how can i get a career in photography? what careers are there that require a photography degree?

Question

i'd really love to be a photography.
i'm graduating high school in may and i know nothing about photography i've never taken a class...but i love doing it so much. i love seeing it aswell.
how can i get a career in photography? what is the best school [ college ] for it? also what careers are there that require a photography degree?

Answer 1

Two years ago I was thinking the same way you are. I am a mature student i qualify in may and have really enjoyed my time at college so much i am going back to do my degree.
I will be qualified in may to become a freelance portrait science or scenes of crime photographer.

Consider an HND before a degree as you can then enter uni on a higher level and be better educated as college tutors have more time for students.

There are so many fields i can go into.

If this is your desire go for it. it is quite an expensive course as you need a good camera films paper and much more but it is great.

Answer 2

The field of photography as you may know is very diverse and encompasses a vast range of professions which include: fine-art, comercial, photo-journalism, and scientific. Which art school or university you decide upon is really dependant upon which field of photography you are interested in. Though commercial and fine art photography are unique in their professional protocols and standards, many universities and art schools photography programs will have their students take a mix of both. This approach of taking both fine art and commercial photography works quite well as some students will go in with the idea of becoming a commercial photographer and end up realizing that the artistic constraints are such that they are better off pursuing the fine art field and thus a higher degree such as a MFA which is almost necessary these days to get any gallery director at any major gallery(museums included) to consider selling or displaying your work.
Commercial photography is perhaps the most sought after photography degree and is typically the most monetarily rewarding photographic profession. Commercial photography can be broken up into a myriad of subcategories from food photography to product photography. Being that it is perhaps the most monetarily rewarding photographic profession, it is also the most competitive and many struggle to make it at all and often have to pursue other careers or at least make photography their part-time job. Though some may argue that having a degree is not necessary for a carreer in commercial photography,it certainly helps you learn the intracies of the business and if you are from a reputable school, it will ease the nerves of an art director hiring someone he has never worked with before.
My suggestion to you is that being that since you have not taken any photography courses, you may want to consider starting off at a community college or going direct to a University. I dont suggest going to an art school because in all honesty being in an around private art institutions I find art schools are more helpful in terms of more established artsists, people who have an idea of what they are doing and want to either hone their skills or get a higher degree such as a MFA. One of the other good things about going to a University is that it will provide you with a more eclectic education outside the art/photography department. Fact is like I said, a lot of photographers don't make it, so it is good that you have a backup plan. For me, I have a minor in advertising, so if I can't get any jobs in photography I can work for almost any major corporation(most of us commercial photographers don't work under the umbrella of a large corporation but have our own small bussiness)
I would suggest before you apply for any University you meet with the department advisor in the photography department, ask them questions about the courses and teaching method, and most importantly take a look at work of the students (there is usually a student gallery). Anyhow I wish you good luck.

Answer 3

There are all sorts of aspects to Photography .. what interests you the most .. Portrait .. Commercial .. Models... Fashion .. nature.. You need to narrow it down a little to make things easier .. Say you want to be a fashion photographer .. unless you live in a bigger city this is most likely not going to be profitable .. if you want to start out small try calling local photo studios and seeing if they are looking for any intern help or even just someone to book appointments .. just being around different types might help you decided what you love the most ... places like walmart portrait studio do not really call for any sort of degree so that might be a good place to get a taste for it though not a high recommendation as i don't like the quality of anything walmart does .. but like i said .. just being around different types will help ....for me i adore portrait and wedding photography so i opened my own studio .. being my own boss suits me ..

Answer 4

It is best to take a class at you Community College to make sure it is something you really like. Look around your community for photographers and ask to intern or assist them for a day. Learning by doing is the best way to learn and get the experience you need in this highly competitive industry.
Good Luck

Answer 5

yes, you can!