AJ Productions Training Academy

Course Syllabus

Objectives, expected outcomes and full coverage for every module — the same programme taught on professional gear in Mbezi Mshikamano, Dar es Salaam.

Back to Training Enrol / ask a question

Programme overview

The Academy is built on three pillars — Shooting, Recording and Editing — plus a Business capstone, delivered across eleven modules. Each module pairs short theory with immediate hands-on practice on real client kit (Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS, Godox SL-series lighting and the Podcast House), and ends with a deliverable that builds the student’s portfolio. Students enrol in one of five tracks; each track draws on a defined set of modules.

Track	Modules
Photography	1 · 2 · 3 · 6 · 8 · 11
Videography	1 · 2 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 9 · 11
Podcasting & Audio	1 · 7 · 10 · 11
Editing	1 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11
Full Production Diploma	All eleven modules + capstone project

Modules

Pillar 1 — Shooting

Foundations of Visual Storytelling

All tracks

Objective. Establish the creative and technical baseline every AJ creator shares — how stories are told with image and sound, and how the studio and kit work safely.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Describe the full production pipeline: brief → shoot → edit → deliver.
Handle the camera, lenses, lighting and audio kit safely and correctly.
Manage memory cards, file formats and reliable backups.

To be covered:

The production pipeline and the AJ Productions house style.
Guided tour of camera bodies, lenses, lighting and audio kit.
Card and file management, naming and backup discipline.
Gear safety, handling and care.
Reading a creative brief and shaping the idea.

Camera, Exposure & the Image

Photography · Videography

Objective. Master full manual control of the camera so the student can produce a correctly exposed, sharp, intentional frame in any light.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Shoot fully manual with confidence.
Control the exposure triangle and read a histogram.
Choose the right focus mode and focal length for the shot.

To be covered:

Aperture, shutter speed and ISO — the exposure triangle.
Metering, histograms and avoiding clipping.
Focus modes, depth of field and focal length.
White balance and colour temperature.
The Canon 5D Mark IV controls and the EF 24-105mm f/4L.

Photography — Composition, Light & Genres

Photography

Objective. Turn technically-correct frames into compelling photographs across AJ’s real client genres.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Compose deliberately for impact and clarity.
Read and shape both natural and studio light.
Direct and pose people, and shoot each genre to a brief.

To be covered:

Composition — framing, leading lines, balance and depth.
Reading and shaping light for portraits and scenes.
Posing and directing individuals and groups.
Genre workflows: harusi/weddings, graduations, corporate & events, portraits & product.

Videography I — Cinematic Capture

Videography

Objective. Move from stills to motion and capture clean, cinematic footage with correct settings.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Set frame rate and shutter correctly for natural motion.
Expose video using picture profiles and on-screen tools.
Plan a shoot and record usable, well-composed clips.

To be covered:

Frame rates and the 180-degree shutter rule.
Video exposure, picture profiles and exposure tools.
Shot sizes, angles and sequencing.
The shot list and storyboard.
In-camera and basic external audio.

Videography II — Movement, Coverage & Multi-cam

Videography

Objective. Add production value through deliberate movement and multi-angle event and interview coverage.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Use camera movement with intent and stability.
Cover an event or interview from multiple synchronised angles.
Maintain continuity and gather strong b-roll.

To be covered:

Camera movement: gimbal, slider and handheld technique.
Multi-cam setups and synchronisation.
Wedding/event and interview coverage strategies.
Continuity, coverage and b-roll.

Lighting — Studio & Location

Photography · Videography

Objective. Light a subject professionally for both photo and video using the Godox kit and available light.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Build a lighting setup from a single key light upward.
Modify, balance and ratio light for a chosen mood.
Mix artificial and ambient light on location.

To be covered:

Qualities of light: hard/soft, direction, distance and ratio.
The Godox SL-series LEDs and modifiers (softbox, etc.).
Classic portrait lighting patterns.
Mixing ambient and artificial light.
Lighting the Podcast House for video.

Pillar 2 — Recording

Audio & Podcast Recording

Podcasting & Audio

Objective. Capture broadcast-quality audio and run a complete podcast or interview session in the Podcast House.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Set up microphones and gain staging for clean levels.
Treat the room and manage acoustics.
Run and record a multi-track episode end to end.

To be covered:

Microphones and polar patterns.
Gain staging, levels and avoiding distortion.
The mixer / audio interface.
Room treatment and acoustics.
Multi-track recording and session flow.
Integrating audio with the video podcast.

Pillar 3 — Editing

Photo Editing & Retouching

Photography · Editing

Objective. Take RAW captures through to a finished, retouched, client-ready image set.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Cull and organise a shoot efficiently.
Develop RAW files and retouch portraits cleanly.
Hold a consistent look and export to delivery spec.

To be covered:

Culling and cataloguing (Lightroom).
RAW development: exposure, colour and tone.
Portrait retouching in Photoshop.
Presets and a consistent house look.
Export settings and delivery sizes.

Video Editing & Colour Grading

Videography · Editing

Objective. Assemble, cut and colour footage into a finished film or highlight to the AJ standard.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Edit a sequence from assembly to fine cut.
Sync and mix audio, and add titles and music.
Colour-correct and grade, then export for delivery and social.

To be covered:

Editing workflow and project setup.
Assembly edit through to fine cut.
Music, sound design and the audio mix.
Titles and basic motion graphics.
Colour correction and grading.
Export presets: delivery, YouTube, social.

Audio & Podcast Editing & Publishing

Podcasting & Audio · Editing

Objective. Edit recorded audio into a polished, published episode.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Clean and edit dialogue to a tight, natural flow.
Mix and master to standard loudness targets.
Package, publish and promote the episode.

To be covered:

Dialogue editing and noise reduction.
EQ, compression and level balancing.
Mixing and loudness (LUFS) for podcasts.
Intro, outro and music beds.
Chapters, show notes and hosting/publishing.
Cutting clips for social.

Pillar 4 — Business

Capstone — Delivery, Client Workflow & Portfolio

All tracks

Objective. Bring everything together on a real project, and learn the business of getting booked and delivering professionally.

Expected outcomes — the student can:

Run a project end to end, from enquiry to handover.
Quote, schedule and manage a client professionally.
Build a portfolio and social presence that wins bookings.

To be covered:

The client workflow: enquiry → quote → shoot → deliver.
Pricing and quoting.
Delivery: galleries, file handover and standards.
Building a portfolio.
Social media for creators.
The capstone project and final assessment.

Assessment & certification

Each module is assessed on its hands-on deliverable rather than written exams alone, with progress tracked against the module outcomes above.

Track certificate — awarded on passing every module within an enrolment track.
Full Production Diploma — awarded on completing all eleven modules plus the capstone project.

This syllabus mirrors the Training page at ajp.kevajopa.co.tz, so the website, the syllabus and the course materials stay aligned.