Academics > Undergraduate > BFA Photography and Video

Facility Resources

Our BFA Photo and Video Building
Explore Our Cutting-Edge Photography Facilities

6th, 4th, & 3rd Floor Photography Studios

One person poses on an apple box while two others operate camera and sound equipment in a photo studio
Large photo studio with windows and equipment on the left
One person poses on an apple crate while another operates a camera in a photo studio
Large photo studio with equipment and windows along the right side
Two people operate camera and sound equipment in a photo studio
A large window in an open room with photo equipment
A large open studio with equipment along the walls
C stands, apple boxes, weghts, and other camera equipment along a wall with large windows
One person poses on an apple box while two others operate camera and sound equipment in a photo studio
Large photo studio with windows and equipment on the left
One person poses on an apple crate while another operates a camera in a photo studio
Large photo studio with equipment and windows along the right side
Two people operate camera and sound equipment in a photo studio
A large window in an open room with photo equipment
A large open studio with equipment along the walls
C stands, apple boxes, weghts, and other camera equipment along a wall with large windows
One person poses on an apple box while two others operate camera and sound equipment in a photo studio

Nine studio spaces are available for student use, fully equipped with tether stations, strobe lighting, and grip equipment. A variety of colored seamless paper rolls are available.

6th Floor Equipment Hub

Tagged camera bags organized by camera type
A long work station with two chairs and computers facing a window. Organized cameras and lenses on shelves behind the station.
Shelves of lenses and cameras organized by type
Rows of camera lenses organized by type
Rows of camera lenses organized by type on multiple shelves
Tagged camera bags organized by camera type
A long work station with two chairs and computers facing a window. Organized cameras and lenses on shelves behind the station.
Shelves of lenses and cameras organized by type
Rows of camera lenses organized by type
Rows of camera lenses organized by type on multiple shelves
Tagged camera bags organized by camera type

Home to a wide range of analog and digital equipment for students’ use, including all major brands such as Sony, Canon, Fuji, Nikon, Profoto, and Hasselblad. View the Equipment Catalog to learn more about the equipment we offer.

5th Floor Digital Labs

A work station with a monitor and scanner
A large cutting table, with large digital printers in a lab.
Two people review prints in a digital lab with computers and large digital printers
A large digital printer in front of a classroom of monitors and scanners.
Two people look at digital prints on a table in front of a large digital printer
A classroom of monitors and scanners
A workstation with multiple scanners, a printer, and a monitor.
A workstation with two monitors and a dlsr scanner
Two large digital printers
A digital work station with a monitor, mixing board, and mic
A work station with a monitor and scanner
A work station with a monitor and scanner
A large cutting table, with large digital printers in a lab.
Two people review prints in a digital lab with computers and large digital printers
A large digital printer in front of a classroom of monitors and scanners.
Two people look at digital prints on a table in front of a large digital printer
A classroom of monitors and scanners
A workstation with multiple scanners, a printer, and a monitor.
A workstation with two monitors and a dlsr scanner
Two large digital printers
A digital work station with a monitor, mixing board, and mic
A work station with a monitor and scanner
A work station with a monitor and scanner

Digital imaging labs are available for student use. The labs are equipped with Mac Studios, including Adobe Creative Suite, Eizo monitors, Imacon and Epson flatbed scanners, and Epson printers ranging from 13 inches to 44 inches wide. To check out card readers, laptops, film scan holders, or for assistance with printers, scanners, or computers, visit the 5th Floor Digital Hub.

4th Floor Darkrooms

A sink with developing chemicals
Dark room with a row of enlargers on one wall and and row of sinks with developing chemicals on the other wall
Dark room with a row of enlargers on one wall and and row of sinks with developing chemicals on the other wall
A row of enlargers in the darkroom
A sink with tubs of film developing chemicals
A drying rack in front of sinks.
A student looks at prints in front of a drying rack
Drying racks and light tables
Students and a teacher review film around a light table
Light tables
Students look at their developed film on a light table
Two hands holding film that has been developed
A student reviews their prints, standing in front of a sink they developed them in
A sink with developing chemicals
Dark room with a row of enlargers on one wall and and row of sinks with developing chemicals on the other wall
Dark room with a row of enlargers on one wall and and row of sinks with developing chemicals on the other wall
A row of enlargers in the darkroom
A sink with tubs of film developing chemicals
A drying rack in front of sinks.
A student looks at prints in front of a drying rack
Drying racks and light tables
Students and a teacher review film around a light table
Light tables
Students look at their developed film on a light table
Two hands holding film that has been developed
A student reviews their prints, standing in front of a sink they developed them in
A sink with developing chemicals

Three darkrooms are available for student use. A large darkroom with 21 enlargers, a smaller darkroom with five enlargers, including an 8x10 enlarger, and an alternative process darkroom. The white lights area has RC and fiber print dryers, a rock washer, dry-mount presses, film dryers, and a film loading station. Darkroom equipment and alternative process chemistry are available at the darkroom hub.

2nd Floor Classrooms

A clean classroom with a large monitor on the wall. The door, the end of a long table, and a smaller table with a laptop are all visible.
A clean classroom with a long table, large monitor and computer station
A clean classroom with a large, long table, a giant monitor on the wall and laptop
A clean classroom with a large monitor on the wall. The door, the end of a long table, and a smaller table with a laptop are all visible.
A clean classroom with a long table, large monitor and computer station
A clean classroom with a large, long table, a giant monitor on the wall and laptop
A clean classroom with a large monitor on the wall. The door, the end of a long table, and a smaller table with a laptop are all visible.

Six seminar classrooms are equipped with Macbook Pro laptops, magnetic boards, gallery lighting, high-quality speakers, and high-resolution, color-accurate 4K 98" displays. The rooms accommodate lectures, group discussions, print evaluations, and critique sessions, and ensure that students can present, share, and discuss their work as intended. 

Facility Resources for Current Students

  • The BFA Photography and Video Handbook provides detailed information about the resources, procedures, and policies that are specific to our department. This is your go-to guide for all things BFA Photo and Video and supplements the school-wide SVA Handbook, which contains information about the College, its administration, services, and processes.

  • Reservations are required for Darkrooms, Digital Labs, and Studios outside of class. You may submit reservation requests up to two weeks in advance.

  • The information you provide in this Student Contact Form will be used to update your Filemaker account (so we can continue to check out equipment to you). Any info you share will not be shared outside of the department.

  • Find an open locker and lock it with a personal lock. Remember the locker number and register online here.

  • To request guest access for non-SVA visitors to the BFA Photography and Video department, complete this Guest Access Request Form at least 48 hours in advance.

  • The Equipment Catalog contains a full list of available equipment for student use. The department has created Quickstart Guides for each resource and has linked the Manufacturer's Manual, wherever available. The Quickstart Guides contain step-by-step instructions for students to be able to quickly orient themself to the equipment, and troubleshoot common issues.

  • One exception to the off-premises equipment policy is permitted per student per semester. With this exception, you are allowed to rent out equipment for one week. Access the Semester Equipment Exception form here.

  • The BFA Photography & Video Department has partnered with Gallagher. As a result, SVA students now have access to discounted CSI Insurance.