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

[RichardS]

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?

Is a degree in photography actually offered? Just about any college degree will be a help to you because so many firms that use photographers also require their employes to have a college degree. I'm speaking of newspapers, magazines and firms that hire photographers for public relations work. Most of them will require college degrees or else many years of experience in photography.

Dick

 

[Alan]

Wow, I woke up and there's 20 replies, but they are all very helpful to me. Thank you! English is my second language so bare with me if you're having trouble reading it. I'm working very hard to improve my writing. After reading all these replies, I've decided to take that course just for the fun of it. and I'll take other courses that might help me get a well paid job to support this expensive hobby!

 

[cp_ste.croix]

I have heard wonderful things about Ryerson out east...it was where I would have gone, had I chosen photography over education (the profession, not the concept).

 

[Bertram2]

But would you recommend me spending the time and money to finish those courses and start building my career base on photography?

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. k.

Alan,
the most important thing is that our imagination of what a certain profession is often has not much to do with reality. Many of us found this out too late, AFTER we had made our degrees and spent some years with earning money.

So my recommendation would be to invest one year working as an assistant or helping hand or a faktotum for a professional photog who does that kind of work you want to do later, wedding, portrait or what ever.
Then first decide if this is worth to do that course and to get a degree, the other way it could get dissapointing for you. Passion and profession do not go together well necessarily, the economic pressure can turn love to hate !

Best regards,
Bertram

 

[Honu-Hugger]

(snip)...So my recommendation would be to invest one year working as an assistant or helping hand or a faktotum for a professional photog who does that kind of work you want to do later, wedding, portrait or what ever.
Then first decide if this is worth to do that course and to get a degree, the other way it could get dissapointing for you. Passion and profession do not go together well necessarily, the economic pressure can turn love to hate !

Best regards,
Bertram

Excellent advice all around and you can begin school while you are working, if you so desire. Working in a profession will help to strip away some of the gloss and will really help you decide if it is right for you. Any experience you can learn from is good experience -- good luck with your future and best wishes, Alan.

 

[John Robertson]

Is 60 older enough?? I can only echo Bertrams very sound advice. Also remember what is fun as a hobby is not always fun as a job.!! Also when you are still young enough, have the courage to change careers early, if you are not finding it rewarding, before you get stuck in a rut. Boy do I now regret the 34years I spent as a British Civil Servant, when I should have had the courage to quit and do something more enjoyable. :bang:

 

[Alan]

I'm going to take that course rather I'll make photography as a professional or not, but I'll also get other degrees that will help me get a better job than the one I have now.
once again thanks for all the advise!

 

[Honu-Hugger]

I'm going to take that course rather I'll make photography as a professional or not, but I'll also get other degrees that will help me get a better job than the one I have now.
once again thanks for all the advise!

Alan,
How can you lose? It will be a wonderful experience with much to learn and many people to meet. I've been in the darkroom and around cameras since I was ten years old, but two or three years back I took a Basic Photo Course at the local college -- initially they told me I had no business there, but there is always something to learn if your desire is strong. Good luck with your endeavor.

 

[JOE1951]

Hi

Some interesting comments in this thread.

My experience is 20yrs of working in various capacities in the industry. Everything from working in one hour photolabs, retail, photojournalist, studio/product, camera assistant in motionpicture/video shoots, and presently as a photographer/digital imaging tech at a university.

I love photography, but it really hasn't paid much, or has lived up to the expectations I had 20 yrs ago!

I'm 41 and seriously considering going back to school. I'm lucky that working at a university gives me a second chance of getting a degree VERY CHEAPLY !!!!!

I personally would not persue it professionally!

At 20, your young, and have a lot of time to make decisions about where your life is going. Sure take the course, but be open minded to your future, Irregardless of what you persue, photography will always be there!

BTW, here is a site I found that might be of use to anyone considering starting a career in photography

http://www.editorialphoto.com/resources/startingout.asp

 

[aoresteen]

Stay in school. Take business courses as well. No matter what field you choose you will have to deal with taxes!

When I was in school many many years ago I considered photography or music as a career. Decided to get a degree in finance instead. For the last 20 years I have been working in technology with financial services companies and now am a CIO. Pays much better than photography and lets me aford to travel and take all the pictures I want.

Photography is a tough business. 90% of all studios that fail do so because of lack of business skills, not photo skills. The other 10% fail because thay are in the wrong market.

By all means take all the photography courses that you can. Learn how to master lighting. Film or digital, it doesn't matter, they both need good lighting.

Good luck!

 

[canonetc]

Advice on career

Advice on career

Hi Alan,

Which aspect of professional photography to pursue will depend on what you really want to do in photography. If it's commercial, then like the others here said, get some intern (volunteer perhaps) work with an established commercial photographer in your area. For fashion, product, architectural, try to do the same. Try to learn directly from someone already doing it WHILE you attend college.

If you are interested in photojournalism, go by the local office (if your city has one) of the Associated Press, Agence France Presse or Reuters. Show them some of your work and try to get some freelance work "on spec". They never give assignments to untested photographers. "On spec" means you find some news event going on that AP or AFP might be interested in, and then you call them to see if they really would be interested (ask for the Photo Desk). If they say "Yes, we'd like to see it", then go shoot the event and be back to the bureau before 230pm, 3 at the latest. They'll download your digital images and decide if they want anything. All of the AP guys I've ever met were very open and helpful, and most were willing to give me tips on composition and information gathering (for your photo captions). With AP, always get the name(s) of the persons in the photo, where the event is (city, state, country) and the date. AP always asks, "Did you get the name?" Or, rarely and with a morbid sense of humor, "was there any blood...?"

Basically, you can learn a lot by simply DOING IT at the same time you are attending college or some photo course. Why wait? By the time you graduate, some other stringer could have the full-time job you wanted. I should say AP tends to prefer photographers who can shoot everything (sports, entertainment, etc.). Plus, being in the field you can be more up to date through talking with fellow photogs. Like here. And of couse you'll need to be digital, but you can get the less expensive Canon Rebel with 8 megapixels or go for the faster more durable 20D. Or get the RD-1 digital rangefinder some RFF members have (you'll have to ask them about it as I've not used it yet myself...).

Good luck. And also keep at least one film rangefinder for the art YOU want to do for YOURSELF!

Chris
canonetc