Overview
The Undergraduate in Fashion Film & Photography differs from other film and photography courses by blending creative storytelling with technical skills and visual innovation within the fashion context. This course employs a holistic approach to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary visual communication in the fashion industry. Students develop skills in photography, filmmaking, and narrative development while maintaining a sharp focus on the evolving landscape of fashion media.
Through industry-driven methodologies, we cultivate visionary visual storytellers who can seamlessly navigate both the artistic and commercial realms of fashion film and photography. The course focuses on imparting comprehensive knowledge of visual communication, technical production skills, digital technologies, and critical understanding of fashion aesthetics and cultural contexts.
Polimoda strives to create graduates with an independent visual voice, capable of striking the perfect balance between creative expression and professional execution. Our goal is to equip students with the tools to not just participate in, but to innovatively shape and redefine fashion visual storytelling.
Highlights
This course covers the spectrum from theoretical knowledge to practical application, encompassing both still and moving fashion imagery. The comprehensive skill set prepares you for a wide range of roles in creative industries while helping you develop soft skills such as teamwork, initiative, self-confidence, and innovative thinking.
- Explore fashion culture and visual communication
- Understand contemporary aesthetics and media
- Learn technical skills in photography and filmmaking
- Develop a critical understanding of fashion narratives
- Master photography equipment and video production techniques
- Learn advanced lighting and editing skills
- Develop expertise in digital image and video post-production
- Create professional portfolios across various media platforms
- Develop creative writing and script development skills
- Learn fashion film production management
- Create editorial and campaign visual stories
- Explore cross-disciplinary collaboration
- Build relationships with students from different courses such as fashion art direction, fashion styling and fashion design,
- Develop cross-discipline knowledge
- Industry based projects to produce editorial, campaigns or fashion films.
- Build a network of young talents
- Create a portfolio for future work opportunities
Learning method​
The course includes diverse learning methods such as:
- Lectures and workshops conducted by experienced teachers with tangible industry experience
- Guest lectures with external industry professionals
- Field trips to gain industry insights and mirror actual professional fashion environments
- Industry projects with companies
- Individual and group projects
- Critical self and peer appraisalÂ
- Independent study
- Internship at the end of the second year
Assessment method
- Presentations of the students workÂ
- Midterms and final exams
- A mandatory final project
Course Structure
Over the two years, group and individual projects are organized, incorporating creative and technical skills. Each project is presented to faculty and peers to encourage intellectual and personal development by embracing critical questioning, and critical self and peer appraisal.
Year 1
- Visual Communication and Semiotics
- Aesthetics
- Contemporary Fashion 1
- Contemporary Fashion 2
- History Of Fashion Photography
- Introduction to Fashion Media
- Introduction to Fashion Photography
- Fashion Photography
- Lighting Techniques for Fashion Photography
- Digital Image EditingÂ
- Portrait Photography
- Editorial Fashion Photography
- Fashion Photography and Social Media
- Fashion Art DirectionÂ
- Fashion Styling
Year 2
- On Location Fashion Photography
- Digital Image Editing 2
- Set Design
- Introduction to Filmmaking
- Digital Tools for Fashion Film
- Creative Writing and Script Development
- Cinematography for Fashion Film
- Editing and Post-ProductionÂ
- Video Production for FashionÂ
- Visual Effects & GCI
- Sound Design
- Fashion Film Production Management
- Ethics And Social Responsibility in Fashion Photography and Film
- Fashion Law
- Fashion Portfolio
- Career Orientation 2
Careers
Based on individual character and acquired skills, you can become:
A Fashion Photographer captures compelling visual narratives of clothing, accessories, and style through professional photography. They are responsible for creating striking images for magazines, advertising campaigns, lookbooks, and brand portfolios. The role requires technical camera skills, creative composition, understanding of lighting, and ability to collaborate with stylists, models, and art directors to realize a specific aesthetic vision.
A Fashion Filmmaker conceptualizes and executes creative visual storytelling for fashion brands through film. They develop narrative concepts, direct film productions, manage creative teams, and translate fashion brand identities into compelling moving image content. Responsible for storyboarding, shot composition, and guiding the overall artistic direction of fashion films.
A Cinematographer is a technical expert responsible for camera work in fashion films. They manage visual aesthetics through expert lighting, framing, and shot composition. They translate creative directors’ visions into technical execution, selecting appropriate camera equipment, designing visual styles, and ensuring high-quality visual storytelling that captures fashion’s essence.
A Digital Image Specialist enhances and refine fashion photographs. Performs advanced image editing to achieve desired aesthetic, including color correction, skin smoothing, lighting adjustments, and digital manipulation. They use specialized software to perfect images for print and digital fashion media, ensuring visual consistency with brand standards.
A Video Editor transforms raw fashion film footage into polished, compelling visual narratives. They assemble and sequence clips, add transitions, apply color grading, and incorporate sound design. They use advanced editing software to create cohesive visual stories that communicate fashion brands’ creative visions and emotional narratives.
