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

BFA in photography can help you in any number of careers, a few of which are listed below. While this is by no means a complete list, it should give you an idea of the many opportunities available to you after MCAD.


Fine art photographers sell work to individuals, galleries, interior designers, architects, libraries, community centers, churches, banks, hotels, government and elsewhere on a freelance basis or by commission. Fine art photographers enjoy creative freedom not generally allowed to freelance or staff photographers, but they must also be extremely self-motivated.


Staff photographers produce images for magazines, advertisements, brochures, catalogs, corporate reports, publishers, architects or other individuals and businesses that want an event documented or an image that conveys a specific thought or story.


Freelance photographers are hired out on a job-by-job basis, a nice perk for those who prefer to make their own schedule or to work on a variety of projects. Freelancers do many of the same jobs as staff photographers, without the benefit of a consistent paycheck. Some freelancers specialize in areas such as portraits, aerial photography by plane, weddings or fashion.


Documents medical symptoms and patient progress as well as documenting evidence for the police. Documents crime scenes and evidence as well as autopsy results. Education or experience in criminal justice is often important to get these positions.


A photojournalist documents history with a camera by photographing newsworthy people, places, or events. They typically work for a newspaper, journal, magazine or television network and produce powerful photographs that capture the facts of the story they are covering.


Photography studio owners administrate independent studios or divisions of a larger firm, (i.e. an advertising agency or marketing division of a large corporation). This position requires business savvy in a addition to artistic talents.

http://www.mcad.edu/showPage.php?pageID=1292

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.