All you pro's out there.

Bambi'sThumper

Bambi'sThumper

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Jenny
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I would just like to ask all the pro's and people who do photography for their job.

How many of you have got to where you are by going through college or uni to do photography or if you've self taught yourself to get to where you are now?

I'm just wondering as I really want to be a proper photographer but I cant go through the college/uni side of things. I am very happy to knuckle down and study all I can and self teach myself but will that get me where I wanna on its own.

Would just like your stories of how you got where you are and what you think is the best way.

Where better to ask!

Thanks in advance
Jen :thumbs:
 
Self taught and lots of practice. I know what they teach at uni and it would be no use to me at all.

If you can take a decent picture, have a creative eye, can think on the spot and above all else, get on with people, you'll be just fine.

If you can't get on with people just don't shoot them. Stick to things that don't speak ;)
 
Both

Did photography C&G 1,2,3 in my spare time and Studied Medical imaging (inc photography to HND level) Did a lot of medical photography. I then stopped shooting in a hospital and changed jobs, studied optics, and did a degree in Optics whilst working in a different optical related field - during that 10 years or so, I shot for pleasure, but worked professionally on a few photographic imaging solutions for he industry. I shot a wedding at no notice because the "official tog" never turned up, and I had a camera. I always shot portraits and stuff, so I wasn't bothered, just got on with it. the B&G were delighted, and I was pestered to do another... that was in the 35mm days.. i did a few more, and then started charging (basically because I couldn't afford the film) It all ballooned from there
 
I've got a degree in writing Ancient Greek (and a bunch of other stuff) and a Masters in Robotic Underpant making (really). Does that count?

I've never had a job I was qualified to do. Photography's no different ;)

I think it's one of those jobs where those who are going to succeed are going to succeed no matter what but most are going to fail. Whether they have a formal education or not.
 
JonathanRyan said:
I've got a degree in writing Ancient Greek (and a bunch of other stuff) and a Masters in Robotic Underpant making (really). Does that count?

I've never had a job I was qualified to do. Photography's no different ;)

I think it's one of those jobs where those who are going to succeed are going to succeed no matter what but most are going to fail. Whether they have a formal education or not.
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Yep - agree

Nothing i learnt taught me how to deal with people, how to light beautifully etc..

Some things come from education (wherever you learn) and other things come from within, or what you pick up along the way. they cant teach you to have vision
 
JonathanRyan said:
I've got a degree in writing Ancient Greek (and a bunch of other stuff) and a Masters in Robotic Underpant making (really). Does that count?

I've never had a job I was qualified to do. Photography's no different ;)

I think it's one of those jobs where those who are going to succeed are going to succeed no matter what but most are going to fail. Whether they have a formal education or not.
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I have a degree in Environmental Studies :D So no, Uni wasn't much help

DD
 
Richard King said:
your photographs are not "crap" you are throwing away your education
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I threw that one away when the only jobs available were Dole plus £10 per week and £64 pwk working on an RSPB centre - accommodation in a caravan included though :lol:

DD
 
DiddyDave said:
I threw that one away when the only jobs available were Dole plus £10 per week and £64 pwk working on an RSPB centre - accommodation in a caravan included though :lol:

DD
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Rather similar to when they "deregulated" the profession I spent 4 years training for (about a month after I qualified)
 
Richard King said:
Rather similar to when they "deregulated" the profession I spent 4 years training for (about a month after I qualified)
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At the time I went 'Environmental' careers were being touted as the next BIG opportunity, and to an extent they were. Sadly though, EVERY one of them wanted a Biology or Chemistry based degree and NONE actually wanted an Environmental one :bang:

I even did a placement year with an agrochemicals company and I excelled in the role, even devising new ways of working that made things both more accurate, simpler and much quicker too; one of which was then adopted throughout their UK bases :thumbs: So at the end of my year I asked about a full-time job on getting my degree and was met with a 'No chance - we only employ people with Biology degrees in this sector' :eek:

I then spent a year finding that I couldn't get a job WITH my degree as it was the wrong one; and I couldn't get a job WITHOUT it as I was over-qualified and they all thought I'd move on at the first opportunity

I ended up in sales - where all the drop-outs go :D

DD
 
self taught

we no need no steenking education :)
 
DiddyDave said:
At the time I went 'Environmental' careers were being touted as the next BIG opportunity, and to an extent they were. Sadly though, EVERY one of them wanted a Biology or Chemistry based degree and NONE actually wanted an Environmental one :bang:
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fuuny that - I have chemistry degrees and promptly went of to work as a clinical trial manager. Talk about a depressing job
 
Full Time Social Photographer for 20+yrs (mostly full time)

A' Level Photography, City & Guilds's plus various courses here & there,

But mostly just take loads of photos, experience, volunteer & unpaid assisting,

if you have an eye for it you will be picked up, also having a good business sense helps !

