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EST. 2007
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Specialisation in the PDAP diploma

Photojournalism Coursewith Videojournalism in India

Our photojournalism courses at Creative Hut Academy are a specialisation in the one-year PDAP diploma, taught at a photography college in Kerala for students from all over India. You learn the full PDAP syllabus, then build your photo story and documentary film portfolio on real people and events.

EstablishedSince 2007film and photography

Who joinsAll Indiafully residential

MentorsWorking prosshoot for a living

RecognisedKGTE and
NCVETand Adobe

Who this course is for

Built for people who want to tell true stories.

You have finished Class 12 or a degree and want a career in photojournalism or documentary filmmaking. No prior experience is needed. You commit to one residential year of assignments, field days, mentoring and review.

Photography and filmmaking

Two crafts, one year.

The photojournalism courses and the documentary filmmaking course run side by side. You shoot photo stories and documentary film on the same people, places and events.

Photojournalism courses at Creative Hut Academy, elderly man looking back in a crowded market

Photojournalism course

Portraits, art and culture, and street life. You build a photo story portfolio from real assignments.

Pancha Gramalu, documentary by Sesetty Shanmuka Sri Uday Mani, Creative Hut Academy

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Documentary filmmaking course

Research, interview, sound and story. You shoot and finish a short documentary, graded and cut by you.

What is the photojournalism course at Creative Hut?

You report with the camera and the film from the first weeks.

The photojournalism course is the photojournalism specialisation of our one-year PDAP diploma. You study the full common syllabus: photography, lighting, cinematography, editing and AI filmmaking. From your first stage, your assignments, field days and final portfolio are set in photojournalism, mentored by working photographers and filmmakers.

You finish with a photo story portfolio, a short documentary and a showreel, ready for newsrooms, magazines, documentary producers and NGOs. No prior experience is needed.

Photojournalism courses at Creative Hut Academy, Pulikali tiger dancer performing in a street procession

Admissions Open

Thirty seats.
15+ states.
One campus.

Admissions for the residential batch are open, and seats are first come, first served. Message us now, or leave your details and we'll reach out.
A residential photography and film college since 2007.
Placement support, and 520+ alumni working in visual media
Photography, cinematography and AI filmmaking under one roof

Prefer we reach out?

Leave your details and our admissions team will get back to you within 24 hours.
New website enquiry
Personal counsellor, not a bot. No spam. No pressure calls.

The Year, At a Glance

What you actually do.

The craftPhoto storiestaught in the field

Your subjectsPeople and eventsfestivals, markets, streets

Moving imageDocumentary filma short film in your portfolio

Field skillsAccess and ethicsplanned with mentors

You leave withA photo story portfolioa film and a showreel

The rhythmShoot every weekhands on, not lectured

What You Photograph

Portrait, culture, street and ritual.

Your portfolio in our photojournalism courses covers six areas of photojournalism, so you leave with range, not one style.

Fish seller glancing aside at his market stall, portrait photojournalism photograph by Uday Mani, Creative Hut AcademyPortraitsFaces and character

Theyyam performer in red face paint and an ornate crown, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Rohit Mathew, Creative Hut AcademyArt and cultureTheyyam, Kathakali

Pulikali dancers in blue and leopard paint on the street, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Anandu V, Creative Hut AcademyFestivalsPulikali and pooram

Cyclist carrying live chickens across a steel bridge, street photojournalism photograph by Muhammed Nihal TK, Creative Hut AcademyStreetCity and lane

Woman vendor resting among citrus stacks at a fruit market, portrait photojournalism photograph by Alen Shibu, Creative Hut AcademyMarkets and tradesPeople at work

Two pilgrims in saffron turbans standing in a festival crowd, portrait photojournalism photograph by Vishnu S Girish, Creative Hut AcademyFaith and ritualPilgrims and temples

Aranmula Kannadi, documentary by Harikrishnan VK, Creative Hut AcademyAranmula KannadiDocumentary by Harikrishnan VK

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Documentary Cinematography

Documentary filmmaking course: the film is half the portfolio.

You shoot motion on the same subjects: interviews, natural sound, handheld and gimbal work, and a short documentary edited and graded by you. AI filmmaking tools support your planning and post work.