A Production Manager coordinates logistical and financial aspects of fashion film and photo shoots. They have to manage budgets, schedules, crew coordination, location logistics, and overall project execution, ensuring efficient production processes, resolving on-set challenges, and maintaining communication between creative teams and technical departments.
Digital Content Creators conceptualize and produce compelling visual narratives for fashion brands across platforms. They blend photography, videography, and graphic design to craft immersive brand stories that drive engagement. With technical expertise and artistic vision, they transform fashion concepts into scroll-stopping content, collaborating with stylists and marketers to build cohesive digital identities that resonate with target audiences.
Career services
The Career and Company Relations Office supports all students by creating a connection with the working world. Our customized career services like CV help, career days, individual interviews and internship proposals help students access the job market.
The course is completed with an internship in a fashion company at the end of the second year.
The course has a great relationship with the international fashion community, providing many intern opportunities from a wide range of sources. Our graduates are successful across the fashion industry.
Facilities
Polimoda hosts a range of world class facilities such as state of the art computer labs equipped with an array of 3D modeling and graphic programs, study areas for communal and independent study, two lecture halls, academic services, large professional workshops, photo studios, and café.
Students have access to:
- 6 in-house professional photo studios at the Manifattura Campus
- All necessary equipment for students to work on individual or group projects
- Access to computer and editing equipment
- Access to one of Europe’s largest Fashion Libraries for visual researchÂ
- Study areas and lecture halls
Over its two sites, Polimoda exceeds 15,000 square meters of fashion education spaces, capable of accommodating over 2,000 students. The two campuses at Manifattura Tabacchi and Villa Favard, located a short distance from each other, form a single base for fashion education.
- Cameras: Canon R5, R6 Mark II, and 5D Mark II
- Canon lenses: 8/15mm fisheye, 16/35mm f2.8, 24/70mm f2.8, 70/200mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2, 100mm macro
- Flash kits: Profoto B10, B10 Plus, D2, D3
- Light modifiers: Softboxes, umbrellas, flags, snoots, reflectors, etc.
- Tethering cables for computer connection
- Stands and booms
- Cameras:Â 2 Blackmagic Cinema Camera Pro
- Stabilizer: DJI Ronin S
- Tripod Cine Manfrotto
- Canon lenses: 8/15mm fisheye, 16/35mm f2.8, 24/70mm f2.8, 70/200mm f2.8, 50mm f1.4, 85mm f1.2, 100mm macro
- Lights: Astra panels 6X 3X, LUPO DAYLIGHT 1000
- Light modifiers: lee filters, softboxes, flags, reflectors
- Stands and booms
- 3 photo studios with backdrops (maximum height: 3.5m, width: 3.7m).
- 3 Mini Labs, available for students to book independently, equipped with a photography backdrop and a Canon 5D Mark II with a 24/70mm f2.8 lens and an 8/15mm fisheye lens
- Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, After Effects etc.)
- Capture One
- DaVinci Resolve
Manifattura Campus
Manifattura Campus redefines the standards of fashion education: modern and multifunctional spaces host classrooms and technologically advanced workshops designed to faithfully reflect the industry’s environment and equipment. Spanning over 10,000 square meters, the campus includes facilities that are ideal for art direction and business students: six photography studios of various sizes, theoretical classrooms, drawing spaces and computer labs with cutting-edge design and publishing software.
Photo Studios
Manifattura campus includes six photography studios of various sizes. This is where photoshoot, videos and interviews are all carried out for academic and commercial outcomes. These photo studios are available to all students either through organized classes and lessons or through individual booking for student projects.
Villa Campus
Villa Campus, housed in the historic Villa Favard, serves as Polimoda’s headquarters and heart of fashion business education. Home to programs in marketing, communication, merchandising, retail, product management, and sustainable fashion, this elegant setting combines educational excellence with essential student services. From student orientation to career development, corporate relations to academic support, Villa Campus nurtures both professional growth and creative dialogue in a historic setting that bridges fashion’s past and future.
Beyond academics, Villa Favard stands as Florence’s premier fashion culture destination. The campus hosts international industry leaders and cultural events, creating a dynamic space where fashion education meets real-world experience.
Library
The extensive library resources are available to all students to help them study around their subjects with publications on contemporary fashion, arts, sociology, and culture, providing a rich context for their studies.
Polimoda’s library is one of the largest fashion libraries in Europe. Located in Florence’s Villa Favard, Centro di Documentazione Matteo Lanzoni – Polimoda Library holds an extensive collection of fashion publications.
Since its establishment in 1986, the Polimoda Library has grown to become a hub of fashion knowledge. With over 29,000 volumes, including books on fashion history, design, textile technology, marketing, and economics, it caters to diverse interests. The library also features an array of fashion magazines, look-books, film resources and online materials. It is also a place for quiet, independent study.
Requirements
Basic requirements to apply:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with motivation letter
- English language proficiency
- Secondary school (high school) diploma or equivalent
- Portfolio
