I'd like some advise from the older people from this forum.

[Alan]

hi, I'm 20 and went through all that teenager crisis so now I felt that I should get back in school and catch up with the time i wasted. It's only a couple of years so I'm confident enough to get into college or university if this is what I need to build my career.
For the people from Vancouver they probably know there's 2 photography course in Langara College, and I'm interested in taking one of those course. But would you recommend me spending the time and money to finish those courses and start building my career base on photography? I know it's suppose to be art and expressing yourself but I'd really like a job that I enjoy doing.
I read some where that it is very hard to be a professional photograher and alot of them have a second job, since there's too much compitition. and being an amerture photographer you get to choose the subject you are interested in instead of taking pictures that you think will be boring.
Thanks for reading and I'd like to know what you guys think.

 

[nwcanonman]

Yes, go to college. Having a college degree these days will allow you to get a good enough job to afford photography, even if it's only an "avocation" instead of your vocation.
Being a full time photographer usually does mean doing the kind of shots your employers want, not what you enjoy doing. But you'll gain experience and that may in the long run enable you to do the kind of photos YOU do enjoy.
Best of luck ~ ; - )

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Education is your friend.

 

[Alan]

So does this mean I should go for the photography degree? Will I need to take other courses to ensure me getting a good enough job?

 

[nwcanonman]

Alan,
Unless you've gotten a lot of credits before entering, there are always certain preliminary classes everyone takes. To run your own photo business, certain business classes could come in handy. And don't forget most modern photography involves computers, so be well versed in their use.
Also you could go for a "minor" in something else (just in case - LOL).

 

[mtokue]

Hi Alan,
I'm not sure whether I fit your target group.
( Not more than 15years older 😀 and from across the pond UK 😱 )
But I went to a then "Art College" and spent 4 years studying "Media Science" major was Photography.
And my personal experience was/is that I have never regretted the time spent.
I learned a lot, both from the course and the lecturers. although the main subject was Photography we covered AV, Audio and Cinematography,
Plus I enjoyed the experience!! 😀 Sure as a student I had to work two jobs to enable me to Play and Learn but the Playing was Soooo Goood 😀

And after that I was a Photographer,Sure It was hard at the beggining, what itsnt? :bang:
but I did very well and ended up with two partners and a large central studio.
I am no longer a "Working Photographer" but am still a partner.
I left because I was begining to find the act of photography a chore and was not enjoying it as much 🙁 .
Anyway I guess what I'm trying to say is that Life is hard but try to enjoy it as much as you can and for me spending time at College was something I'd definately do IF there is a next time :angel: .

There is a member here on RFF(greyhoundman) that uses the following quote in his signiture that For me is something I strive to do.
"The goal of life is not to arrive at the grave safely and well maintained; but rather to skid in at full throttle coming to a screeching halt shouting "Holy SH*T, WHAT A RIDE!"
Yeah! What A Ride 😀 .
Mike.

 

[Alan]

Thank you all for your advise, this helped me make up my mind, i'll certainly take that photography course, and some other course if I can afford the time. If i fail, I know I will have no regret since I will be trying my best.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

So does this mean I should go for the photography degree? Will I need to take other courses to ensure me getting a good enough job?

Yes, and that is one of the many benefits. In all probability you will also become a better writer.

 

[wlewisiii]

Always choose school. Get them to teach you all the little things we learn by guess and by golly. Then go out an work, at least for awhile, in the biz. Yes, you will take a boatload of dull shots. Yes, you will run your a** off at weddings. But the things you'll learn before you're 25 will more than make up for that.

And those lessons will give you the tools to make the photographs _you_ want to make.

Around here we get wrapped up in GAS, RF vs Others, and so forth. Feh. A bit of glass, a light tight box and an eye trained to see what is actually there is all that is really needed. A better camera (a Leica, a Contax, or your fav name brand here) will make it easier for to make good photos; it will not make them on it's own. You could grab an old Brownie and shoot a Pulitzer prize tomorrow - if you are in the right place, at the right time _and_ you know what to do with it.

