Art photographers need technical knowledge and creativity. The course work at UNT emphasizes self-expression, style and technical ability. Art photographers use light, lenses, film and filters to produce photographs. They are often self-employed, selling and exhibiting their work in galleries. Many photographers also use their art skills in commercial photography, photographing products for catalogs or for print advertisements.
Graduates of this program work as freelancers or are employed on the photography staffs of various publications. Some own their own businesses, whereas others work as artists, displaying their photos in galleries. You do not need an advanced degree to become a photographer, but teaching photography at the college level requires a master of fine arts degree.
Internships with area photographers are available for students who wish to earn elective credit through work experience. Frequently, UNT students find employment after graduation as a result of contacts made during internships. The university is within easy commuting distance of Dallas and Fort Worth, where major art museums, galleries, the Dallas Apparel Mart and numerous advertising and interior design businesses provide valuable resources and experiences for UNT students.
As a photography major, you will take courses in photographic processes, art appreciation, art history, black-and-white photography, color photography, digital imaging, design, drawing, painting and sculpture. You will learn black-and-white, color and computer-enhanced photography techniques. Photography students are required to complete a minor outside the School of Visual Arts. A wide variety of minors is available.
A portfolio is not required for admission to UNT or the School of Visual Arts, but students who wish to major in photography must participate in a review prior to completing Black and White Photography II. While the entry review is also required of transfer students, those who have completed photography courses at other schools should be prepared to show a portfolio during transfer orientation to determine appropriate placement in the UNT photography program. At the end of your sophomore year, the photography faculty will review your portfolio to determine whether you can continue in the program. You also must submit your work for a senior exit review. Further information regarding the reviews is available from the photography faculty.
Photography faculty members are considered experts in their field. One faculty member’s photographs hang in the Bibliothéque Nationale in Paris and in the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. Another faculty member’s work is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Continuing UNT students may apply for scholarships that are awarded by the School of Visual Arts primarily on the basis of performance in the student’s major; academic scholarships are available through UNT’s Student Financial Aid and Scholarships office.
The Department of Studio offers a Master of Fine Arts degree at the graduate level. The Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Arts offers nine areas of specialization: ceramics, drawing and painting, fibers, metalsmithing and jewelry, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Each option requires a creative project and a solo exhibition instead of a thesis. The MFA is a 60 credit-hour terminal degree requiring a minimum of 24 credit hours in the studio course of your specialization.
The Master of Fine Arts degree in Photography is a terminal degree, requiring a minimum of 60 credit-hours of graduate level coursework. A minimum of 24 credit hours must be in the graduate photography class.
Paho Mann | Assistant Professor | 940-369-7673 | pahomann@unt.edu
Dornith Doherty | Professor | 940-369-7261 | doherty@unt.edu
Brent Phelps | Professor | 940-565-4728 | phelps@unt.edu
Photo Technician | Jason Dibley | 940-565-4727 | dibley@unt.edu
Administrative Assistant | Angela Vanecek | 940-369-7671 | studio@unt.edu