Photography course for a 16 year old

L

Lauren's mum

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Hello.
I’d be very grateful if anyone can help us make a decision about online courses.
My daughter was enrolled to start college last month and they told her on her first day her 2 year course had been withdrawn because of low intake :'( She is very interested in photography but does not want to move away from home to study, there are no courses in our area so we have looked at a few online learning options.

Can anyone share any advice or feedback from the following courses?

http://www.thephotographyinstitute.co.uk/index.cfm/apg/home
http://www.inst.org/photography-courses/pack.htm
http://www.uk-open-learning.com/CartV3/results1.asp?Category=21
Many thanks
:)
 
This probably isn't the answer you want to hear but personally I wouldn't advise wasting your money on an online course like that. I know loads of photographers that have done college courses and online courses and they are generally the people that end up knowing the least about photography at the end of it.

The best way for your daughter to really learn photography is to go out and take photos as often as possible. Encourage her to use her camera every single day. Get her to work out exactly what it is she likes taking photos of. Get her to look at the settings she is using and understand why different setting get different results. Get her to think about composition. Also, if she gets the chance, get her to shoot with as many other photographers as possible because she will learn a lot more from them than she will from any course.
 
well put I agree with that 100%

There are plenty of sections on this very forum for fellow photographers to critique images and offer constuctive advice too

Get her ( sorry dont have a name to use) to join Talk Photography its a step in the right direction - Plenty of advice on techniques etc etc is freely available here, we dont bite:lol:


Les :thumbs:
 
You don't say where you live.
But even better than an online course, is to try to get
an apprenticeship with a well respected photographer in your area.

The other (better) option is to do a business studies course, and Photography in her own time. The most sucessful photographers usually study some thing else altogether.
And many ex student Photographers fail through poor business skills.
 
Thanks very much, I've taken your advice and we won't be signing up for an online course. My daughter Lauren will be joining your forum to pick up as many tips as possible. She is just setting up her own blog so she can display her photos and hopes to get some work experience locally. We live in Bromsgrove B60
Thanks again
Lisa (Lauren's mum!)
 
I'm in a similar situation with my daughter (who is 16 next year).

She's very interested in photography and that's one of the reason's I'm buying myself a nice camera, lenses & speedlight (Canon 600D) so she can have a go with it (under my supervision of course) and work out the basics.

I said I'll get her a nice camera if she shows commitment - I'm not going to spend £500 + if she get's bored of it lol

Welcome to the forum Lisa and Lauren - looking forward to seeing the pics...

Just an afterthought - I was thinking about doing a course with the Royal Photographic Society - I think it was £500 and gives you letters after your name (LRPS). I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not but by having the letters may improve chance of getting some wedding photo shoots (which is what I am looking into)
 
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Hi Lauren's Mum,

Doesn't NEW College in Redditch still do a photography course?

That aside, I think the above poster's comment that she should learn business skills alongside is excellent advice.
 
I've just completed an 18 module course from iphotography. It normally costs £399 but I got it through Groupon for £49.

Not a bad course and lots of supplementary eBooks and extra information. I would have been a little disappointed if I'd paid the full £399 though...
 
Hi Dan
Yes it's £500 2 nights a week. Lauren missed the first 6 weeks before we looked at it because she had started a full time ITT course, her 2 year course got cancelled due to numbers so she was left stranded really (they offered computer gaming as the alternitive?) She's got herself a little job now but hopes to do some work experience in photography.
set
 
Hi Lisa,

sent you a PM message with information for Laura.

Malcolm
 
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