View portfolio

The Field Is the Classroom

Real stories are a field trip away.

Kerala's festivals, markets and temple streets sit around the campus, and photo tours take you to cities such as Kolkata and Haridwar. You report on real people and events, not studio setups. Tour costs are separate and are not included in the course fee.

Pulikali tiger dancers filling a street during the festival, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Anandu V, Creative Hut Academy

Festivals

Pulikali, Thrissur

A photo tour to the tiger dance festival, where you work in crowds, from the painting rooms to the street.

Woman carrying a bundle along a busy city road, street photojournalism photograph by Emmadi Pavan, Creative Hut Academy

City and street

Kolkata

A photo tour to one of India's great street photography cities: markets, ghats and faces.

Elderly sadhu with tilak looking out from a green shawl, portrait photojournalism photograph by Vijay Raj MG, Creative Hut Academy

Faith and pilgrimage

Haridwar

A photo tour to the Ganga ghats, where ritual, crowds and light teach you to work quickly and respectfully.

Beyond India · International tours

International photo tours are announced at admission. Travel and stay for these tours are charged separately.

Student Work

What a year of reporting looks like.

Photojournalism photographs and documentary films made by Creative Hut students during the one year photojournalism courses and filmmaking programme in Kerala.

Photojournalism by our students

36 stills

Fish seller glancing aside at his market stall, portrait photojournalism photograph by Uday Mani, Creative Hut Academy

Woman vendor resting among citrus stacks at a fruit market, portrait photojournalism photograph by Alen Shibu, Creative Hut Academy

Man tying broom grass into a bundle at a doorway, portrait photojournalism photograph by Raj Surada, Creative Hut Academy

Boatman in a woollen cap sitting beside a flower boat on calm water, portrait photojournalism photograph by Sathish Kumar, Creative Hut Academy

Woman in orange sari weaving a cane basket, portrait photojournalism photograph by Harikrishnan VK, Creative Hut Academy

Bearded man carrying a white chicken outside a shop, portrait photojournalism photograph by Sathish Kumar, Creative Hut Academy

Elderly man in flat cap looking back in a crowded market, portrait photojournalism photograph by Divya Sakunde, Creative Hut Academy

Elderly vendor sitting in a shawl beside piles of onions, portrait photojournalism photograph by Divya Sakunde, Creative Hut Academy

Baby with wide eyes held close by his mother, portrait photojournalism photograph by Sachu KN, Creative Hut Academy

Child with tousled hair looking into the camera, portrait photojournalism photograph by Emmadi Pavan, Creative Hut Academy

Shopkeeper standing in his colourful bead and bangle shop, portrait photojournalism photograph by Abhinava Paduva, Creative Hut Academy

Woman smiling behind a heaped vegetable stall, portrait photojournalism photograph by Uday Mani, Creative Hut Academy

Woman sitting beside large cooking pots in a dark kitchen, portrait photojournalism photograph by Bharathi Murugan, Creative Hut Academy

Theyyam performer in a white and gold painted mask, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Gokul Somarajan, Creative Hut Academy

Performer silhouetted against flying fire sparks, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Benson, Creative Hut Academy

Kathakali artist in costume while a man adjusts his makeup, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Pranav Jose, Creative Hut Academy

Pulikali tiger dancer performing in a street procession, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Architha B, Creative Hut Academy

Theyyam performer in a red crown watched by two boys, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Rohit Mathew, Creative Hut Academy

Fish seller glancing aside at his market stall, portrait photojournalism photograph by Uday Mani, Creative Hut Academy

Woman vendor resting among citrus stacks at a fruit market, portrait photojournalism photograph by Alen Shibu, Creative Hut Academy

Man tying broom grass into a bundle at a doorway, portrait photojournalism photograph by Raj Surada, Creative Hut Academy

Boatman in a woollen cap sitting beside a flower boat on calm water, portrait photojournalism photograph by Sathish Kumar, Creative Hut Academy

Woman in orange sari weaving a cane basket, portrait photojournalism photograph by Harikrishnan VK, Creative Hut Academy

