The Lifelong Learning Center
310 South Curtis Street
Missoula, MT 59801
(406) 549-8765
Certificates Programs
In addition to the Health and Safety certificate programs, The Lifelong Learning Center also offers certificates in:
Digital Photography
The Digital Photography Certificate is comprised of approximately 150-170 hours of 
photography and photo editing classes. Students enroll in the required classes separately and are awarded the certificate upon successful completion of the Portfolio.
The Portfolio demonstrates your ability to capture, edit and display photographs by creating both a printed portfolio and an online gallery of 10-15 of your best images. Photos should be related by a common theme or story to produce a unified collection. Pictures should exhibit appropriate sharpness, exposure, and color balance and be free of technical flaws, such as red-eye and dust spots. The printed portfolio may be inkjet or photo lab prints at least 8”x10” or a photo book ordered through the Internet. The online gallery may be set up through a free photo web page. (The instructor will recommend web sites.) You may use the same or different images for the printed and electronic portfolios. In addition to the photos, you must write an artist’s statement describing your photo project, your photographic process and/or the theme of your photo collection.
You will have an initial meeting with the instructor to discuss your ideas for the projects. Once the teacher approves your topic, you select, edit, sequence, print and size the photos. You arrange a second meeting to discuss any challenges or problems you are having with producing the portfolios and review a draft of your artist’s statement. During the final meeting the instructor evaluates your completed print and online portfolios along with the artist’s statement. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of the prerequisite & required courses.
Digital Photography Certificate tuition includes a consultation meeting, two hours of individual assistance on the Portfolio, and a professional review and write up of the completed Portfolio. Additional Technical Assistance is available for $39 per hour.
Certificate Fee $175+Class Fees & Equipment
Required Classes
Prerequisites-the following classes are not included in the certificate hours; students must either have equivalent skills or enroll in the following classes:
• Making the Most of Your Digital Camera
• Making the Most of Your Digital Photos or Beginning iPhoto
• Beginning Photoshop or Beginning Photoshop Elements
• Intro to Operating Systems (Windows XP or Windows Vista or Mac OS X)
• File Management (Windows or Mac)
Required Camera Classes:
• Mastering Your Digital Camera
• Better People Photos
• Better Close-up Photos
• Better Landscape Photos
• Advanced Digital Camera
• Using Camera Flash Effectively (forthcoming)
• Photographic Design & Composition (forthcoming)
Required Photo Editing Classes:
• Managing Digital Photos using Adobe Bridge
• Editing & Printing Digital Photos
• Shooting & Processing Camera Raw Files
• Creating Internet Photo Galleries (forthcoming)
Electives: A minimum of two photography elective classes are also required and vary by quarter.
This brochure is for informational purposes only. Although every effort is made to ensure its accuracy, it shall not be construed to be an irrevocable contract between the student and MCPS. MCPS reserves the right to cancel classes or make any changes in the content and provisions of this certificate program without notice. Certificate must be completed within 24 months of enrollment.
Required Equipment
• Digital SLR camera with manual controls-supporting RAW format ($600-$1000) Canon Digital Rebel XT, Nikon D40, Pentax K200D, Olympus E420 or similar
• Basic zoom lens ($150-$500) 18-55mm, 24-85mm, 28-135mm or similar from Canon, Nikon, Tamron, Sigma
•1GB or 2GB memory card ($20-$50)
•Full-size tripod with quick release plate ($100-$200)
• Bogen/Manfrotto 055XB or 190XDB legs with 3025, 804RC2 or 486RC2 head, Bogen/Manfrotto 725B, Slik Pro 330DX, Velbon Sherpa 600RF or similar
• Dedicated camera flash ($150-$300) Canon Speedlite 430 EX, Nikon SB600, Sunpak PZ42XII, ProMaster 7400EDF or similar
• Windows or Macintosh computer capable of running Adobe Photoshop CS3, Standard edition (or current version) with 1GB memory (RAM) minimum, 100GB hard drive and CD/DVD burner
• Adobe Photoshop CS3, Standard edition (or current version) ($650)
• Monitor calibration software ($80-$120)
• Colorvision Spyder2Express, xRite Eye-One Display LT, Pantone Huey Pro
• Inkjet printer for letter size prints ($100-$130)
• (individual ink cartridges recommended) Canon Pixma ip4500, Epson Stylus Photo R280, HP Photosmart D7260 or similar
Copyright© 2009 The Lifelong Learning Center