HND Photography??

[Wombatsandthedoctor]

Hi,

Im thinking about doing HND Photography next august/September (2 year course) at the local college. I know I have to pay for it myself as I already have a degree and I will get a student loan from saas.

Im also going to do part time courses in photography (few different ones) starting December this year and going through to June next year.

anyways just wondered if anyone has done a HND in photography and what it was like?

The college doesn’t give you too much information about the course, so I’m a bit confused about what it’s actually like. It just lists the types of photography areas that they do as an example of what they cover.

I’d love to the hnd Course as id like more education around photography and experience and it seems a good way to do it. I’ve read a few stories of people who have done it and it sounds really good but nothing goes into much detail.

Anyone got an advice?

thanks.

 

[rob-nikon]

I can’t say much about the course but I’d think about what it’s going to give you. Photography is a strange profession in that a large number won’t have an actual qualification in photography and it’s most likely not really needed. A business qualification would probably be far more useful. Before signing up I’d have a think about what photography based career you are thinking of. Unlike several decades ago there isn’t the employed jobs in photography there once was. Most photographers are likely free lance or self employed and likely don’t need an actual photography qualification.

 

[Wombatsandthedoctor]

I can’t say much about the course but I’d think about what it’s going to give you. Photography is a strange profession in that a large number won’t have an actual qualification in photography and it’s most likely not really needed. A business qualification would probably be far more useful. Before signing up I’d have a think about what photography based career you are thinking of. Unlike several decades ago there isn’t the employed jobs in photography there once was. Most photographers are likely free lance or self employed and likely don’t need an actual photography qualification.

thanks, Id like experience and education around the subject, and delve deeper into different types before deciding what I’d like to do. Plus I need something to do, Im 26 and have no direction in life bar knowing I like photography, don’t want to work in an office much and i have a degree in something I don’t enjoy. Yeah I know I’m just a bit pathetic lol. But I’m pretty set on doing the course though, bar something drastic happening in my life.

 

[droj]

Can't help about the hnd, but it should at least provide the focus (sorry!) of being structured learning. But I'd want to flesh out its nature as you do, first, because there are the twin issues of value for money and value for time spent ...

 

[Harlequin565]

A quick Google search turned up this from the SQA (Scottish authority) : https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/GG3C15_GG3D16.pdf

No doubt you could probably find something similar or maybe ask the college/uni to send you their version.

It looks like it's quite a rounded qualification, covering techniques as well as different genres. It also provides education on employment after qualification, although many HNDs appear to be feeders into a degree qualification.

 

[Wombatsandthedoctor]

A quick Google search turned up this from the SQA (Scottish authority) : https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/GG3C15_GG3D16.pdf

No doubt you could probably find something similar or maybe ask the college/uni to send you their version.

It looks like it's quite a rounded qualification, covering techniques as well as different genres. It also provides education on employment after qualification, although many HNDs appear to be feeders into a degree qualification.

Ahh cool thanks, didn’t think to google for sqa stuff. Thanks

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

These questions pop up regularly on forums and they always remind me of the alleged Irish reply: "If I I were going there, I wouldn't start from here".

The very first thing to understand is that the advice above: that there are very few employment opportunities in photography, these days, is absolutely accurate. The second piece of vital information, also supplied by Rob, is that for almost the whole of its history, the majority of photographers got into the business as self taught amateurs. I was one and so were the people who employed me.

If you really want to make a success of it these days, you need to have a good grounding in several skills...

• Business management is vital. You need to understand how to keep accounts, how to eek out your money and all the minutae of staying on the right side of HMRC.
• Salesmanship is a close second. Knowing how to sell yourself and your product is key to earning a living. I was lucky to start in newspapers straight from school and I specialised in advertising space sales. For a budding photographer, this was the best possible grounding in understanding the market and who might pay for photography. (Here's a surprise: the same people who want to advertise, want pictures taken for their advertisements)
• Presentation. There are far more photographers than customers out there. The competition used to be kept down by the need to understand the technical aspects of exposing film, processing it and then making a suitable print. That's no longer the case. Your competition is the customer's twelve year old son with his mobile phone. So you need to know what will make the customer choose you over young Peter.
• Technical savy. You need to understand the software that will make your images stand out from the crowd and you need to be able to learn new technology fast, because that's a key in the modern world of imaging. It also helps if you can get your head well round video production because that's rapidly replacing a lot of still photography in the remaining lucrative markets.

