1, Does Shashikant School of Photography offer any other training programmes?
Currently, we offer the Advanced Programme in Professional Photography only.

2, What is the focus of the Programme?
The Programme focuses on rigorous, hands-on, practical training using real-life situations and settings. The emphasis is on getting the student to experiment, to explore, to make mistakes and to learn - all under the guidance of seasoned professionals.

3, Do you have study material and lectures?
There is no printed study material. As mentioned earlier, the emphasis is on practical training. However, there will be periodic guest lectures by visiting faculty and practitioners such as photographers, art directors, model co-coordinators etc so that the students can learn from their experiences.

4, Will the Advanced Programme in Professional Photography be considered a professional qualification?
The Programme is meant to provide a thorough grounding in advanced photography to students intending to become professional photographers. We are confident that once the student has completed the 6-month programme, he/she would have learnt all the necessary techniques and will be in a strong position to begin a career as a professional photographer immediately.

5, Is the Advanced Programme in Professional Photography recognised by the government?
No, the Programme is not recognised by the government.

6, What can I do after completion of the Programme?
There are literally dozens of opportunities, within India and abroad! You could specialise in food, fashion or product photography. Become an in-house photographer for a newspaper or magazine. Maybe even, become a freelance photojournalist traveling all over the world!

7, When does the Programme begin and end?
All the programmes are continues and admissions are taken around the year, as there is a batch of only 6 students.

8, Are there any public and festival holidays?
There will be no classes on the following days:

Equipment

1, I do not own a digital SLR camera. Can I join the course without one?
No, you must have your own professional digital SLR camera. You will be using your camera for most of your day-to-day assignments and projects and hence, having your own camera is a must.

2, I have a film SLR camera in good condition. Can I use it for the course?
Professional photographers all over the world have shifted to digital format. We believe in training you in the very latest trends and hence, a film SLR camera is not suitable for this course.

Accommodation, food etc.

(This is applicable for 6 out station students)

1, What are the arrangements for accommodation? What facilities are provided
Shashikant School of Photography has arranged for a comfortable apartment in a calm and safe area of Chennai. 6 male students will share the apartment. Lady students, if any, shall be provided with separate accommodation.

Each student shall be provided with a single bed and a locker to store personal belongings. Individual rooms shall have the necessary fans and lights. The apartment shall be provided with a common TV, dining table and a refrigerator. However, there is no provision for cooking in the flat kitchen.

A servant whose responsibility it is to sweep and clean the flat shall maintain the apartment. Students shall have to make their own arrangements to wash and iron their personal wear.

2, What about travel arrangements?
Shashikant School of Photography has made arrangements to pick up the students from the apartment and drop them at the School every morning and back in the evening. There shall be only one pick-up and drop, so it is important that the students be ready to leave together.

Any costs incurred in connection with travel of a personal nature within the city (sight-seeing, shopping, entertainment etc) shall be borne by the student. If the students accompany Shashikant on his assignments, such travel and stay expenses shall be borne by Shashikant Advertising Photography.

3, What are the arrangements for food?
Shashikant School of Photography has tied up with a reputed caterer to provide hygienic, nutritious vegetarian food to the students. Breakfast and lunch shall be provided to the students at the School from Monday to Saturday. In addition, coffee/tea and snacks shall be provided twice a day.

Students shall have to make their own arrangements for dinner every day. They shall also have to arrange for breakfast, lunch and dinner on Sundays and public/festival holidays on which classes are not held (Refer A8 in this section for a list of public holidays).

4, Are there any other terms and conditions?
Lockers are intended to store personal items such as clothes, toiletries etc. Shashikant School of Photography is not responsible for the safety of the contents of the lockers. Students are advised not to store cash in the lockers.

One key shall be provided to each student for his locker and it shall be his responsibility to keep it in safe custody. The key is to be returned to Shashikant School of Photography at the time of completion of the programme. If the key is lost, the student shall bear the expense of making a duplicate key set.

Students are not permitted to consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes within the apartment. They are also strictly prohibited from storing or bringing in banned and prohibited drugs. Further, under no account should the students indulge in any activity (playing music or TV loudly, misbehave with other residents etc) that may affect or disturb the neighborhood.

