Best Photography Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026

India is home ot 394 Photography colleges of which 276 colleges are privately owned, 33 are government owned and the rest 4 colleges are owned by semi government institutions.

Given below are the best Photography colleges in India:

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
LPU style="height: 22.3958px;">INR 1.3 Lacs - INR 8.4 lakh	Merit-Based
Guru Nanak University Hyderabad	INR 3 lakh	Merit-Based
LPU	INR 4 lakh	Merit-Based
Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University	INR 4,1200	Merit-Based
LPU Admission Office	INR 4 lakh	Merit-Based

A fundamental photography course can be somewhat helpful if you want to pursue a career in photography. You then need to refine your abilities through workshops, advanced courses, trainings, etc.

Many applicants without any prior photography expertise can also enrol in short-term courses to learn the fundamentals of using equipment and comprehending photographic processes. As a result, taking foundational courses might really help you launch a career in this industry.

No, as most of the Photography colleges in India have an average tuition fee less than INR 1 lakh:

Fee Range	No. of Colleges	Popular Colleges
< INR 1 lakh	108	Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj University, University of Lucknow, CSJM, etc.
INR 1-2 lakh	19	MIT-WPU, Asian Academy of Film and Television, NIFT Delhi, etc.
INR 2-3 lakh	13	Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Creative Hut Institute of Photography, etc.
INR 3-5 lakh	17	Guru Nanak University, LPU, LPU Admission Office, etc.
> INR 5 lakh	13	UPES, MIT-WPU, Symbiosis School of Visual Arts and Photography, etc.

 

As per the latest report, the highest package offered during MIT-WPU, Pune placements 2025 stood at INR 51.36 LPA. The same is tabulated below:

Particulars	Placement Statistics (2025)
Highest package	INR 51.36 LPA

For a basic photography lesson, no prior knowledge or expertise is required. But, if you're willing to take a more advanced course, you must be well-versed with lighting, frames, and cameras.

Candidates who want to improve their photography talents and become great photographers must be prepared to work extra hours. In order to expand their network and clientele and attract new work, they might also work as independent contractors. As a result, no prior knowledge is required for this course, but the experience students gain will determine how well-regarded they are after they graduate.

Photography is a skill and competence to be learnt with utmost concern and with someone who is an excellent trainer of this domain. However, your requirement is for an online training or course, it means you already have the foundation made and wish to pursue further. I am sharing a photography course. Similarly, Video Editing Tutorials and MOOCs can be found. open2study.com offers a MOOC and like them, there are many other MOOCs to enhance skills. What's it all about? You will learn about photography as a visual art practice, and how this can help you to become an engaging and active photographer. You will explore the work and concepts of contemporary photographic artists, which may trigger a new interest in what you photograph. In addition to this, you will also learn some of the practical skills required to further explore photography in exciting and creative ways. Finally, we look at the idea of a digital darkroom and explore ways that you can further your interest in photography through post-production knowledge and techniques. This MOOC is free and can be done in 28 days only. The course started on: 08/01/2018 and will be ending on: 06/02/2018. You can enroll immediately.

You should verify that the course structure is up to date and that the most recent cameras are utilised in the training sessions. It is also worth noting that the professors have done a great deal of work in this area.

Another crucial consideration is whether the course is full-time or part-time. For more technical training, it is recommended that candidates take full-time courses to learn how to operate the equipment and the technical aspects of image production. As a result, the correct photography education can help applicants establish a successful career in this industry.

A photography career can be pursued by anybody who has an underlying passion for it. However, some of the skills that you need in order to be up in the game include:

Technical skills 

1. Understanding of all the settings and modes of a camera
2. Understanding the working of different lenses, tripods, covering videos, etc.
3. Editing skills

Soft skills 

1. A vision for what exactly a photographer wants to click
2. Artistic approach
3. Aesthetic taste
4. Creativity 
5. Good concentration
6. Communication skills
7. Attention to detail
8. Team working skills

Galgotias University provides UG, PG and Diploma programmes. For admission to BTech, BA LLB Hons, and MBA marks from entrance tests including JEE Main, CLAT,  LSAT, CAT, CMAT, and NMAT are accepted. The university also accepts CUET scores for admission to few programmes like BSc, BCA, and Integrated BBA + MBA.

