BAPH BA Honours Degree

D-Eff

D-Eff

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Hello

Has anyone studied with British Academy of Photography? They have different home study courses from diploma through to degree and wondered if anyone has any experience with them?
Their degree is accredited by University of Chester.

I know it's not necessary to have a degree to practice photography but I love learning and I think it might be a good pathway to keep me motivated and working towards a goal.

Although I don't know if I can afford it, it's definitely a really good price compared to a normal degree.

My son is a year old so if it takes me around 2-3 years I can then work towards a career once he starts school.

Any thoughts? Thanks
 
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Personally I think you'd learn more and get more benefit joining your local camera club
 
stumac said:
Personally I think you'd learn more and get more benefit joining your local camera club
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I don't have one thats close enough. You don't think this can help me get a job or become more confident all-round?
 
I think the concensus of opinion on here when these things have previously been discussed, is that a Photography degree won't help you get a job in Photography. However a home-studied degree of any sort tells a potential employer a lot about you as a person and your ability to learn. In this particular example, it does look like a good set of courses which might well teach you a lot about photography and help develop your skills, although it's not the most cost-effective way of acquiring this knowledge - tbh experience and critical feedback, trying different genres, and reading free e-books are probably as useful, albeit unstructured and requiring more determination.
 
The other thing that people say is that if you are intending to be self-employed (in photography or anything) then business courses are more useful.
 
sphexx said:
The other thing that people say is that if you are intending to be self-employed (in photography or anything) then business courses are more useful.
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I have been in business (not related to photography) since 2012 and have experience with family businesses prior to that.
I'm really looking to improve my photography skills so I feel confident.

I can learn easily from multiple sources but I think a course would push me to do things out of my comfort zone that I wouldn't do on my own.
I don't have any formal qualifications and would love to have something to show for myself.
 
D-Eff said:
I have been in business (not related to photography) since 2012 and have experience with family businesses prior to that.
I'm really looking to improve my photography skills so I feel confident.

I can learn easily from multiple sources but I think a course would push me to do things out of my comfort zone that I wouldn't do on my own.
I don't have any formal qualifications and would love to have something to show for myself.
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That’s a great attitude, and it can only help you in terms of competency.
 
when my wife and I also had an unrelated business the job was not so much the hardest part. Getting the rest was a pain in the arse like dealing with the local council and the law, advertising and accounts contracts of employment , insurance third party and terms and conditions for clients to sign. then comes being self employed forget holidays while buiding up a business and loosing business if off sick or ill, keeping records of every penny spent if claiming against business expenses This does not even touch VAT another pain in the backside let alone having to keep records for 7 years.
As I said doing the job is the easy part. putting in the hours behind the scene to make the business a success is a must
If you are prepared to go through all that then well done
 
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It's a slight digression but I have never understood why people always think doing the VAT is a pita. I've been doing my VAT returns for over 30 years and even if you let your bookkeeping slide for a while, it only takes a little time, and if you go flat-rate it takes next to no time. Sure if you buy in a fair bit and sell a lot of things it can be more time-consuming, but its the basic book-keeping that takes the time, not doing the VAT return, and you should always be on top of the books really to know how you are performing.
 
realspeed said:
when my wife and I also had an unrelated business the job was not so much the hardest part. Getting the rest was a pain in the arse like dealing with the local council and the law, advertising and accounts contracts of employment , insurance third party and terms and conditions for clients to sign. then comes being self employed forget holidays while buiding up a business and loosing business if off sick or ill, keeping records of every penny spent if claiming against business expenses This does not even touch VAT another pain in the backside let alone having to keep records for 7 years.
As I said doing the job is the easy part. putting in the hours behind the scene to make the business a success is a must
If you are prepared to go through all that then well done
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Yeah, I know what it's like. I rent a warehouse and have been doing self assessments for years. I've also got experience with VAT.
I know a business takes time and effort to build up and nothing happens without marketing.
I haven't decided if I want to do a business, I might do a part time job.

I feel pretty confident on the business side that's why I need some reassurance with photography.
 