Fees

1, When are the fees to be paid?
If you are selected for the Programme, you shall be informed at the earliest. Thereafter, Fees to be paid one month before the commencement of the programme. Payment may be made by Demand Draft or Bankers Pay Order, drawn in favor of "PRANGAN” and payable at Chennai, India.

2, Can I pay the fees in installments?
No, the fees are to be paid in full before the commencement of the Programme.

3, If I am unable to complete the Programme, will you refund the fees to me?
If, for any reason, the student is unable to complete the Programme the following terms and conditions apply to fee refunds:

No refund of the Programme fee
Pro-rata refund of the boarding/lodging fee, based upon the number of months completed
Full refund of the security deposit, provided that the student has not caused damage to Shashikant
   Advertising Photography's equipment lent to him/her for use

General

1, How is the weather in Chennai?
For the better part of the year, Chennai is hot and humid. The hottest part of the year being May - June, with maximum temperatures peaking at 38-42 ° Celsius. Chennai has pleasant weather in December and January, with temperatures hovering around 25-30 ° Celsius. Rain may also be expected in June/July. The monsoon usually begins in October and ends in December.

2, What kind of clothing will I need?
Cool cottons are the best! Indeed, they are necessary to work comfortably given the heat and humidity. Sweating is common; so make sure to carry lots of deodorant! Winters are not unbearably cold, so a light sweater or shawl should be sufficient. Make sure to carry umbrellas, raincoats and footwear for rainy weather - the monsoon runs from October to December.

3, What are the options for eating out?
Chennai is a food lover's delight. With cuisine designed to please any palate, there is a plethora of restaurants to choose from. Whether you prefer dinner on a shoestring budget or a fancy five-star meal, Chennai has a wide range of options. Indian, Chinese, American, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Korean, Lebanese - there's something for everyone. The city also has a chain of South Indian fast food restaurants - Saravana Bhavan, Murugan Idly Shop etc - all well-known landmarks renowned for their masala dosai and filter coffee!

4, What are the entertainment options?
There's no dearth of recreation in Chennai. There are national parks [Guindy National Park, Vandalur Zoo], amusement parks [Mayajaal, Dizzy World], pool parlours, go-kart tracks and bowling alleys.

Chennai is the retail capital of India and there are numerous shopping malls (Spencer Plaza, Citi Center, Ampa Mall etc) where one can just hang out. There are dozens of theatres and multiplexes (Sathyam Cinemas, Inox, Maayajaal etc) where a variety of English, Tamil and Hindi films are screened. Ticket prices at these multiplexes are typically between Rs. 100-150. There are also historical and cultural places of interest [Cholamandalam Artists' Village, Dakshinachitra]. The East Coast Road (also known as ECR to Chennai-ites), which runs along, the beach makes for an enjoyable long drive. Chennai is also home to the world's second longest beach - the Marina. Mahabalipuram is 60 kilometers away, while Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry) is 160 kilometers away.

5, What are the facilities for travel?
The Kamaraj Domestic Terminal at the airport serves all domestic travelers, while the Anna International Terminal serves foreign travelers. There are two railway termini; the Central and Egmore railway stations, which connect Chennai to destinations in all parts of India. Within the city, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation runs buses from early morning to late night, connecting every part of the city.

Southern Railway runs local trains, connecting most major parts of the city. Auto-rickshaws and call taxis are available in plenty. The fare for an auto-rickshaw is Rs. 14 minimum and Rs. 6 for every kilometer after, but it is very rare to find a driver who will be willing to accept the fare based on the meter! Be prepared to negotiate hard before you step in! There is also the Koyambedu bus terminal, which connects Chennai to other destinations in the South by buses, operated by the State Express Transport Corporation and private operators.

6, What languages are spoken?
Tamil, Malayalam and Telugu are widely spoken and understood. English is surprisingly well understood; you may even find an autorickshaw driver or shopkeeper managing a smattering of English! Hindi may be spoken and understood by a small number of people. For visitors and others who don't speak the local languages, it is quite possible to get by with English.

7, How much personal expenses are I likely to be incur every month?
It all depends upon your lifestyle. Your main items of expenses will be dinner everyday and breakfast/lunch/dinner on Sundays/public holidays. Besides, you may want to watch a film now and then or go shopping or have a fine meal. You may also have personal expenses such as toiletries, clothes etc.