The only good camera is the one you have with you. If you aren't carrying it - for any reason - it is NOT a good camera. And, yes, I realize I've just called 50 - 75% of the Leica's in existance bad cameras 😀 but if they sit on a shelf as collection Queens what da&# good are they really? I'd rather see someone carrying a cheap Canon Rebel with a garbage 5.6 zoom lens and actually taking pictures than owning a M3 they were scared of scratching. I got out of my car earlier today and a young gentle saw me flip my Kiev 5 over my shoulder and remarked "Cool camera!" Of course he was holding a video camera as he said that so he alread _knew_ the real lesson. I still indulged in some RF evangelism, but as I said, he did have a camera in his hands.

Cra**y as they are, cell phone cams are quite possibly the best thing to happen to photogrpahy since the original Brownie because the remind people that the only good camera is the one you have with you. They allow people to shoot anytime, anywhere, and sooner or later the ones who actully care will look for real cameras as a result.

And that can only be a good thing.

Sigh. Sorry, you seem to have hit my hot buttons tonight. I'll stop blathering now.

William

 

[back alley]

alan,
these are the types of choices that you can only make for yourself.
i suggest that you do some research before you invest any real time or money in your education.
i would recommend that you take some time and decide what areas of photography you might want to work in.
there are many. i have a friend who shoots all kinds of horrible looking stuff under a microscope at the university hospital. i worked part time for a wedding studio for years and had a small (but hip) portrait studio of my own. i have shot musicians and did a couple of cd covers. there are shooters for newspapers, mags and commercial shooters who take the pics for the walmart flyers in the weekend papers.
find an area you think you might like and then go find some people who actually do those jobs and talk to them. ask them as many questions as you can think of. ask them how they got started and what schools they went to.
research is the key, at least it's the best first step.

joe

 

[Oldprof]

In my experience people usually do better in things they enjoy and have some aptitude for. When I was a freshman in college I found that I did well in social science courses and had a hard time in math and chemistry. So I gravitated towards the social sciences and ultimately got a doctorate in anthropology. Most of my relatives and friends had no idea what anthropology was, and suggested I could never make a living at it. They were wrong and I have had a most enjoyable career doing anthropology. Follow your heart and I think you will come out fine.

 

[RubenBlaedel]

go for school - take extra classes in photography - but get an education that is wider and less dependant on having the right clientel for your business. If you have talent for photography the right time will show up with an opportunity to go professionel - but if it takes 10 years to do so you will have an education to fallb ack on - going only for photography is putting all your eggs in one basket in a business that is risky and changing rapidly with very expensive investments. On the other hand if your are dedicated to succed at no cost - like madonna was when she got into singing - you can junp into it right away with all the sharks etc. I did go to school but not an english one so prey do excuse spelling mistakes and vandalism to your language in this post and good luck Alan - cheers Ruben

 

[phototone]

If your goal is to be in business for yourself, photography is one of the few professions that does not have to be "qualified" by a degree, rather people judge you on the quality of your work.

If your plan is to gain meaningful employment, then the degree is almost mandatory.

 

[Chaser]

well im not much older (21) so my expiriance is not nearly as vartied and tried as those with a few more years under their belt...but i am 2 weeks away from finishing my BA in creative writing...and i currently work as a photojournalist for a small town paper...i say go to learn and take good photos a portfolio will get you far and knowing a thing or two about as many things as possible helps in all walks of life

 

[TheMadUkrainian]

My Two Cents

My Two Cents

I worked in the Animation field for about 10 years in California, Chicago and Germany. For the most part, it was a rewarding experience. After working for about a year in the field, I decided to get a degree in animation. I worked for a while freelancing about and decided to take the plunge and move to California and make the big bucks.

While working in the studios here I found out a lot about the Industry. There were people that were degreed in animation, or illustrators, or classically trained artists. There were also those that did not have a degree at all. There were great talents and hack artists from every background. I realized that the degree did not matter.

However, I found that I did not like the field anymore. I was burnt out after 6 years in California and became a flight instructor. I rediscovered photography to make up for the lack of creativity in my life...so when i read this, it struck a chord. I am definitely one to believe that one can never learn too much...

So my advise...get a degree in what you want. If you find out, like I did, that you don't want to be a photographer as a career then you at least have the degree that can qualify you for other jobs. Most people don't continue what they do in college as a career.

