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03/18/2010 06:23:22 PM · #1 |
| For all you that are in the photography business, did you go to school to learn your photo skills or are you self taught? |
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03/18/2010 06:51:22 PM · #2 |
| self taught, but probably should've gone to school. :/ |
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03/18/2010 08:37:06 PM · #3 |
i got my masters at the SHK ;-)
i am what i would call aggressively self-taught. i devour books and i shoot a ton. i am constantly reading, searching for examples, and trying different things. when i started shooting digital, i spent a lot of time here, COMMENTING on photos...the more i looked at images critically, the more i learned. in the end, though, there's no substitute for practice. i still shoot nearly 150,000 images a year, and i've still got a lot to learn.
as to the 'business' of photography, even though i got a degree in business with an emphasis in marketing, i learned business the same way i learned photography: reading, studying, and trying different things. as with anything, success is more a matter of commitment and dedication than anything else. |
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03/18/2010 08:55:17 PM · #4 |
Two years at DIP 27 years ago. I had a dream of being an architectural photographer and only use B&W film for my work as did my mentor at the time.
Then I got married and had two sons....
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03/18/2010 09:11:39 PM · #5 |
Have a degree, but agree very much with Skip, and his
"as with anything, success is more a matter of commitment and dedication than anything else."
My degree is from the Art Institute of Seattle, commercial photography, focusing on Editoral work. |
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03/18/2010 11:17:04 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by amathiasphoto:
Have a degree, but agree very much with Skip, and his
"as with anything, success is more a matter of commitment and dedication than anything else."
My degree is from the Art Institute of Seattle, commercial photography, focusing on Editoral work. |
And what did you think of the program at AI Seattle? The reason I ask is that I work there and I'm trying to decide if I want to pursue a degree in photography. |
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03/18/2010 11:53:40 PM · #7 |
| I had one class in B&W film photography in design school. Otherwise it's been trial and lots of error. |
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03/18/2010 11:58:33 PM · #8 |
I never studied photography formally. I did end up TEACHING it though :-) When I decided to be a photographer (instead of a painter, since it seemed a more likely way to earn a living) I apprenticed myself as gofer and lab rat to a local commercial studio. A few years later I had my own business, shooting architecture. But it was a LOT of hard work and a very steep learning curve.
R. |
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03/19/2010 12:01:14 AM · #9 |
| I really appreciate all the input, you all have great portfolios! |
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03/19/2010 12:03:22 AM · #10 |
I'm gonna hijack this thread :D
Has anyone taken any community college classes and found them interesting/informative/useful? |
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03/19/2010 12:12:13 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by northebound:
I'm gonna hijack this thread :D
Has anyone taken any community college classes and found them interesting/informative/useful? |
Well, I used to TEACH 'em, every now and then, for a semester. The students were always telling me mine were more fun and more informative than anyone else's, so I suppose that would suggest that the bar ain't very high in CC (mostly I taught at the University, and that was a little more aggressive). Still, that was then and this is now. A lot more photographers around now, so maybe the teachers are correspondingly better? They are mostly pretty inexpensive courses, so you can certainly check 'em out, eh?
R. |
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03/19/2010 12:12:26 AM · #12 |
self taught and it shows :P
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03/19/2010 12:32:29 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by northebound:
I'm gonna hijack this thread :D
Has anyone taken any community college classes and found them interesting/informative/useful? |
I got my first BS degree in Applied Art with a Photography Concentration. It was all done with film. It's made digital much easier.
For fun, I took a class at the local CC a few years back. It was a class in "alternative processes" like cyanotype, gum prints, browntypes, etc. Mostly we mixed up emulsions, coated them on whatever they'd stick to and made contact prints in the sun. It was great fun. I took it because I never had the opportunity to try any of that stuff in school. My advice is: If you can find a class that looks like it will teach you something, go for it. Don't just take a photo class to take a photo class. |
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03/19/2010 12:43:22 AM · #14 |
Ahh, PJ, I see your from washington too- that must be why it grabbed your interest :).
The program at AIS has changed a bit since I was there, even though it was two years ago. The main instructor cut back on hours and the best PS instructor at the school and one of the best Photoshoppers ever has passed on unfortunately.
BUT I am still happy to give my opinion.
