Pro Photographers: Did you go to photography school?

Jazbean

Senior Member
Hello,

Im just wondering how many professional photographers studied photography. I would like to be at least semi pro one day and am wondering if I should be thinking about taking some sort of course. I took a basic class on how to work my camera at the college locally here and also purchased Evan Sharboneau's master class. I want to do stylized children's photography/family/weddings mostly outdoors and maybe have a few of my own photos that I can sell as prints. Would you suggest more education or just more practise? Thanks for your input everyone.
 
Last edited:

Pretzel

Senior Member
Yes. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced DSLR classes so far, with the next class being "Photography as a Business" for me.

Could I have learned to do amazing things without the classes? SURE! Probably not as quickly, though, or from the right viewpoint.

IMO, Money spent on education is money well spent, and though a local photography school, etc., it's really not all that costly. Total for me thus far on education, $315.00. Value? Priceless. If for nothing else, it gave me specific assignments with a targeted focus followed up by helpful critiques and insights on the finished product. That alone helped me develop far beyond what I could have done alone.
 

AC016

Senior Member
Nope, i never took a photography class in my life. But, i am not a Professional photographer. Though, i have sold some of my work, but i do keep going to my day job. You're a "pro" when photography is your livelihood; meaning, you don't hold any other job.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I've followed the same courses as Pretzel just outlined... As a retired business owner in finance, that required continuing education to meet continued business licensing... I can't imagine NOT following a formal course of education and running a successful business...
 

FastGlass

Senior Member
No. Keep in mind that photography is like every thing else. Your either good at or your not. Some people can be taught to do anything. Others can't. You need to be artistic, creative and good with people to say the least. It's not all about taking pictures. Anyone can take pictures.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
IMO, Money spent on education is money well spent, and though a local photography school, etc., it's really not all that costly. Total for me thus far on education, $315.00. Value? Priceless. If for nothing else, it gave me specific assignments with a targeted focus followed up by helpful critiques and insights on the finished product. That alone helped me develop far beyond what I could have done alone.
Quoted for great truth. I take formal classes at every opportunity and can only suggest doing so.

Well, assuming you're interested in improving your photography; I understand not everyone is.
...
 

rocketman122

Senior Member
Yes but it was a waste of my time and money. I learned a lot of the technical from my mom and readibg books. The artistic or trained eye came in time. I had the potential but experience was needed. It was a waste of tine for me. I didnt learn much.

If u have thr technical know how and an experienced photog looks at your work and says u have potential than The paper isnt worth jack sh Imo. Real world experience will be invaluable and worth much more.

My brother whos a top level programmer was studying in the university. He left before graduation because he was accepted to amdocs. He becone a project leader the project manager. He now has his own company so the paper isnt worth muxh if u have the talent. He was cracking games on the commodore 64 in his teen years. A wiz kid.

Another friend whos a wiz on maya also never had formal education. Self taught. Hes very successful. The paper is worth nothing.
 
Last edited:

RON_RIP

Senior Member
expelled after the second meeting. . .
Probably did you a favor. Now, of course, you could be giving classes instead of attending classes. For me the best education is constant practice and constant research. I spend more time cracking books now than I ever did in school.
 

Phillydog1958

Senior Member
Yes. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced DSLR classes so far, with the next class being "Photography as a Business" for me.

Could I have learned to do amazing things without the classes? SURE! Probably not as quickly, though, or from the right viewpoint.

IMO, Money spent on education is money well spent, and though a local photography school, etc., it's really not all that costly. Total for me thus far on education, $315.00. Value? Priceless. If for nothing else, it gave me specific assignments with a targeted focus followed up by helpful critiques and insights on the finished product. That alone helped me develop far beyond what I could have done alone.

I'm in full agreement. One doesn't necessarily have to seek out a 4-year bachelors degree, although that is an option. I'd suggest classes through your local arts council or even a local junior college class. Formalized traininging does make a difference in any topic, followed by practice.
 
Last edited:

fotojack

Senior Member
Got in one year of a 2 year course at the NYIP. Going through a divorce curtailed the second year. I'll always regret that. However, be that as it may, it was an invaluable experience. This was back in 1974.
When I came back to Canada and moved to Calgary, I took a local course at a local high school fine arts division. I was using a Pentax K1000...great camera at the time! The rest of my photography "education" was strictly hands on after that. Nothing beats practical experience, IMHO, but nothing wrong with a formal education either. It all adds to your knowledge base.
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
I'll say depends on one's aptitude at learning, in general, and preferred learning style. Some cannot research and motivate themselves, so classes are designed to do all the research and practice problems for you. Others can, and put that money towards equipment. Bottom line is having resilience and dedication, no matter the field. If you lack these, you won't make it anywhere that requires extreme efforts.

