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L2 Certificate in Photography

A flexible, online Level 2 photography qualification exploring camera settings, composition, lighting, creative techniques and digital editing through practical projects and a portfolio of photographic work.

Price range: £26.00 to £565.00
£565.00
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Flexibility in Mind

This course has been designed as a 1 or 2 year course, although as all qualifications with Aced this is flexible. There are no fixed deadlines or end of course exam therefore learners can work at a pace that is suitable for them.

Course Overview

  • Entry Requirement: No formal quals required. No minimum age requirements. Guide of 13/14yrs to start.
  • Durations: Designed as a 2 yr course based on 2-3hrs per week, however completion time is flexible.
  • Requirements: Computer with internet connection, phone camera or better and a selection of art resources.
  • Enrolment: Enrol anytime! There are no enrolment windows to wait for, so learners can start straight away!
  • Awarding body: Accredited with NCFE.
  • OFQUAL regulated: 601/3391/0
  • Level: Level 2 qualification.
  • Total Qualification Time (TQT) : 160 hours
  • Learner evidence: 100% Portfolio assessed (internally assessed and externally moderated. No exam!).
  • Total cost: £565 ‘one off’ payment or a monthly subscription of 24 instalments of £26 or 10 instalments of £62.40.
  • Course structure: There are 10 Modules in total.
  • Worth: 16 Credit value / 1 GCSE, comparable to grade 4-9/A-C *
  • * However we always suggest checking with your local college if requiring in place of a GCSE.
  • The pay-in-full discounted rate of £565 is available exclusively to home-educating families who are privately funding their course. Local Authority bookings, or enrolments funded through external agencies, will be charged at the standard course price of £624. This ensures the discount is passed directly to the families it was designed to support.
Download a copy of our L2 Certificate in Photography- Prospectus
Who is this Qualification For?

If you have a learner who is passionate about capturing images, wants to develop their technical skills and enjoys exploring their creativity through photography, this Level 2 Photography course is the perfect fit for them; completely online and flexible to suit their lifestyle.

Learners will develop their skills by making the most of their camera phones or settings on their SLR cameras. The course covers essential techniques such as composition, lighting, the exposure triangle, and depth of field. Additionally, students will learn digital editing skills, including using third-party software and filters to creatively enhance and improve their images.

Whether you or your learner is looking to kickstart a career in photography or as a stepping stone to further qualifications, this alternative to GCSE Photography may be the choice for you?

We offer complete flexibility in our approach, removing the barriers creative, home educated learners face. No exam, no controlled assessment and no stressful trips to exam centres are required, enabling learners the chance to achieve nationally accredited courses from home. Learners can work at their own pace without the added anxiety attached to fixed deadlines and timetabled exam dates.

Learners will complete this fully guided qualification virtually, with the help of exciting, directed projects, assessor support and pre-filmed tutorials from our subject specialist practitioners.

Work will be assessed online, with positive and encouraging feedback periodically throughout the course. On successful completion of the 10 modules, our learners will receive their Ofqual accredited certificate, comparable to a GCSE (A-C/4-9 grade).

Follow the link below to see our general Aced Qualifications Facebook Group, to keep up to date with all our courses, including our L2 Sports and Functional Skills Maths Course:

Follow the link below to see our Aced Art Facebook Group, to keep up to date with everything Art, including our Art & Design course as well as our Photography course:

Download a free sample taken from Module 1, L2 Certificate in Photography

What will I learn?

Throughout this course, learners will develop a comprehensive understanding and practical skills in a range of photography techniques, including:

  • Mastering general digital camera settings
  • Maximising the potential of camera phones
  • Developing skills in Adobe Photoshop
  • Cropping and editing photos with precision
  • Applying a variety of filters and editing apps to enhance images
  • Understanding composition principles in photography
  • Effectively using lighting to create impact
  • Exploring digital manipulation techniques
  • Experimenting with alternative and creative photographic processes

This course is designed to empower you to take your photography to the next level, whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills.

Objectives of this qualification:

  • Use tools and equipment safely and competently
  • Develop analytical and research skills
  • Evaluate own work, developed ideas and learning through the design process
  • Provide evidence of key skills attainment, where appropriate.
“My daughter is really happy to be able to do an art qualification from home and it suits her to complete the work in her own time. She is enjoying the course and pleased with what she has achieved so far. The feedback has been very supportive and encouraging, thank you!”
NatalieParent of L2 Art & Design Learner
“Aced Art is a wonderful resource for those young home educated people who love art and design and want to get a recognised qualification equivalent to GCSE. Our daughter enrolled in February and is enjoying each module. She can study at her own pace with no end date or exam for completion and we can pay as we go monthly spreading the cost. Totally recommend this course to others.“
EmmaParent of L2 Art & Design Learner
“As a learner who is currently completing aced art, I couldn’t recommend it more! It has given me access to so much information to help to develop my skills and further my love for art. I always have someone to go to for advice on developing my work and I always get a quick reply that’s really constructive and helpful! The modules are well put together and really accessible to use and navigate. I would recommend this course to anyone. Thank you for allowing the home educated learners a safe space to do what they love!”
AliceL2 Art & Design Learner

What could this qualification lead to?