Beyond all these: you need plan B - what you'll fall back on when no-one wants to buy your services. Again, that's where my start in newspapers helped no end. I went back into the field and ended up doubling my income by selling pictures to the same newspapers that were paying me to sell adverts! Contacts and knowledge are the two essentials you need to run any business. You might have once got them from a college course but I strongly doubt you will nowadays.

 

[Wombatsandthedoctor]

These questions pop up regularly on forums and they always remind me of the alleged Irish reply: "If I I were going there, I wouldn't start from here".

The very first thing to understand is that the advice above: that there are very few employment opportunities in photography, these days, is absolutely accurate. The second piece of vital information, also supplied by Rob, is that for almost the whole of its history, the majority of photographers got into the business as self taught amateurs. I was one and so were the people who employed me.

If you really want to make a success of it these days, you need to have a good grounding in several skills...

• Business management is vital. You need to understand how to keep accounts, how to eek out your money and all the minutae of staying on the right side of HMRC.
• Salesmanship is a close second. Knowing how to sell yourself and your product is key to earning a living. I was lucky to start in newspapers straight from school and I specialised in advertising space sales. For a budding photographer, this was the best possible grounding in understanding the market and who might pay for photography. (Here's a surprise: the same people who want to advertise, want pictures taken for their advertisements)
• Presentation. There are far more photographers than customers out there. The competition used to be kept down by the need to understand the technical aspects of exposing film, processing it and then making a suitable print. That's no longer the case. Your competition is the customer's twelve year old son with his mobile phone. So you need to know what will make the customer choose you over young Peter.
• Technical savy. You need to understand the software that will make your images stand out from the crowd and you need to be able to learn new technology fast, because that's a key in the modern world of imaging. It also helps if you can get your head well round video production because that's rapidly replacing a lot of still photography in the remaining lucrative markets.

Beyond all these: you need plan B - what you'll fall back on when no-one wants to buy your services. Again, that's where my start in newspapers helped no end. I went back into the field and ended up doubling my income by selling pictures to the same newspapers that were paying me to sell adverts! Contacts and knowledge are the two essentials you need to run any business. You might have once got them from a college course but I strongly doubt you will nowadays.

Thanks.

I am secure financially so from that point of view i have no issues with no earning money (or going through periods with no earning money).

im pretty much just looking for a way to expand my experience really, in a structured manner.

 

[rob-nikon]

These questions pop up regularly on forums and they always remind me of the alleged Irish reply: "If I I were going there, I wouldn't start from here".

The very first thing to understand is that the advice above: that there are very few employment opportunities in photography, these days, is absolutely accurate. The second piece of vital information, also supplied by Rob, is that for almost the whole of its history, the majority of photographers got into the business as self taught amateurs. I was one and so were the people who employed me.

If you really want to make a success of it these days, you need to have a good grounding in several skills...

• Business management is vital. You need to understand how to keep accounts, how to eek out your money and all the minutae of staying on the right side of HMRC.
• Salesmanship is a close second. Knowing how to sell yourself and your product is key to earning a living. I was lucky to start in newspapers straight from school and I specialised in advertising space sales. For a budding photographer, this was the best possible grounding in understanding the market and who might pay for photography. (Here's a surprise: the same people who want to advertise, want pictures taken for their advertisements)
• Presentation. There are far more photographers than customers out there. The competition used to be kept down by the need to understand the technical aspects of exposing film, processing it and then making a suitable print. That's no longer the case. Your competition is the customer's twelve year old son with his mobile phone. So you need to know what will make the customer choose you over young Peter.
• Technical savy. You need to understand the software that will make your images stand out from the crowd and you need to be able to learn new technology fast, because that's a key in the modern world of imaging. It also helps if you can get your head well round video production because that's rapidly replacing a lot of still photography in the remaining lucrative markets.