Photography is a profession as well as an art form. For photography as a career in India, one must have that extra quality, an interest in visuals, attentiveness to colour, shape and shadow, an interest in light, in observing how colours look on certain days. Finding strong foothold as a professional photographer is no cakewalk, which is why, perhaps regrettably, many talented photographers remain amateurs. candidates who have cleared the 10+2 examination are eligible for the diploma or certificate courses in photography. One can begin his/her career as an assistant of a senior or professional photographer, so that he/she can grasp the finer points of photography. Photographers can go on to specialise in areas such as portrait, commercial and industrial, advertising, scientific, fashion, news, wildlife photography etc. A freelance photographer can earn a lot by selling photographs to various journals, magazines, news channels and newspaper houses.

Although there is a wide range of employment opportunities in photography, some are particularly popular, such as commercial photography, fashion photography, wedding photography, and photojournalism. People exercise amateur photography in their personal domains and share it on social media.

Commercial photography is practiced by experts in fields such as fashion and design, advertising agencies, the film industry, paparazzi, and food photography, among others. As a result, the numerous fields of photography provide excellent job opportunities.

Understanding exposure, composition approaches, and mastering the fundamentals are the first steps towards pursuing a professional photography career. If you prefer manual control, get a mirrorless or DSLR camera. Learn more about photography by reading books, attending seminars, and enrolling in online courses. It's crucial to practise frequently so you may experiment with new subjects, lighting settings, and sets.

Learn to utilise photo editing software so you can do post-processing. Investigate various types of photography to see what interests you. Join photographic clubs and read comments from online groups to broaden your network. Create a portfolio of your best work and consider enrolling in formal education to benefit from a structured learning setting. Keep up with the latest technological and industrial advances. Create a polished digital footprint through a website or social media pages to communicate with clients and partners.

If you have some basic computer skills, you will find it simple to use a digital camera. Aside from this, you will be able to edit photos. Computer skills are essential for improving the appearance of photos using numerous editing programmes that allow photographers to make high-resolution images.

Computer skills are essential for using editing software such as Adobe, which can help to improve the lighting, colour, and clarity of the photographs captured. 

 

Lucknow University admissions are conducted on the basis of entrance exam scores and the merit of the student. It accepts entrance scores such as CUET, CUET-PG, and JEE Main. University of Lucknow also offers direct admission to vacant and NRI seats for BTech and MCA programmes. Candidates must secure a minimum aggregate of 40% to 60% in Class 12 for UG level admissions. For PG level admissions, candidates must secure a minimum aggregate of 45% to 50% in graduation. 

Photography starts as a passion, becomes a hobby, and eventually, you learn and grow along the way. Actually, it is not the degree but the number of hours spent behind the camera that makes you a great photographer. Here are some of the ways you can pursue a career in photography.

1. Enroll in a photography course: To pursue a photography career, the first step should be enrolling in a course. With the technology evolving rapidly, you need to enroll in a photography course to understand the working of professional cameras and understand all other theoretical and practical parts of photography.
2. Take up an internship: Once you have understood all the basics of handling a camera and photography as a whole, pursue the internship. Taking an internship will help you explore the outside world and gain knowledge from professionals in the field.
3. Build an online portfolio: Apart from taking the internship, start building your online portfolio in the form of a blog or website to display your work to your potential employers or clients later.  

Yes, there are many good colleges where you can pursue a photography course; the following is the list:

1. University of the Arts London (UAL)

2. Istituto Europeo di Design (IED)

3. Kingston University

4. RMIT University

5. Royal College of Art

6. School of Visual Arts (SVA)

7. University of Westminster

8. Parsons School of Design

These are the top institutes that provide photography courses, and you can go for any one of them based on your preferences. You can visit the websites of these institutes to get information regarding the courses and fees.

Here, we have prepared a table to provide some idea about the Careers in Photography. Also, students can check the average annual salary of different types of photographers:

Job Profile	Average Annual Salary
Fashion Photographer	INR 3 LPA-INR 5 LPA
Advertising Photographer	INR 5 LPA-INR 6 LPA
Portrait Photographer	INR 4 LPA-INR 6 LPA
Editorial Photographer	INR 3 LPA-INR 6 LPA
Fine Art Photographer	INR 4 LPA-INR 7 LPA

No prior knowledge or experience is necessary for a basic photography course. However, if you are willing to go through an advanced course, you need to have a sound knowledge of cameras, lighting, and frames.

Candidates must be willing to put in extra hours in order to hone their skills and become great photographers.

They can also freelance in order to develop their contact and clientele base.