I'm personally internet and trial-and-error taught, and that is my preferred learning method. Classes may have expedited some things for me, but may not have. I'm making little, but now steady money with a camera so that's my report card for myself.
 
The quallity of any course4 depends on the quality of the lecturer and if they are willing to fully share the knowledge. Many hold back and leave so much hidden,
Did join the Master Photographers Association and British Institute of Professional photographers in the 80's You have to submit work for examination and be a full time pro that taught you what was right and wrong with composition. That learning is still with me today and in every shot I take. Left the MPA and BIPP as the whole thing was run by and for the masons and it was a waste of the membership fee.
Wife joined the Royal Photogrphic society and had her work examined before an audience of 400 with binoculars !!

Have met photographers with photography degrees....not impressed seem to have spent 3 years to learn nothing usefull.
 
Last edited:

analoguey01

Senior Member
I'll say depends on one's aptitude at learning, in general, and preferred learning style. Some cannot research and motivate themselves, so classes are designed to do all the research and practice problems for you. Others can, and put that money towards equipment. Bottom line is having resilience and dedication, no matter the field. If you lack these, you won't make it anywhere that requires extreme efforts.

I'm personally internet and trial-and-error taught, and that is my preferred learning method. Classes may have expedited some things for me, but may not have. I'm making little, but now steady money with a camera so that's my report card for myself.
+1.

Gotta remember though - college education seems to have moved on from the ' come here to learn' to ' come here to network '.
And the network helps out when you go into business. But, if all learning is from a classroom, bound to fail.

Far too many things hit you up during an assignment, most of which aren't covered in text books or classes for photography (from looking at the syllabi, hearing about them from participants).
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Maybe I'm biased because I work in the Visual Arts department at a college with a thriving photography department. I see people come here with no knowledge whatsoever about photography and watch them progress from barely capable snapshot takers into stunning photographers who enter, and win, juried shows and shows at prestigious galleries. If formal education doesn't work for you, personally, it certainly does work for many.

I know when I started to get more serious about photography part of my "problem" was that I didn't know what I didn't know. I didn't know there was (so much!) science behind the art of photography much less understand it. I think many people assume all artistic endeavor is purely subjective when, in fact, it's not. Not even.


Einstein dropped out of college.( Just sayin".)
No, he didn't. He got his PhD from, I believe, the University of Zurich.
....
 

Blacktop

Senior Member
Maybe I'm biased because I work in the Visual Arts department at a college with a thriving photography department. I see people come here with no knowledge whatsoever about photography and watch them progress from barely capable snapshot takers into stunning photographers who enter, and win, juried shows and shows at prestigious galleries. If formal education doesn't work for you, personally, it certainly does work for many.

I know when I started to get more serious about photography part of my "problem" was that I didn't know what I didn't know. I didn't know there was (so much!) science behind the art of photography much less understand it. I think many people assume all artistic endeavor is purely subjective when, in fact, it's not. Not even.



No, he didn't. He got his PhD from, I believe, the University of Zurich.
....

I stand corrected. He dropped out at 15 years old from some other school in Germany. I really should start Googling stuff.:indecisiveness:
 

SkvLTD

Senior Member
Maybe I'm biased because I work in the Visual Arts department at a college with a thriving photography department. I see people come here with no knowledge whatsoever about photography and watch them progress from barely capable snapshot takers into stunning photographers who enter, and win, juried shows and shows at prestigious galleries. If formal education doesn't work for you, personally, it certainly does work for many.

I know when I started to get more serious about photography part of my "problem" was that I didn't know what I didn't know. I didn't know there was (so much!) science behind the art of photography much less understand it. I think many people assume all artistic endeavor is purely subjective when, in fact, it's not. Not even.
....

It still is a service, even if artistic, but not everyone can handle a school environment to learn. Granted I did my share, but totally misguided on the subject I'd want to actually learn. Now though, I'd rather find good mentors as peers and learn from feedback while working vs going back to the grades and classes. For someone totally fresh and yet to be properly educated in a specific subject matter, I'd definitely try it before venturing off.
 
Top