Beyond all these: you need plan B - what you'll fall back on when no-one wants to buy your services. Again, that's where my start in newspapers helped no end. I went back into the field and ended up doubling my income by selling pictures to the same newspapers that were paying me to sell adverts! Contacts and knowledge are the two essentials you need to run any business. You might have once got them from a college course but I strongly doubt you will nowadays.

Some good advice here. One thing I’ve noticed is the number of photographers who like you say can offer more than one service. After the last 18 months it’s good to have your hand in many pies. I know a few photographers who also offer web development, a videographer who’s other business line is personal training, and a events DJ who also does drone photo/video services on the side.

 

[rob-nikon]

thanks, Id like experience and education around the subject, and delve deeper into different types before deciding what I’d like to do. Plus I need something to do, Im 26 and have no direction in life bar knowing I like photography, don’t want to work in an office much and i have a degree in something I don’t enjoy. Yeah I know I’m just a bit pathetic lol. But I’m pretty set on doing the course though, bar something drastic happening in my life.

It’s not easy finding direction when you aren’t totally sure what/where you want to go. There’s a good chance of some transferable skills from the HND course.

I think many amateurs have thought or dreamed of going professional. The reality is actual photography is only a very small part of the job as other business activities still need to be done. the problem is for a successful business you could be the greatest photographer but if you aren’t great in the other skills it will be very hard to be successful. When looking for a wedding photographer 10 years ago I saw several who’s photos weren’t that good (I was surprised some were to photographers!) but their other business skills made them successful.

Is the college where you’re doing the part time course true same college where the HND is?

 

[Wombatsandthedoctor]

It’s not easy finding direction when you aren’t totally sure what/where you want to go. There’s a good chance of some transferable skills from the HND course.

I think many amateurs have thought or dreamed of going professional. The reality is actual photography is only a very small part of the job as other business activities still need to be done. the problem is for a successful business you could be the greatest photographer but if you aren’t great in the other skills it will be very hard to be successful. When looking for a wedding photographer 10 years ago I saw several who’s photos weren’t that good (I was surprised some were to photographers!) but their other business skills made them successful.

Is the college where you’re doing the part time course true same college where the HND is?

Yeah, I need other skills too, I’m not the most confident person ever, so hoping they can help round me out.

Yeah it is the same college. I’m hoping I can ask about it then.

 

[ah5168]

I did a full time photography degree and think you should consider why you want to study photography. If you want to immerse yourself in the experience and work with like minded people for a couple of years then it is probably worth doing. If you want to be a professional photographer you will learn few/none of the skills you need on the course and I would suggest you put the time and money into developing those skills without an HND course. This will save you time and money and make you a better photographer.

Also no client will ever ask you whether you have any qualifications they will base their buying decisions primarily on their budget and how your portfolio and professionalism matches their budget.

This is a good list of things to consider.

• Business management is vital. You need to understand how to keep accounts, how to eek out your money and all the minutae of staying on the right side of HMRC.
• Salesmanship is a close second. Knowing how to sell yourself and your product is key to earning a living. I was lucky to start in newspapers straight from school and I specialised in advertising space sales. For a budding photographer, this was the best possible grounding in understanding the market and who might pay for photography. (Here's a surprise: the same people who want to advertise, want pictures taken for their advertisements)
• Presentation. There are far more photographers than customers out there. The competition used to be kept down by the need to understand the technical aspects of exposing film, processing it and then making a suitable print. That's no longer the case. Your competition is the customer's twelve year old son with his mobile phone. So you need to know what will make the customer choose you over young Peter.
• Technical savy. You need to understand the software that will make your images stand out from the crowd and you need to be able to learn new technology fast, because that's a key in the modern world of imaging. It also helps if you can get your head well round video production because that's rapidly replacing a lot of still photography in the remaining lucrative markets.

 

[GatoMessi]

I did FdA in Photography 3 years ago.... As you already have a degree, it is not worth paying yourself tuition fees and another loan. The Photography course is mainly about Art, history.

you are better off going to 'School of Photography' for portfolio course than to University