Fergusson College is an autonomous college that is recognised by the University Grant Commission (UGC) and gives good education to the students. Below given are the reasons to choose the college:

• Good Ranking: The college is ranked 57 under the 'Colleges' category by the NIRF 2025.
• Placement Opportunities: The college gives placement opportunities in companies like Wipro, Cipla, Deloitte and BPCL. 
• Scholarship Options: The college also gives scholarships to the students to help them financially like Savitribai Phule Merit Scholarship, Eklavya Scholarship etc.. 

This University offers various undergraduate, postgraduate, undergraduate diploma, postgraduate diploma, and certificate programmes in and research programmes in professional and academic faculty of Arts, Commerce, Law, Science, Journalism, Library Science, and Education. Some of the names of these courses include BTech, BBA, MBA, BCom, BSc, MSc, MA, BA, BPT, LLM, etc.

AAFT is a private college and was established in 1993. The college is located in Film City, Noida and has more than 30 years of experience in providing education to students. AAFT Noida is recognised by the UGC and the Ministry of Education. 

IIT Roorkee is a government owned public technical university recognised as an Institute of National Importance under the Government of India. It was founded originally in 1847 & later converted into IIT in 2001 it is fully funded & governed by the central government which acts as seventh established IIT. 

The cost of studying at UPRTOU Allahabad varies by course and program. It also depends on individual lifestyle, accomodation, extra expenses, or hostel fees. Generally, the cost is comparitively cheaper as it is a government university. However, candidates are advised to visit the official website to know more about the fees. The tuition fee for some of the popular courses are given below:

Course	Total Tuition Fee
MA	INR 3.7 K - 32 K
BEd	INR 32 K
BA	INR 6 K - 32 K
MSc	INR 5.2 K - 18.4 K
BCA	INR 32 K
MBA	INR 3.7 K - 32 K

 

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Takshashila Campus is a reputed institute for M.Phil, UG Diploma, B.Tech, B.A., M.A., M.E./M.Tech, B.Ed, M.Ed, Certificate, PG Diploma, M.P.Ed, MBA/PGDM, B.Lib.I.Sc., B.P.Ed, LL.M. Students can opt these programs to pursue their career in Law, Hospitality & Travel, Engineering, Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ), Teaching & Education, Humanities & Social Sciences, Beauty & Fitness, Business & Management Studies, IT & Software, Mass Communication & Media, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Medicine & Health Sciences, Design, Science, Accounting & Commerce. Institute has trained & experienced faculty who deliver these programs. Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Takshashila Campus has a review rating of 4.1 on the basis of reviews by students. In addition to this, it has been rated 4.1 on campuslife, 4.1 on placements, 4.1 on faculty and 3.7 on Infrastructure.

National Institute of Fashion Technology Delhi (NIFT Delhi) offers BDes and BFTech courses at the undergraduate level. NIFT admission 2024 to most of these courses is based on NIFT 2024 scores, followed by situation tests, personal interviews, and counseling. Candidates seeking admission must visit the official website of NIFT to apply online. In addition to UG and PG degrees, The entire tuition cost for the BDes programme at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Delhi is INR 10.80 lakh for the academic year 2024-2028. A one-time payment of INR 17,900 (refundable) will also be required at the time of admission in addition to the total tuition price. This one-time, refundable payment consists of a security deposit of INR 12,000 and a INR 5,900 membership fee for the alumni association.

Hindustan College of Engineering, established in 1985 is a private college and is located in Kelambakkam, Chennai. The college was conferred the status of a university under the name Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS). It is a deemed-to-be University recognised by the UGC, the AICTE, the AIMA, the SAE International, AIAA,  and is a member of AIU and is accredited by the IAO, NAAC with an 'A' Grade,  and NBA. 

1.     Top companies that hire Art graduates are:

Top Companies for Arts Graduate
Microsoft Corporation	Robosoft Technologies
AAPC	Lowe Lintas
Cognizant	Saregama India Limited

S.S. Jain Subodh PG College offers scholarships under various schemes initiated by the Central/ State Government institutions. Students who are from privileged, needy and physically challenged groups are endowed with scholarships. The below-mentioned are S.S. Jain Subodh PG College scholarships:

S.S. Jain Subodh PG College Scholarships
Chief Minister Higher Education Scholarship	Kali Bai Bheel Medha	Endowment Scholarship
Sumedha Scholarship	Scholarship for Class Merit Holders	Protsahan Scholarship for Excellence

College of Fine Arts provides programmes including MFA, BFA in streams such as Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ), Animation, and are excellent for students to build their careers.