. — Lighting Studio, ARC G-06. Photo credit: Lauren Roeder, Photography Technician.

Our Brooklyn campus offers a full suite of state-of-the-art facilities:

35mm, medium, and large format film cameras
the latest DSLR and mirrorless cameras
medium format digital cameras
lighting equipment
dedicated 1,000-square-foot digital photography lab with wide-format printers, film scanners, computers, and industry-standard editing software
black-and-white darkroom
non-silver process studio
1,500-square-foot shooting and lighting studio

Students are always welcome to set up a one-on-one instructional meeting to gain a deeper understanding of our tools and technology.

Learn more about our photography facilities.

Our Faculty

Our faculty members are distinguished artists and creative professionals who are committed to nurturing the creative potential of each student. The faculty come from diverse professional and educational backgrounds, contributing to the expansive nature of our program.

See the full list of faculty and administrative staff here.

A framed artwork featuring an eye is placed on a set of stone steps. The frame is made of a light-colored wood with a black accent around the artwork. The steps appear weathered and are illuminated by sunlight. — Cyanotype Exposition, Non-Silver Class. Photo Credit: Lauren Roeder, Photography Technician

Study Abroad: See the World Through Your Lens

Our dynamic study-abroad offerings include Pratt Berlin, a semester-long program where students take Pratt courses with Pratt faculty while living in Berlin, Germany. The Photography Department also offers elective courses with short-term travel embedded into the curriculum, such as opportunities to travel and study during spring break in Havana, Cuba, or San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Internships

Our students gain experience through internships at various art institutions, galleries, and studios such as the Whitney Museum of Art, Conveyor Arts, Distributed Art Publishers (D.A.P.), David LaChapelle Studio, Diverse Works, and many others. During their time at Pratt, students have the option to complete an internship for program credit, with a Pratt faculty advisor to guide them.

After Graduation

Our alumni are leading diverse and thriving careers, creating and expanding upon the visual culture of our present-day world. Some have become renowned photographers, their work featured in publications and galleries, while others are working at celebrated institutions.

Where They Work

Programs Manager, Baxter St. Camera Club of New York
Assistant Collections Manager, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Founder, Blue Hour Press
Editor-In-Chief, The Daring
Commissioned Photographer, The New York Times Magazine
Archivist, Alexander Gray Associates Gallery

Career Support for Life

Students and alumni can schedule one-on-one appointments with career strategists in Pratt’s Center for Career and Professional Development. A career strategist can work with you to develop your job/internship search strategies and life and business plans, as well as review résumés, cover letters, websites, and other marketing materials.

Learn More

News

Ashley Carvajal, BFA Photography ’25, at the student-run WPIR radio station on campus (Edward Hernandez, BFA photography ’25)

Seeing the Big Picture

Article

New Views and Inspiration for Pratt Artists

Article

Clothing and accessories spread out neatly around a tidily packed suitcase on a white bed in front of a bright red wall

Painting Visions of Home

Prattfolio Story

Queen Mother Audley A. Moore, in a knotted headdress and patterned gown adorned with badges, speaks to a companion, gesturing with her left arm

A Practice Rooted in Imaging Black Life

Prattfolio Story

Installation view of ‘Speculative Surfaces’ in the Pratt Photography Gallery (all images courtesy Madison Wilds Burger)

Growing Leather in a Lab to Promote Material Sustainability

Article

Snail Mail Brings Pratt Students Together with Science Experiments, Art Collaboration, and Rare Books

Article

Photography Student Brandon Foushee Brings Love & Care to Myrtle Avenue for Black Artstory Month

Article

New Pratt Shows Portfolio Website Showcases Work by Graduating Students

Article

View More News

From the Catalog

View all Photography courses

The Department of Photography is committed to the education of artists and professionals who have acquired a comprehensive understanding of the artistic and professional opportunities in the field. The curriculum provides an extensive photographic education through a series of core classes that promote students’ technical and conceptual development. Photography majors move from a highly structured program in their freshman and sophomore years to a more flexible program in their junior and senior years in which students choose from a variety of electives in photography, other studio disciplines, and in the humanities. This approach is intended to facilitate the transition from student to independent artist and professional. Completion of the curriculum culminates with an exhibition in the Pratt Photography Gallery, as well as a group show in a New York City gallery, and a collaborative photography publication. Small class sizes help to promote a strong sense of community in the intimate setting of Pratt’s Brooklyn campus. Students are given opportunities to meet artists and critics through the Pratt Photography Lectures, visiting critiques, and artist studio and museum visits. This access can help students build contacts and relationships with influential professionals in the field. Like a small town within a big city, we look to give students their own voice, so they can employ it in whichever direction they choose.

Undergraduates establish strong photographic practices and discourses through the study of analog and digital processes, the history and theory of photography, and the development of critical thinking and writing skills through required and elective courses in photography, other creative disciplines, and the liberal arts. Participating in this experience prepares students to actively contribute to culture and society as leaders in the photographic arts and applied industries, as well as to pursue graduate studies in related fields. Graduates are expected to demonstrate excellence in artistic vision, professional skills, innovation, and a contextual understanding of their work in contemporary culture.

Upon completion of the program:

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of the broad range of possibilities available in analog and digital photographic materials.

• Students will demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the aesthetic principles of photography.

• Students will articulate a broad knowledge of photographic and relevant cultural histories and an in-depth understanding of contemporary issues in photography pertinent to their practices.

• Students will create a cohesive body of photographic work in which an artistic vision and contextual awareness of their work is evident.

• Students will apply the technical skills and professional practices necessary to pursue careers or graduate studies in the photographic arts and applied industries.

Ready for More?

HERE’S HOW TO APPLY	OUR CAMPUS & BEYOND
Join us at Pratt. Learn more about admissions requirements, plan your visit, talk to a counselor, and start your application. Take the next step.	You’ll find yourself at home at Pratt. Learn more about our residence halls, student organizations, athletics, gallery exhibitions, events, the amazing City of New York and our Brooklyn neighborhood communities. Check us out.