Does one need to go to school for photography anymore?

[JimmySlo]

Soon after the birth of my son, my wife and I decided to look into getting a nice camera to take stock photos of him, and maybe help contribute to his college fund.

While researching heavily on the web and getting a lot of great advice from pro photog friends, I got the Canon EOS 7D and some nice lenses (24-70mm 2.8 and 50mm 1.4) to start out with. I thought I'd take a few months to learn the camera and some photography theory and get serious about it at the start of the new year.

Since then, I've been spending every free minute with my head buried in books on photography, websites and forums like this one, and setting up social media around my new obsession. I didn't even have to go out to get the books I'm reading. I just download them on to my Kindle and iBooks. I was having so much fun and learning such a great deal, I decided I'd like to turn this hobby into something more serious and professional. It would take a long while, I know, but if it stays fun like this, why not?

Then I got to thinking, maybe at the start of the year, I could take some photography classes at my local college. For about $500 I could take a beginning photography class and a digital photo imaging class. But when I read the course descriptions, I thought, I already know that stuff just by doing my own research. I don't want to sit in a classroom and have somebody tell me what an f-stop is and how to open Photoshop. And I can't go for a more intermediate class without the prerequisite classes before it.

So I thought, do I even need to go to school for this stuff? This site is a perfect example of the use of the internet to completely learn the technology, theory and artistry of photography. The lessons are easy to follow, there are weekly assignments, you get feedback and criticisms from your peers as well as from pros. And of course it's not just this site. I don't have to tell you all the wealth of information on the web and social media circles devoted to everything from macro photography to starting a photography business.

So now I don't know. Do I take the classes and really start as a newbie? Or should I just do what I'm doing, be active in the interweb community, have a healthy give and take with other photographers, and really devote my time in my own way?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. And while your at it, I'd love your feedback and critiques on my photos. I only have a scant few now, but I only got my camera a week and a half ago. Let's give it a Shot!

Thanks for reading!

[Jim Bryant]

Take classes and learn from a professor instead of reading books. A classroom situation would offering your a wide variety of assignments, something which you can learn by researching on the WWW or from books. Good luck!

[Niresangwa]

I think the same problem can be posed for a great many professions - the key is whether you can succeed 'professionally' without certifications. The nice thing, or problem, depending upon how you look at it, is that photography doesn't necessarily require it, (subject tot he field you want to get into, of course).

There are those who will tell you to spend your education money on the business aspect, rather than theoretical photography, and they may well be on to something. I feel like its more a matter of how much time and money you feel you want to devote...

...pretty sure very few new 'professionals' devote time to either. They just plough money into gear. I'm sure you've come across this discussion countless times already and will doubtless continue to do so in the future, ad nauseum. See the 'Earning' subforum here for example

I think the crux of it is simply right now to do as you are doing, and continue learning and enjoying it. Don't be too hasty to consider making it a profession, even as a sideline.

Find an established pro who will initially allow you to tag along, or hang out while they work on post processing, and eventually allow you to shoot along side of them. This could be a nice compromise between practical and reading. as Jim alluded to, there's little to match the discussion and learning that takes place face to face, as opposed to through a youtube tute, or a webzine/forum article. Finding a mentor or more experienced friend could be an ideal step for you.

DPS is a great place to hang out though, and I look forward to seeing your work.

[Ari77]

Hey, I was in the same situation as you. Read everything I could find, tried everything on the camera, and thought I was doing pretty well. Enrolled for the intro classes because I needed to do them before the next ones. I have to admit I am a 'bit bored' during the technical bits - ie what is the next full f stop etc etc, but I am glad I started with the beginner class. There were gaps in the things I had taught myself, and little tips like, only handhold at 1/focal length shutter speed, that weren't in anything I had read. And on the upside, I now have a small group of photography friends that are at the same level.

So, all up, the beginner classes are a good idea, and you can always stay 'after class' and ask specific stuff anyway!

Good Luck!
Ari

[tuxcomputers]

Are the photography courses required? No you can get by without them.

Are doing and doing the photography courses starting from the beginner level a good idea and useful? Yes, no matter how much you read and play there will be gaps without them.

Having said that I have not done any photography courses myself, it's just a hobby, if I tried to earn money from my hobby it would suck the fun out of it. Seeing as I will never earn with my photography the handbrake gives me a very limited budget to spend on it.

[JimmySlo]

Thanks to all the great replies. Wow! I was totally leaning toward NOT taking those classes. But after reading your replies, I think I'm going to go for it. It totally makes sense that even though I'm learning things on my own, a classroom environment could bridge gaps in my learning that I wouldn't even know about.

It's an interesting case to think that in certain professions, one could forgo extending education in favor of foot-to-pavement experience. As an actor myself, I wrestled with wondering if going to college for acting was the right idea, rather than plunging into the business on my talent alone. I have since reconciled that it WAS the right decision.

I've given the advice to other up-and-coming performers (that I should heed myself), that you should become an expert at the rules before you can break them. And I got a long way to go before I get to expert status.

I think I'll try to do both--take some classes and try to assist/intern/follow around some pro photogs that I know in my circles. I think both approaches will be beneficial.

Thanks again to all who replied!

[velvet4269]

The advice given to me by a professional photographer: If you want to go pro, take business classes because they will be far more help to you in the long run; if you want to make money, dig ditches for a living.

[CheaperKings]

I went to the University of North Florida for Computer Graphics and Animation with a minor in Video/Photography. But, my main focus was on Graphics and Animation so I didn't spend a lot of time onn the photography thing. That being said, I DID learn a lot on photography I just didn't think I would ever need because I was planning on that being someone elses' job and I would take care of the 'computer' work. Well, now how things have changed. You'd do yourself a huge favor by taking the classes. I learned a lot and wouldn't have traded it for the world...

[jdepould]

Taking a class for the nitty gritty technical stuff is pretty pointless, that's easy to learn on your own.

You take classes to learn from the critiques and to learn how to visually communicate your point better.

[Helicity]

I tried to get into photography school after high school and my grade 12 art teacher said "Dont bother your not going to get in your not good enough"

Ok. Well we don't really have photography school just art school. To get in you had to be able to draw, paint, sculpt, and do photography. So i can see why he said that. So i went and got a "real degree" in science and got pregnant.

Now i am a stay at home mum with a bunch of photography equipment. I got a bunch of jobs and my business makes about 1000 a month. Not much but enough to buy myself some new clothes etc.

Now looking into going to take some classes. I looked at the colleges and they offer beginners, intermediate, and advanced classes. I could teach the beginner, know all the intermediate, and the advanced just teaches you how to shoot in manual and clean your camera.

So in Canada there are basically zero photography schools really. Lots of digital art if you want to do editing. So what I was told by a master photographer and friend (he happens to be a professor at said arts college being in charge of photo shop and in design). "Just go take photos, make sure you get paid what your worth, work with other photographers and under them, and if you still want to go to school take business, or post production. Keep reading and learning all you can and try different techniques and go to seminars and never stop learning."