IMO college theory wont pay the bills EVER !

Good Luck

Al'
 
20 years of running a software business shooting as a hobby. Sold up and and was looking for something to do..

Then was in the right place at the right time to be offered a contract to shoot model portfolios.. and it went on from there.
 
Self taught here, but I spent 15 years in IT, the latter part as head of IT for a multi-billion $ corporate so that business knowledge has helped me greatly.

Bieng able to take a picture of merchantable quality is one thing, understanding how to manage a business is another... (not saying that I am doing it right, it just helps to have some background)

I never had time to study at college or go to uni, so I learnt from books and attended workshops and training courses.
 
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I spent 8 years in an advertising agency - not as a photographer - but working in a production department - so learned a lot about systems and the repro processes. Did a year day release on photography and physics of light - rest all self taught.
 
It would be useful if there was a sticky thread about what courses to take.
Something like if you want go pro at sports have a look at A,B,C courses, if you want to do weddings have a look at X,Y,Z if you want to improve your editing look at ..... etc etc.

I'm look at trying to turn pro and due to lack of experience in pro photography I am looking into if/what courses would be worth doing.
 
Did my masters in Aerospace engineering, so no. But whilst I was an undergrad I worked my way into photographing for the students union and now the university/student union is a paying client... so in actual fact, go to uni and study whatever and use the free time if you get any to mess about with the camera, plenty of posers to practice on and plenty of interesting opportunities to photograph.
 
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Brillaint thanks, i really didnt expect such a response!


artona said:
How old are you Jen?

stew
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I'm 19 Stew.



Everyone seems to have such varied backgrounds, which is what i was wanting to know.
Seem to be getting it drummed in to me that you need to go to college for "photography" but seems to be more a business course i need to be heading to! I did administration at school and did quite well so i have a little bit of knowledge. Also i've just bought the other day 2 of Scott Kelbys books as i've been recommended thats he's really good, and quite often see his name being brought up on here with good refrences. So will hopefully be getting better but i've got a long way to go.


Thanks again :)
 
At 19 Jen I would seriously consider University. You will have a great time and make loads of contacts. University is not just about the education. If you also go for a uni in a big city you will be ideally placed to develop a photographic career.

I went straight from school to a job in on a local newspaper as a trainee press photographer. After 9 years there I went to the national press for a couple of years. I then left the press world to set up a commercial and wedding/portrait studio.

25 years later I am still happily shooting portraits and weddings but for someone your age its all changed. Look up Jasmine Star. On another forum there has been a raging row about her but she is the future for young photographers. I am assuming you are looking at social photography of some sort....

jasmine Star is a competant but nothing special photographer but with 21000 fans on her facebook and incredible following she is a very special marketeer.

Best wishes and I hope it all works for you

stew
 
I agree with Stewart Jenny, You have all the time in the world at the moment, it all depends on what sort of photography you want to do.

Are you an arty person and want to do fine art style photography or are you into doing weddings? If its more the fine art side then you'll benefit from being in an arty environment 7 days a week at university. It really fuels the flames of inspiration and its not something to pass up. Youll start to look at photography in different ways, but maybe if your into the more commercial side it may just be worth jumping into the industry if you know your technical side. Learn it through doing.
 
Richard King said:
Both

Did photography C&G 1,2,3 in my spare time and Studied Medical imaging (inc photography to HND level) Did a lot of medical photography. I then stopped shooting in a hospital and changed jobs, studied optics, and did a degree in Optics whilst working in a different optical related field - during that 10 years or so, I shot for pleasure, but worked professionally on a few photographic imaging solutions for he industry. I shot a wedding at no notice because the "official tog" never turned up, and I had a camera. I always shot portraits and stuff, so I wasn't bothered, just got on with it. the B&G were delighted, and I was pestered to do another... that was in the 35mm days.. i did a few more, and then started charging (basically because I couldn't afford the film) It all ballooned from there
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I like your route in :thumbs:
 
I started digital photography about 3 years ago and found this site straight away whilst looking for one that someone at work used. Glad I found it and I have never looked back. I take photos for work as part of my work because I can. Other people will call me in to take their photos rather than calling in the specialists that we employ because I am nearer and produce shots as good. I don't need to do this because I too could call in the specialists but having the ability to take them myself means that I can get the shots I want. My only qualification is knowing what I am doing.
 
