Turn your passion for photography and filmmaking into your career. Find your own creative voice and impact the world.

Find your creative eye and develop your confidence to make an impact on the world through your craft. You will become well-rounded professionals within a Christian worldview and receive training in photography and filmmaking. Upon completion of this program, you will have a professional portfolio to kickstart your career. The program culminates with a 14-day practicum where you will be working with real clients in an International/ National context. Past groups have traveled to Tibet, Ecuador, and Golden, BC.

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What Makes This Program Different

  • Our program combines your faith with your career. Integrate biblical knowledge and personal application of the Christian faith into digital media.
  • Learn from instructors who are all professionals currently employed in the fields that they teach.
  • Students become well-rounded professionals and receive training in two different areas: photography, and filmmaking.
  • Students will participate in the capstone practicum at the end of their second year, which extends to mid-May.

Photography Tips

A taste of what you'll learn.

1 - The stories behind your photos

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2 - The historical background

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3 - Portrait light styles

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4 - How to shape lights

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5 - Setting the camera for complex lighting

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6 - Using filters correctly

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7 - Building connections with your subject

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8 - Business aspects

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Do you have questions? Let's chat...

Screenshot 2022-12-13 at 4.55.05 PM

Evan Will

PHOTOGRAPHY INSTRUCTOR

Storytelling

Our instructor David Snider shows the importance of storytelling course.

Do you have questions? Let's chat...

Dr Mark Jonah

Dr. Mark Jonah

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Filmmaking

Producing a TV Pilot Episode

Our Digital Media students took an elective course, where they participated in filming a professional quality and formatted TV pilot episode. Thanks to Rosebud School of the Arts for this opportunity to work together with your students.

All of Prairie’s programs combine faith and career. Integrate biblical knowledge and personal application of the Christian faith into the digital media discipline. Learn from instructors who are all professionals currently employed in the fields that they teach.

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Do you have questions? Let's chat...

Cutbill_Jordan

Jordan Cutbill

FILMMAKING INSTRUCTOR

Students Stories

The Program Director Mark Jonah talks with students.

This program aspires to ignite and fan the flames of creativity in those interested in digital media.

Starting from the foundations of communication and storytelling, this program not only strives for excellence in practical skills but encourages students to find their own creative voice and way that they can impact the world. They are guided from the fundamentals to advanced techniques in photography, professional photograph printing and filmmaking / video production, while also learning real-world applications and marketing.

Students finish the program with a professional portfolio and website to showcase the work they create.

Two-Year Diploma - Fall Start Date Only

All courses are worth 3 credits unless otherwise indicated.

Bible & Theology (15 credits)

NT 112 Reading the Gospels & Acts
OT 112 Reading the Torah
OT 221 Reading the Historical Books
ST 100 The Christian Life
TH 100 Introduction to Christian Theology

Arts & Sciences (9 credits)

HF 111 Thinking & Writing
HF 115 Fundamentals of Storytelling
SS 170 Christianity in the 21st Century World

Digital Media (36 credits)

CM 368 Digital Media Practicum
DM 120 Introduction to Audio & Colour in Film (2 credits)
DM 130 Advanced Drone Operator (1 credit)
DM 134 Fundamentals of Filmmaking
DM 145 Fundamentals of Photography
DM 160/161/260/261 Fundamentals of Digital Media Business I – IV (4 credits)
DM 177 Portfolio 1 (1 credit)
DM 228  Motion Graphics and Effects (2.5 credits)
DM 234 Advanced Filmmaking (4.5 credits)
DM 236 Documentary Filmmaking
DM 242 Wedding Photography
DM 245 Advanced Photography
DM 246 Photo Retouching (2 credits)
DM 277 Portfolio 2 (1 credit)

The following course is an elective pre-approved by the Instructor and not required for the Digital Media Diploma:

DM235 Advanced Film Production (3 credits)
DM 135 – Introductory Film Production (1.5 credits)

Note: Courses may be under development to reflect changes and upgrades in technology and software. Actual courses may be slightly different than as published.

For course descriptions, see catalogue here.

