Is wanting to go to art school for photography a unrealistic goal?

Question

I want to go to college for photography but my mom keeps telling me i need to get a realistic goal because i would never make any money in that line of work. She wants me to be a nurse like her. I hate blood there is no way i could do that.

Answer 1

I understand that your mother is concerned over the issue of security of employment (a "steady" and secured, unionized job) but, she probably forgot that she went into the field of nursing for different reasons; a most honorable profession, a helping profession, because it suited her personality, her outlook in life and her ideals and it also satisfied her personal beliefs. But, will that make YOU happy? Can you handle working in the same place weekends during the "graveyard" shift and on holidays for a few years, often getting disrespected by rude, arrogant, pompous doctors and other gestapo-types in the nursing profession? Can you deal with people dying in your presence (elderly, children, people YOUR age)? Can you DEAL with that, and for how long?

Consider the following: why not go to school and get a degree in fine arts with a concentration of credits in photography, and also pursue a teaching degree? Wait. Hold on a minute! This way, you can always find jobs to supplement your income when the photo assignments are not as lucrative or come along as often; you can teach with the Department of Education, colleges (Adult, Evening & Continuing Education Department), YMCA/YWCA and similar institutions or on your own; you can always take out a loan and set up your own studio or open up your own photo printing business, too.

You can take on a regular teaching job and do photography on weekends and during the holidays and summers. Just a thought, since a friend of mine did that for many years until he retired and became a wildlife photographer and is now making more money than he did when he was teaching (for over 27 years).

Depending on your personal talent and skills, you will need to have the PASSION to persevere and overcome the many obstacles and problems faced by many upstarts. Don't forget that before going solo, you'll want to do an apprenticeship with a recognized, succesful professional photographer for at least a year or two... that's how you learn about the "real" world of photography, and that will often enough let you know if you're cut out for that kind of life, without risking your own financial future (investing a lot of money in equipment, work space, and other necessities).

Also, it won't hurt to take a few business classes so that you can deal with some knowledge and understanding of the business (and tax situations, deductions, etc) side of being a professional photographer. Most photographers, often very talented and gifted, go bankrupt because they lack business sense/savvy.

I'm suggesting options for you to consider, not giving you a Master Plan to follow. In the final analysis, it is YOU who must make the decision you will have to ultimately live with. If you are facing another 40-45 years of your long life in the workplace, you might as well be doing something that you enjoy, don't you think? Working in a job that you REALLY don't like will only make you miserable and open doors for burnout, stress and depression... certainly not a nice prospect.

Yes, there will be lean times but if you have alternative skills (teaching) that can supplement your income (or do other kinds of work, weddings, portraits, commercial photographs for the printed media, etc), you will surely not have a boring life ahead of you.

The trick is not to limit your possibilities but to have a variety of skills and be as versatile as possible to enable you to go into other areas to find employment, too. For example, if you have great communication skills, and you have the knowledge and understanding of working in a photo shop or with a large commercial photo lab chain, or you can teach or you can go into photojournalism... or you can work with a stock company, or edit photos, etc.

What do YOU want out of life? Photographers can indeed make money but it depends on their individual skills, how they market themselves and their talents... and their PASSION for the what they do. Right now, you have to "market" your desires in such a way as to pursuade your mother without hurting her feelings, without burning your bridges and whle also gaining her support... WHAT are you going to do?

Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 2

To begin what is your mom's concept of a photographer, and what is your concept? There are many fascets and careers within the field of photography ranging from fine art, commercial to scientific. Indeed your mom has a point that many careers in photography don't provide a sufficient income, but that is not true with all photographers. As a product photographer I make a fairly good living which is on par with any white collar professional. However, there are only so few jobs for us, and the field is quite competitive at times, but my life's decision was not necessarily based on reason, but passion and passion is what makes me or any other professional good. If you do not enjoy what you are doing, you will be miserable, but then again you may be miserable if you have materialistic ambitions in life and choose photography as your career path. Personally if you do choose photography as your career path consider a University and not an art school. A University with a reputable art department will provide a much broader and diversified education than an accredited art school can. Additionally you may wish to double major or at least get a minor in a related field, perhaps Advertising (that is if you decide a career path in photography geared towards the commercial end) Fact is a lot of photographers can't always support themselves on just photography and have to have a second job, and working at an Advertising agency is a great way not only to make money but to get a better look at the commercial photography industry from the other side of the fence. Anyhow follow your passion, but in the process use a little reason and you will do just fine.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

I'm going to photography school right now. I decided to go right after I graduated from a university with a journalism degree. Most people were choosing which grad school to go to and I was choosing which art school. I'm sure a lot of people were thinking "what is she doing?" since I'll be racking up a lot of student loans on top of the ones I already have. But someone else already said "money isn't everything." Very true. I realize that there are careers out there where I could make more money. But I also know that there aren't any careers out there that I will be as passionate about or enjoy more. That's what really matters.

Having said that.....Most people don't realize that there really is a lot of money to be made in photography. There are so many fields and specialties to choose from. Just because it's something that most people consider a hobby doesn't mean that it's something you can't do professionally and perhaps make a lot of money.

Follow your dreams and do something that will make YOU happy ;)

good luck and happy shooting!

Answer 5

OK. This is how it is and I want you to listen very carefully. You are not your mother. Your mother can live her life the way she wants to. You live your life the way you want to otherwise when you reach the end of your life, you will have achieved nothing. And you only get what you want if you want it enough. How much do you want photography? People have said to me to be realistic and get a "real job" because I wanted to make money from photography and design. Guess what. I'm a photographer. I make money from it. Good money.

Do what you love and what you're good at, not what someone else says you should try to be good at. There is no point in living if you don't enjoy life and you don't feel you have a fulfilling purpose.

You can do anything you want to do and the only person who can stop you is you.

Answer 6

I used to work as a waiter and loved waiting tables but hated my bosses... I am now a professional photographer..... It is definitely something than is challenging... not only coming up with new idea put financial in the beginning.... If you can find another professional photographer to let you work with them and let them teach you what you need to know than that can save you a bunch of money on school.. that's what I did.....Do what you enjoy and will make YOU happy. I think in the long run your mom will be happy too. If you want to see some of the work I have done go to my web site.... www.instilledmemories.com.
I have never been to school but once I have enough money I think that I will go back. That may be a good rout for you also...

Answer 7

Your mom is right. It is difficult to make a living as a photographer. Go to college, take courses that lead to a career where you can make a nice living and get a good job, not necessarily nursing, but perhaps in a photography related field such as advertising, web design etc. Do photography as a hobby.

Answer 8

It would be good to discuss why you wouldn't want to be a nurse with your mother, so that she understands how you feel. It is possible to earn a living as a photographer, and I know several who do so, but the first couple of years may not be easy until you get established. In the meantime, be prepared to do other work to supplement your photography, until you are well-established enough just to live off of it.

Answer 9

Huh? Of course there's money in photography. There's all different branches of that field too. You could get into photojournalism and work for a newspaper or a magazine. Or you could have your own studio and do people's portraits. Those are just a couple examples. Depending on your location, I'm sure there are a lot of opportunites for photographers.

Answer 10

I would say go to art school specializing int digital art, graphic design or something similiar that you can easily incorporate your photography into. Making a living from photography alone is extremely challenging!!! If you have a degree in graphic design for example, (which you can easily tie your photography to) you will be able to suppliment your income with photography, and if you work hard you can eventually make it your only income.
Good Luck!