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I wrote this yesterday as sort of tongue in cheek reply to a thread, basically it's true.

"I have a passion for throwing people out of planes, off cliffs, let them loose at the top of a 1000 meter mountain bike death decent or any other extreme adventure that scares the **** out of them, and as they are not in the position to take photographs themselves because they were crying and wondering why the **** they picked me to holiday with, this opened an opportunity for me to become an extreme sports photographer."

I now have slowed it down and am a commercial photography money slave :shrug:

:D
 
I'm a bit in to everything you could say, I like trying new things and finding quirky little things, also like animal, people and landscape photography.

I would love to go to college/uni to study it, problem is I have problems with things like that and just cant go through it. Dont ask, i dont even know why myself! Thats why i'm more enclinded to want to self teach myself through it thats why I'm wondering how people got to where they are and are doing so well if it was down to themselves or themselves with the college/uni.
 
artona said:
At 19 Jen I would seriously consider University. You will have a great time and make loads of contacts. University is not just about the education.

stew
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I agree with Stew here; there is much more to uni than the paper at the end of it and I am not talking about the debt!

I did an English degree, trained as an English and drama teacher and then went on to do an MA in film and media education. I now teach film studies and photography and am continually advising my students to apply for university or higher Ed; if you are savvy go to somewhere where you will find photo pops. I was based at a performing arts campus and got regular work shooting spotlight photos for wannabe actors. This then opened up working for the student union and shooting for the university prospectus.

All the best

Spooks
 
I went through the education process, college then uni and passed adequately but I learnt far more from going out there and actually doing photography than I did in class. I think so long as you study it in your own time and take it seriously there shouldn't be a problem in you matching training photographers.

Even though I went to uni (finished 2 years ago) I'm still not a pro so that just goes to show that the system clearly doesn't work as it's supposed to.
 
I guess you need to be careful with a self selecting sample.

It's possible that all the photographers with formal education are too busy to hang out on a photo forum......
 
JonathanRyan said:
I guess you need to be careful with a self selecting sample.

It's possible that all the photographers with formal education are too busy to hang out on a photo forum......
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apart from the ones with formal educations who have replied to this thread?

I actually at some point in the next few years intend to do a photography degree. Not because I want to learn how to take photographs, but because I am interested in the history of photography and its evolution and rekindling my passion for darkrooms... plus, I find giving myself a challenge helps me out in life too.
 
jamesoliverstone said:
apart from the ones with formal educations who have replied to this thread?
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I took a quick glance through the thread and could only see one person with a relevant A level. Lots of degree educated people in other fields.

It's a fascinating question whether formal further education in an unrelated subject (e.g. robots) is useful in photography. I'd say yes. It teaches you to learn and how to get on with people. Plus the beer's cheap.

I'm a believer in education full stop though. Shortly after you leave school isn't your only chance to acquire further education - but it's by FAR the easiest time to do it. And if you can do it in something that interests you and may be useful then so much the better.
 
I am also a great believer in the education system but it's certainly not a necessity and I would say it greatly depends on which field you work in.

I have certainly achieved a high degree of seniority in my previous career through industry certification not traditional education as my industry accreditations were worth way more than an IT degree. Also, do you think a degree in photography makes you a better photographer than someone with raw talent? I think not

But, apply it to other careers and it's the reverse. My wife is a GP and achieved very highly in her formal education... Obviously we all want our doctors to be highly proficient and knowledgeable, not someone like me having a go because I am a dab hand with a knife ;)

In a subjective field like the arts, IMO having a degree puts you no further ahead of the game than someone without... It's your portfolio and achievements.
 
8 years of working in studio and lab.... Then looking for a job became harder as I hard experience but not the bit a paper. Applied to 5 top colleges or Unis as they are now. Got accepted at 4out of 5. Took the pro course needed and got it in half the time. (Did it in a year instead of 2) Never looked back.

You need both to get a good job in this industry. It's quicker than puttering along learning your self. Learning your self is fine if you just want to work on your own with your own business. but then you need some business skills.

College/Uni gives you a better insight and critique and other ideas and styles from other students.

I've never looked back. Go for it! Did another 10 years working all over the Country and the States then started my own business......
 
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Yeah i'd love to do college or uni but like i've said i just cant!

Thanks for all the amazing responses everyone.
 
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