  1. Achieve excellence in creative expression and visual storytelling based on an understanding and application of strong aesthetic principles.
  2. Develop a professional web and portfolio for the purposes of soliciting future clients.
  3. Gain proficiency in software applications.
  4. Have full comprehension of the advanced functions of a camera for photo and video.
  5. Demonstrate ability to use professional studio tools to enhance photographic and film productions.
  6. Experience practical application of learned skills through partnering projects with real-world clients.
  7. Practical application of digital media skill sets in mentorship with professional instructors during a practicum.

Our graduates

• are sought-out professionals who are employable because they are well-rounded in both photography and filmmaking.
• are entrepreneurs who build businesses to serve the church and society with their creative skills.
• continue at Prairie and obtain a 4-year degree in a variety of majors including Business Administration.

In this digital age, media is an expanding field with many different opportunities to impact people. The training and portfolio gained through Prairie’s Digital Media program can open doors to career and ministry opportunities in North America or around the world!

*Please note: All hardware and software requirements are subject to change up until July 1 prior to the start of classes due to the importance of remaining current with industry standards *

First Year Students:
• Laptop: New or up to 2 year old MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro with a M1 or M2 (preferred) chipset with at least 16GB of RAM and must have at least one usb-c port.
• Camera: Canon* DSLR or mirrorless body with at least HD 1080p video capabilities. We strongly recommend Canon’s full-frame bodies over crop-frame sensor cameras.
• Lens: Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS or EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS II and 50mm 1.8 (or faster) lens is highly recommended.
• Intervalometer (if you do not have one built into your camera)
• Memory card reader (necessary only if there are no compatible ports on your laptop for the connection cord your camera uses)
• Student subscription of Capture One Pro
• Full License of Affinity Photo and Affinity Publisher
• Two 4 TB (minimum) external portable hard drives
• Tripod: one that can take both still and video heads
• Inexpensive 36″ collapsible Reflector
• One TB Solid State Drive

Second Year Students (in addition to first year requirements):
• Flash with built-in radio receiver
• Radio transmitter for flash
• Light stand: 8′ minimum
• 45″ Umbrella or 24″ soft box for flash photography

*Your Laptop must be one of the types listed – no exceptions made.

*The camera must be a Canon DSLR or have the ability to use an adaptor to accept Canon DSLR lenses as the college has a number of Canon compatible accessories that Digital Media students can take out on loan.

To be successful in the Digital Media program applicants need to have a basic skillset and talent in the areas of photography & filmmaking. In order to assess this, we ask applicants to submit a digital portfolio. The digital portfolio should include 5-10 items that display the applicant’s skills in the areas we teach (photography, filmmaking). 

For our Tuition & Fee rates as well as Room and Board please see Fees & Financial Aid

Program Specific Costs:

Digital Media students are charged a $630 program fee. ($315 charged in Fall semester and $315 charged in the Winter semester).

All 1st year students will have a Material fee of $625 charged in the Fall semester to cover the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor and a Digital Media branded jacket.

All 2nd year students have a Practicum Fee of $5000. ($2500 charged in the Fall semester and $2500 charged in the Winter semester).

Canada & United States Application

Applications for Fall 2023 (September start), Winter 2024 (January start) and Online Education (start anytime) are open.

International Student Application

Prairie welcomes applications from individuals all around the world! To begin the International Student Application please click the link below. 

Master's Application

If you are applying for the Master of Leadership in Global Christian Education and need more information visit the program page. 

There are many opportunities to make a difference.

Capital Campaign: Expanding for Greater Impact

In 2022 we launched a 5-year, $100 million dollar Capital Campaign. This ambitious campaign includes a major overhaul to Prairie’s facilities in various areas on campus. It is a long-term investment to equip Prairie to expand our reach and impact students to meet the greatest needs of the world for God’s glory. 

Prison Bible Encounter Program

Encourage inmates in three institutions across Alberta to discover or reconnect with Jesus Christ. This fund assists the students studying the Certificate in Bible program with scholarships, resources for classes, and instruction. 

Scholarships & Education Fund

Invest in the next generation of world changers for God’s Kingdom. Your gift to this fund reduces the burden of students’ tuition and allows more students to receive scholarships and bursaries each year. 

The Centennial Campaign

Prairie College celebrates 100 years of encouraging a Biblical foundation for life and career. This fund contributes towards the general operating expenses of the College during the 5-year Capital Campaign: Expanding for Greater Impact.

To allocate your gift, please select either of the donation buttons below.

Information Request

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