Its EXPENSIVE. Not just kind of expensive but VERY EXPENSIVE. Be prepared. They give you an estimated cost per quarter. Its a joke. Double to triple that, especially in the advanced quarters.
The atmosphere is amazing. The teachers I had (you would have many of the same) know what they are doing, and are very approachable. It is no BS, which I appreciate.
I have been asked many times if I would do it again... I guess it depends on the day how I would answer that question. I have had some major clients, shot some blow your mind things, and am comfortable in any photo situation. Did the AI give me that? Yes, it did. Would I have gotten that if I would have invested the same money and time into being self taught? That's where I get caught up. I just cant answer that question.
However, I am employed as a full time staffer for a newspaper, which is exactly what I wanted. Even better, I am the photo editor- even more than I wanted. I have shot a brain surgery, photographed big time politicians, gone paintballing with swat teams (me with just a camera) done photoshoots of the army 4-wheeling in hummers (not very comfortable, but a fun ride).... I really could go on and on with amazing things that I do because of my job, and I guess, my education.
Thinking about it, here is what it boils down to. If you are looking to switch careers, and go into something completely photog related, yes, because it gives you the credentials and connections you need, with some solid skills thrown in, then it is worth it. If you are doing it just to better yourself as a photog, as a hobbiest, then I would think long and hard about it.
Lastly, the program is tough. They will weed you out if they can. I started with about 45 people in my class. Seven of us actually graduated. However, I believe that all seven of us are in the field, making a decent living.
They really focus on certain types of photography (for example, their product photog classes are great), but are weak in others. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss certain things, classes, etc. |
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03/19/2010 02:33:14 AM · #15 |
I am entirely self taught and learned from walking around with a camera and trying everything I could in terms of moving dials and switches, but I also spent time shooting film which made me contemplate each shot as I was paying a lot more for it than with digital.
I've done a lot of model shoots, fashion stuff, sports and music with the occasional wedding/senior/product/commercial thing thrown in but I really want to get into photojournalism as a staff photographer for a paper- I cover all the same events, provide better shots, but I guess the economy being what it is and the industry in a state of downfall, it might not happen, which sucks. It really sucks.
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03/19/2010 06:29:10 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by Tez:
I guess the economy being what it is and the industry in a state of downfall, it might not happen, which sucks. It really sucks. |
couldn't agree more. i had been averaging about 70 jobs a year with the local daily, until last year when i handled only 17 assignments for them :( it basically means having to be just as creative in creating business as it does in creating images ;-) |
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03/19/2010 09:08:02 AM · #17 |
Originally posted by Tez:
I am entirely self taught and learned from walking around with a camera and trying everything I could in terms of moving dials and switches, but I also spent time shooting film which made me contemplate each shot as I was paying a lot more for it than with digital.
I've done a lot of model shoots, fashion stuff, sports and music with the occasional wedding/senior/product/commercial thing thrown in but I really want to get into photojournalism as a staff photographer for a paper- I cover all the same events, provide better shots, but I guess the economy being what it is and the industry in a state of downfall, it might not happen, which sucks. It really sucks. |
our small local paper currently has no photogs on staff, and does not pay for pictures, at all. |
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03/19/2010 05:49:50 PM · #18 |
| The local paper here is in a town of 100,000. I think that the 4000 in Canton might have something to do with your local paper not being very affluent. |
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03/19/2010 07:54:09 PM · #19 |
Originally posted by Tez:
The local paper here is in a town of 100,000. I think that the 4000 in Canton might have something to do with your local paper not being very affluent. |
The paper is actually a county paper, but even with Waynesville (less than 10000) there's not a lot of people (our entire county has roughly 56K people in it). Add to that an alarmingly high unemployment rate and it doesn't bode well for local print media. They *used* to pay their single staff photog, but they let him go and just take "donations," now. The upside is that they will use your website or whatever for the by-line, so it is like free advertising. :/ |
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03/19/2010 08:18:05 PM · #20 |
Self taught. Can you tell? www.nathanaelgassett.com
I was homeschooled up till college, so self-teaching is in my blood. I say self-taught, but really I mean "taught for free". Strobist, other online resources, books, videos, that (plus many an hour of trial and error) is how I learned.
Message edited by author 2010-03-19 20:18:30. |
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