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D-Eff said:
I don't have one thats close enough. You don't think this can help me get a job or become more confident all-round?
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Becoming a better photographer regardless of how you do it will get you a job and become more confident.
 
sphexx said:
The other thing that people say is that if you are intending to be self-employed (in photography or anything) then business courses are more useful.
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150% agree with this . Best photographers lasting 12 months in business because they don't understand business
 
lindsay said:
It's a slight digression but I have never understood why people always think doing the VAT is a pita.
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Agreed.

Even pre-computer, it only took us a few minutes a week to do the VAT, because we kept a proper journal with running total columns for VAT, expenses and gross profit. With any decent accounts program it's even easier.

Still, that's all behind us now! :naughty:
 
D-Eff said:
... but I think a course would push me to do things out of my comfort zone that I wouldn't do on my own.
I don't have any formal qualifications and would love to have something to show for myself.
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Those are two perfectly sound reasons for doing the course, provided you can afford it. Whether completing such a course will turn out to be financially advantageous is quite different.

In the 1960s, when I started, the use of film and the relatively high cost of decent equipment meant that few people had the skills to turn out high quality images. Now, anyone with a decent cell-phone can get good results, depending on their expectations.

Only you can decide if you can afford it and have the skills to identify a profitable market.
 
lindsay said:
It's a slight digression but I have never understood why people always think doing the VAT is a pita. I've been doing my VAT returns for over 30 years and even if you let your bookkeeping slide for a while, it only takes a little time, and if you go flat-rate it takes next to no time. Sure if you buy in a fair bit and sell a lot of things it can be more time-consuming, but its the basic book-keeping that takes the time, not doing the VAT return, and you should always be on top of the books really to know how you are performing.
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I agree about VAT, it takes very little time at all. The hassle for me upcoming is converting to doing it all digitally! But if you start that way you (The OP) should be fine.
 
I still find it easy. I have an Excel add-on (VitalTax) that takes care of the MTD for me, using my existing Excel books. If you use any of the accounting packages** though, its even easier, I'm just a cheapskate! (**I use EasyBooks for the TP Media accounts)
 
I think studying something that interests you is always great. I wont go into details but I have studied a lot of qualifications (both professional and academic) from basic A level (4) all the way to Masters level (7). I am currently enrolled on a university masters level course and it has absolutely nothing to do with my day job, nor will I seek to use it to earn a living once / if I complete it (unit one down, two more to go). Nothing wrong with learning, but as a business owner also, theory and doing are often at different ends of the spectrum.
 
Adamcski said:
I think studying something that interests you is always great. I wont go into details but I have studied a lot of qualifications (both professional and academic) from basic A level (4) all the way to Masters level (7). I am currently enrolled on a university masters level course and it has absolutely nothing to do with my day job, nor will I seek to use it to earn a living once / if I complete it (unit one down, two more to go). Nothing wrong with learning, but as a business owner also, theory and doing are often at different ends of the spectrum.
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That's so kool. I wish I could study like that and also have the willpower to finish it!
 
With everyone having a camera of some sort nowadays becoming a professional photographer I would think is even harder than before. Maybe video work still has openings for special occassions . Just a thought
 
No one has asked this question

What is the degree actually going to teach you? That’s really important

My thoughts (without researching the course) is that at that level it mIght be be more technical on the why rather than the how.

I.e How is a Lens put together and how it works mathematically rather than how to take a picture. If that’s the case and you are wanting to go down that road great but I suspect not and you’ll have to assess what value the course will be on that basis.
 
I have just signed up for a degree course, with the open college of arts, the degree is accredited to The Association of Photographers and I have also completed a diploma in photography.
I haven't done the courses to get on or start my own business in photography, but to take my mind of other things that are happening in my life at the minute, something to concentrate on

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I had a student that went on to do a masters in photography (home study). Her feedback is that there is a ton of research to do and a good deal of writing and analysis of other photographers as well as actual photography. She is thoroughly enjoying it, and the assignments have - as you alluded to - motivated her to keep taking pictures. Her work is outstanding (IMO). If I wasn't so busy, I'd probably do it.
 
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