Learners who achieve this qualification could progress onto other creative course provisions or higher education.  As an example, here is a list of specialisms that learners may wish to progress to.

This is not an exhaustive list and please note this course could provide a route to many other photography based courses or interests.

  • Level 3 Certificate in Photography
  • Level 3 Diploma in Photography
  • Level 3 Certificate in Art and Design

Additionally, the course will equip the learner will key skills to develop a portfolio of photography work.

Suggested materials List 

  • Hard-backed A3 sketchbook — bound or spiral bound, but only if the learner wishes to create a physical sketchbook. This can also be completed digitally instead.
  • Printer — if the learner wishes to create a physical sketchbook.
  • Access to a laptop or computer capable of running software such as Photoshop.
  • OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL TUTORIAL — iPad that can run Procreate.
  • Software to create an electronic portfolio, where learners can compile slides or pages, such as Pages, PowerPoint, or Canva.
  • Phone camera with access to filters and apps.
  • The minimum requirement is a phone camera, although we recommend that the learner has access to a digital camera or digital/SLR camera, though this is not compulsory.
  • As expected, learners are encouraged to use and explore any photography devices they wish, such as instant, disposable, Polaroid, or film cameras within their photography work.

4 Reviews

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SerenRated 5 out of 5
3 weeks ago
Amazing support on the Level 2 photography course
I am writing on behalf of my daughter. She has just completed the Level 2 photography course. She had some challenges but was wonderfully supported by the Aced team to complete her qualification. The course is very accessible, well laid out and interesting.
HomeEd LearnerRated 5 out of 5
3 weeks ago
L2 photography really sets learners up for progressing with creative courses
My son recently started a level 3 in college involving photography. The confidence he now has going out in public, using a DSLR, working with the camera settings, taking interesting shots and critiquing his own work has been incredible. The Level 2 photography really sets learners up for progressing with creative media courses. You have such valuable educational offer.
AtlantaRated 5 out of 5
3 weeks ago
Atlanta has absolutely loved completing her NCFE Level 2 through ACED
Atlanta has absolutely loved completing her NCFE Level 2 through ACED Qualifications. The flexibility and completely no-pressure approach made such a difference for her confidence and wellbeing. Being able to complete the course at her own pace, in her own time, worked perfectly alongside her other commitments and learning needs. What really stood out to us was the huge variety of ways the content was delivered. The videos, check sheets, virtual booklets and exemplar materials were invaluable. Atlanta is a visual learner and is also dyslexic, so large amounts of text can feel overwhelming. Being able to watch videos multiple times, clearly see what was expected, and work through the check sheets step-by-step made the course feel manageable and achievable for her. The way the course was broken down into modules also really helped her pace herself. The progress indicators gave her a clear visual of how much she had completed and how much time she still had, which reduced anxiety and helped her stay organised throughout the course. Feedback and marking were always incredibly prompt, and communication was fantastic. On the few occasions Atlanta was ready to move ahead before a module had been marked, Debs always responded quickly and gave access to the next section without delay. We have been genuinely blown away by both the quality of the course and the level of support provided. I only wish Atlanta had time to complete some of the new courses. :)
ErinRated 5 out of 5
3 weeks ago
I am very happy to recommend Aced Qualifications. My daughter has just completed
I am very happy to recommend Aced Qualifications. My daughter has just completed the photography course, and has thoroughly enjoyed it. The tutorials are detailed and clear, and while the earlier workbooks are quite structured in what students have to do, in order to ensure that they learn the skills needed, they have much greater freedom in the later books. My daughter was initially very reluctant to take her camera off of auto settings, but as her confidence has grown, she's become much more experimental, developing her own style, and she produced some stunning images for her final submission. The final workbook requires students to create a portfolio that could be used for a college application, and I feel that this is something that could prove very useful in the future. The feedback is always personalised and constructive, giving a real sense that Debs knows who each student is and how they have progressed. I would definitely use Aced again if my daughter wants to do another course, and would recommend them to everyone.