Bearded man carrying a white chicken outside a shop, portrait photojournalism photograph by Sathish Kumar, Creative Hut Academy

Elderly man in flat cap looking back in a crowded market, portrait photojournalism photograph by Divya Sakunde, Creative Hut Academy

Elderly vendor sitting in a shawl beside piles of onions, portrait photojournalism photograph by Divya Sakunde, Creative Hut Academy

Baby with wide eyes held close by his mother, portrait photojournalism photograph by Sachu KN, Creative Hut Academy

Child with tousled hair looking into the camera, portrait photojournalism photograph by Emmadi Pavan, Creative Hut Academy

Shopkeeper standing in his colourful bead and bangle shop, portrait photojournalism photograph by Abhinava Paduva, Creative Hut Academy

Woman smiling behind a heaped vegetable stall, portrait photojournalism photograph by Uday Mani, Creative Hut Academy

Woman sitting beside large cooking pots in a dark kitchen, portrait photojournalism photograph by Bharathi Murugan, Creative Hut Academy

Theyyam performer in a white and gold painted mask, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Gokul Somarajan, Creative Hut Academy

Performer silhouetted against flying fire sparks, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Benson, Creative Hut Academy

Kathakali artist in costume while a man adjusts his makeup, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Pranav Jose, Creative Hut Academy

Pulikali tiger dancer performing in a street procession, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Architha B, Creative Hut Academy

Theyyam performer in a red crown watched by two boys, art and culture photojournalism photograph by Rohit Mathew, Creative Hut Academy

Documentary Work

Documentary films by our students.

Documentary film gallery

Five films

Attappadiyan, Documentary by Agrah S Deth, Creative Hut AcademyAttappadiyanDocumentary by Agrah S Deth

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Thirayaal, Documentary by Ajay Narayanan K, Creative Hut AcademyThirayaalDocumentary by Ajay Narayanan K

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Kaam Aur Kahani, Documentary by Adithya A, Creative Hut AcademyKaam Aur KahaniDocumentary by Adithya A

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Kolkali, Documentary by Surya N Sundaran, Creative Hut AcademyKolkaliDocumentary by Surya N Sundaran

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Urayal: Art or God?, Documentary by Bomma Saichand Goud and Alka Mohan, Creative Hut AcademyUrayal: Art or God?Documentary by Bomma Saichand Goud and Alka Mohan

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Photojournalism portfolios

Five portfolios

Trouvaille, Photography portfolio by Vaishnavi G Kurup, Creative Hut AcademyTrouvaillePhotography portfolio by Vaishnavi G Kurup

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Constellations, Photography portfolio by Pooja Singh, Creative Hut AcademyConstellationsPhotography portfolio by Pooja Singh

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Pictorial Passage, Photography portfolio by Mrinal Bhushan, Creative Hut AcademyPictorial PassagePhotography portfolio by Mrinal Bhushan

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US, Photography portfolio by Manav Nayyar, Creative Hut AcademyUSPhotography portfolio by Manav Nayyar

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Inquirer Through the Lens, Photography portfolio by Vishnu Vijayakumar, Creative Hut AcademyInquirer Through the LensPhotography portfolio by Vishnu Vijayakumar

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Behind the scenes: classes, workshops and tours

Three videos

Practical session in Kolkata, Photojournalism class on location, Creative Hut AcademyPractical session in KolkataPhotojournalism class on location

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Cinematography workshop, Red camera and Aputure lighting, Creative Hut AcademyCinematography workshopRed camera and Aputure lighting

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Political visual imagery, A guest talk for students, Creative Hut AcademyPolitical visual imageryA guest talk for students

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The Year, Step by Step

From first frame to published story.

The year runs in four stages. Each stage ends with work you can show.

01
Photography craft

Foundation and light

You learn exposure, composition and natural light. You finish with a graded set of ten street and portrait images.

ExposurePortraitComposition
02
In the field

Reporting and ethics

You report on location: access, consent, respectful portraits, festival and street work, and the ethics of photographing people. You finish with a photo story.

AccessConsentPhoto story
03
Moving image

Documentary and post

You shoot interviews and natural sound, edit in DaVinci Resolve and grade. You finish with a short documentary.

