Architectural Photography - Fall 2026

Join photographer and educator Francis Zera for an exploration of the world of commercial, artistic, and documentary architectural photography. From advance planning and scouting to understanding how to work with natural, artificial or combinations of lighting sources, students will learn to create interior, exterior, and detailed images from a variety of architectural locations. Lectures, in-class demonstrations, assignments, critique and discussion, along with a group photo outing, will prepare students to identify locations of interest, plan for a photo session, adapt while onsite, and produce technically sound images both in design and quality of execution. Focus will be placed on the technical aspects of architectural photography and equipment, along with business topics including the market for such work, legal considerations, and gaining permission to access properties.

Because of the depth of the material and assignment specifications, this will be a digital-based photo class, but students are welcome to apply their knowledge to film photography should they be so inclined, as many of the principles are medium-agnostic.

Students are expected to have a solid understanding of primary camera principles and manual operation, and the use of a tilt-shift lens is expected; students can purchase one or rent one as needed from local or online vendors. A 24mm or 17mm tilt-shift lens is preferred for 35mm equipment.

Students are also expected to have an honest working knowledge of Adobe Lightroom, as this will be the primary method used for processing images.

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STUDENTS

• Weekly attendance is vital to student success in PCNW courses. We require that students attend the first meeting in order to retain their spot in the class. A waiver may be granted if permission is given by, and subsequent arrangements made with, both the PCNW Registrar and Faculty. Please see our Education Policies for details about attendance policies and academic expectations.
• Intermediate and advanced courses have prerequisites which students must satisfy prior to enrollment. Prerequisites may be waived based on experience or prior courses taken through other institutions. To verify that you meet the prerequisite(s) for a course, contact Jennifer Brendicke, Registrar at jbrendicke@pcnw.org.
• Students are required to provide their own camera, unless otherwise noted in the course description. If you have questions about camera equipment or resources, contact us at pcnw@pcnw.org.
• PCNW adheres to a strict payment, cancellation and refund policy. Please review our Payment & Refund Policies prior to registration.
• Additional materials and supplies, not covered by a materials fee for a course, are the responsibility of the student. Detailed information about course expectations, required texts and materials will be provided at the start of the quarter.
• Students should prepare to spend several hours per week completing assignments outside of class, which may require use of the PCNW facilities; view our Rental Rates for details about additional fees. Rental fees for use of PCNW Facilities are a separate cost from tuition.

Images © Francis Zera