career help !

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taffy047

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Alex james
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hello all, :help::help::help:


on my last year on six form, doing my a level photography, as some of you now i want to become a sport photograhy. been looking at uni but not really sure what to do. ive been starting to get some paid work on weekends for the paper which is great, but after siz forum i wont have anything to do in week days i was thinking maybe get a monday to friday just and carrying on shooting football and rugby till it can pay for its self and leave monday to friday job not sure of any other option really can some pplease help me !


thanks alex :help::help::help::help:
 
One route that has been suggested as an opener in to photojournalism (news and sport) from a student's point of view is to take a one year Foundation Degree in photography to get all the tech basics under your belt and then look at one of the two NCTJ courses for PJ's/Press photographers: Up to Speed in Bournemouth and Norton College in Sheffield, both of which are 6 months long but are commercial courses so funding may be difficult.


Failing that write to every newspaper in the country asking if they are prepared to take on a trainee photographer. The likelyhood is that you'll have to take a generalist Press approach by going this route, but specialisation into sport is still possible afterwards.
 
DemiLion said:
One route that has been suggested as an opener in to photojournalism (news and sport) from a student's point of view is to take a one year Foundation Degree in photography to get all the tech basics under your belt and then look at one of the two NCTJ courses for PJ's/Press photographers: Up to Speed in Bournemouth and Norton College in Sheffield, both of which are 6 months long but are commercial courses so funding may be difficult.


Failing that write to every newspaper in the country asking if they are prepared to take on a trainee photographer. The likelyhood is that you'll have to take a generalist Press approach by going this route, but specialisation into sport is still possible afterwards.
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ah okay i will have a look but i really do hate that short of press photography really boring i find is there no way i could get around it ! and just build up a sports portfoilo ?
 
I recommend you get a job that pays decently, and build up your sports portfolio in your spare time. Lots of info on this forum on ideas about how to do this - have a check through previous threads. Needless, to say, supply exceeds demand and if you have any idea of economics you'll realise what this does to prices (i.e. earnings).
 
taffy047 said:
hello all, :help::help::help:


on my last year on six form, doing my a level photography, as some of you now i want to become a sport photograhy. been looking at uni but not really sure what to do. ive been starting to get some paid work on weekends for the paper which is great, but after siz forum i wont have anything to do in week days i was thinking maybe get a monday to friday just and carrying on shooting football and rugby till it can pay for its self and leave monday to friday job not sure of any other option really can some pplease help me !


thanks alex :help::help::help::help:
Click to expand...

There is a very good quote from http://christopherandersonphoto.com/. I was shown it today:

Forget about the profession of being a photographer. First be a photographer and maybe the profession will come after. Don’t be in a rush to pay your rent with your camera. Jimi Hendrix didn’t decide on the career of professional musician before he learned to play guitar. No, he loved music and created something beautiful and that THEN became a profession. Larry Towell, for instance, was not a “professional” photographer until he was already a “famous” photographer. Make the pictures you feel compelled to make and perhaps that will lead to a career. But if you try to make the career first, you will just make ****** pictures that you don’t care about.

If it was me, I would concentrate on going and getting a degree or something similar in a course that would give you a back up route: English, Maths, Biology, Economics etc if possible. Then pursue a full time job. All the time you are building up a portfolio and working alongisde a 'normal' job. THEN if you are good enough the jobs will come in. Just don't put all your eyes in one basket :)

Jake
 
jacob12_1993 said:
There is a very good quote from http://christopherandersonphoto.com/. I was shown it today:

Forget about the profession of being a photographer. First be a photographer and maybe the profession will come after. Don’t be in a rush to pay your rent with your camera. Jimi Hendrix didn’t decide on the career of professional musician before he learned to play guitar. No, he loved music and created something beautiful and that THEN became a profession. Larry Towell, for instance, was not a “professional” photographer until he was already a “famous” photographer. Make the pictures you feel compelled to make and perhaps that will lead to a career. But if you try to make the career first, you will just make ****** pictures that you don’t care about.

If it was me, I would concentrate on going and getting a degree or something similar in a course that would give you a back up route: English, Maths, Biology, Economics etc if possible. Then pursue a full time job. All the time you are building up a portfolio and working alongisde a 'normal' job. THEN if you are good enough the jobs will come in. Just don't put all your eyes in one basket :)

Jake
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I have done. I'm only 23 but I have a degree in Business Management and have another job away from sport/event photography. I shoot most weekends and sometime during the week. As time goes on, more work comes in, you build up your portfolio, you can put funds away from your other job for equipment, insurance etc and you never know what is around the corner. If I get that big break then great, if I don't or have to wait 10-15 years then I still have plenty to back me up. I don't rely on photography for a living and at the moment don't have any plan too. I just love photographing, learning and meeting new people and the money is just a bonus.
 
As above. Most photographers these days seem to be self employed, and you might consider doing a course - not necessarily a degree - in basic business management and sales. A lot of photographers fail because they lack these skills, even though they may be good photographers. It's really all about selling yourself, and managing time and money realistically. This would also give you something to fall back on, and you can build your portfolio at the same time.
 
I left 6th form and did a art foundation which was great, I then went to Bournemouth uni to study commercial photography which I quit after 2 months due to the course the teachers etc,.. Like you I wanted to shoot news/sport. I did a bit of paid work for a local paper which is the best thing going, the experience the freedom and the cuttings. I had a job at dare I say it Jessops which was great for the discount and free prints. I then got a job at a press agency where I work now it's a great job long days lot a of driving but it's amazing to get pictures in the newspapers every week give or take. Uni isn't going to get you a job as a photographer your going to do that. The NCTJ course maybe worth looking at..... Good luck
 
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