InterviewDaVinci ResolveDocumentary
04
Going professional

Portfolio and the business

You build your portfolio, film and showreel, and learn how the genre pays, from newsrooms to NGOs. You finish ready to pitch.

PortfolioShort filmWorking pro

Train on Real Glass

Pro bodies and fast lenses.

You train on Sony bodies, prime and zoom lenses, gimbals, interview lighting and a full edit suite on campus. Bring your own camera, lens, gimbal and laptop for daily assignments.

Powered by Sony

Mirrorless bodies · fast, quiet and discreet for street and event work

Prime and zoom lenses · wide to short telephoto for reportage

Gimbals, audio and light kits · interview and documentary rigs

Edit and post suite · Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, colour grading

Where This Takes You

A genre with real demand.

Photojournalism skills travel. Graduates work with newsrooms, magazines, documentary producers, NGOs and agencies, in photography, video journalism and documentary film.

Photojournalist

Assignments, features and photo stories.

Documentary filmmaker

Short and long form documentary.

Video journalist

News, digital and field reporting.

Editorial and NGO work

Magazines, campaigns and impact stories.

Skills you can sell

The portfolio you leave with maps directly to paid work. Each skill below is a service you can offer.

Bars show relative demand across the genre, not guaranteed income.

Editorial assignmentsHigh
Documentary and filmGrowing
NGO and campaign workSteady
Video journalismStrong

SrinagarDelhiJaipurAhmedabadMumbaiGuwahatiKolkataHyderabadBengaluruChennaiCAMPUS · KOTTAYAM

A National Campus

Students from across India.

Our students arrive from the north, the metros, the northeast and the south. You live on campus and work alongside them for the full year.

All India
student intake
100%
residential
550
student portfolios

One year. Master it.

Intake for the photojournalism course is small and admissions are rolling. Message us and our team will walk you through the course, fees and dates.

Why Creative Hut

Since 2007, one campus, full immersion.

01

Live where you learn

You stay on campus in a residential Gurukul model, shoot every week and are mentored daily.

02

Photo and film together

You graduate able to shoot the still frame and the moving sequence.

03

A working studio

The campus has produced 550 portfolios and 200 short films. Your work is reviewed the way a commissioning editor would review it.

04

Recognised and equipped

KGTE, NCVET-MESC, and Adobe recognition, gear powered by Sony, and faculty who work in the field.

Common questions

Photojournalism courses, answered.

Questions about the photojournalism course at Creative Hut Academy.

Is this a photojournalism course in India?

Yes. It is the photojournalism specialisation of the one-year PDAP diploma at Creative Hut Academy, a photography college in Kerala that takes students from all over India. Every class is common to all students. You learn photojournalism, documentary photography, video journalism and documentary filmmaking, build a photo story portfolio and a short documentary, and graduate ready to work in the genre.

Who can join the photojournalism course?

Anyone after Class 12. No prior photography experience is required. It suits complete beginners and working photographers who want to specialise in photojournalism.

Does the course cover documentary film?

Yes. You learn documentary cinematography and videography, interview and natural sound capture, editing in DaVinci Resolve, and colour grading, and you produce a short documentary alongside your photo story portfolio.

Do you go on photo tours and assignments?

Yes. Fieldwork is central. You report on festivals, markets and streets in Kerala and join photo tours to cities such as Kolkata and Haridwar. Tour costs are separate and are shared at admission.

Can students from outside Kerala join?

Yes. Creative Hut is a fully residential campus and students join from across India. Hostel, food, and training are all on site.

What equipment do I need to bring?

Every specialisation student brings their own camera, lens, gimbal and laptop for daily practice and assignments. The campus is powered by Sony, and professional bodies and lenses are available for coursework.

What does the course fee cover?

The fee is residential and all inclusive: tuition, hostel and food for the full year. Campus cameras, lenses, lighting and studios are available for coursework. You bring your own laptop and personal items. Tours are not included in the fee and are charged separately.

What will I graduate with?

A professional photo story portfolio and a short documentary film, built across the year, along with the KGTE, NCVET-MESC and Adobe recognitions earned alongside the diploma.