 

[ChrisN]

Hi Alan. Lot's of good advice from the good folks above. I especially echo OldProf's sentiments. I went back to college at 28 (my teenage crisis must have lasted a bit longer than yours - well done!). I studied something I was interested in and would guarantee me a job. Since then I haven't worked in that field at all, despite my professional qualifications. The technical things I learned have been handy though and have stood me in good stead. The best thing I learned was HOW to LEARN, which is even more valuable. Go for it!

Chris

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Chris,

When I was your age -- about 35 years ago -- I had a choice between reading photography as a fine art at Coventry College of Art and Design or law at the University of Birmingham (one of the best law schools on the UK).

Unhesitatingly I chose law, because law is a degree in BS and stands you in good stead anywhere, whereas photography is highly career-specific and there are far too many people with the same (usually meaningless) BA in Fine Art competing for a very few jobs.

My wife on the other hand has a BA in theatre (University of Southern California) and an MA in theatre management (Cal State Long Beach). Most of the jobs she found in theatre were very unsatisfying and poorly paid and now she does the same as I, viz. photography and writing: check our web-site www.rogerandfrances.com to see how we earn a (modest) living at this.

The day I arrived at university I met someone who had just graduated. As he said, "The great thing about university is that it keeps the wolf from the door for a few years while you grow up." I wouldn't argue with that but I would say that when I started in professional photography -- though admittedly that was in the UK about 30 years ago -- a degree in photography was often seen as a disadvantage, not an advantage.

The way to learn is as an assistant to an established photographer, which is extremely poorly paid and full of sh*t-work BUT is very like being a student with the twin advantages of models and an 'interesting' career. And after all you are getting paid. On the other hand you do have to get up in the morning. But then, there are no exams...

A lot depends on how desperately you want to be a photographer. If it's all you ever wanted to do, then become an assistant and take that route. Most professionals I know drifted into it, and studying something else helps keep your options open.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[GeneW]

What OldProf said! Follow your passion. And don't be surprised if you end up following a different passion later. One of the stats I read was that most people starting out their careers will change careers up to six times during the course of their lifetime. The modern workplace demands flexibility. (Hey, I'm near the end of my career and am in process of doing my 5th switch)

Be aware that professional photography has, with a few exceptions, gone digital. Even the photography schools are switching to digital. My nephew's girlfriend just finished her two-year diploma in photography at a local community college and over 80% of their assignments were digital based (Imacon backs on 4x5 cams). So become really proficient at PhotoShop while you're at it.

But keep a Bessa or Zorki or Fed or TLR in your bag just for the fun of it!

Gene

 

[taffer]

Alan, I'm 28 now, and just finished the last course of computer engineering, that degree has probably already paid for itself and is also paying my bills (and my film and cameras 😛). Don't think of a daily life as an inconvenient to your photographic passion, usually best results (both speaking of results and enjoyment) come when you manage to introduce your passion in your daily life and merge both together.

If you start working as a full time photog probably you'll have to do the kind of work you don't like just to make a living, but if you have a regular income enough to live comfortably and cover your photographic expenses, then you'll be free to do the kind of photography you want, just when working at the office remember what you're working for ! post-it notes come very handy for that ! (think less, shoot more) 😀

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It's hard to advise you on what will work for you. If you have done wedding and portrait photography for friends and family, done well with local papers, things that translate to payed occupation, you could go for it. I know too many friends with REAL TALENT that got a degree in photographic/multimedia/AV arts and left the field within 5 years of graduating. One friend from college sold all of his gear and left the field a few years later, and he was very good. I knew a number of them that ended up working in camera shops and doing weekend weddings for spare money. Same at work, a number of photographers that work in the AV department doing layout and publications (not out taking pictures) that do weekend weddings and portrait work.

Start putting together a portfolio based on weddings and portraits of family and friends. If you know any pro photographers, show it to them. Whatever you do get LOTS of experience with digital cameras, computers, color profiles, etc. If all of that sounds good, go for it. But have enough courses in something that you can fall back on.

I love photography, like taking weddings, portraits, kids parties, etc. But I do it for fun. I am a computer Engineer, but at least work in the Optical Sciences Division at a research Lab. And I love playing with the cameras for documentary work, but it is mostly a fun break for me.