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If you have a passion for photography and are considering turning your pastime into a career, then photography school is an excellent, tried and tested route to achieve your dreams.
Whether you’re completely new to photography or slightly more experienced, then photography school could be the ingredient which sets you on the right path to a successful career as a photographer. Even for photographers who have been working professionally already, returning to photography school is still a great idea, even on a part time basis.
While you are studying with a photography school you’ll learn all about the latest technologies in the industry, build up your portfolio with fresh images and benefit from the tuition of an expert photographer.
Taking a course at photography school is also a fantastic opportunity to make new friends and contacts among your peers, something which can be hugely beneficial later on in your career. Modern photography schools offer an excellent range of courses which will allow you to focus on the skills you most want to learn; and regardless of the future you envisage for yourself, taking part in a structured course will enable you to turn ambitions into reality.
What Is A Photography School?
There are many different types of photography school which you can attend that range from community colleges to specially dedicated schools with international credentials. You can also learn photography with schools that run their courses online; meaning that you can study no matter where you are in the world.
You’ll learn about all the latest post production software as well as the practical aspects of managing photoshoots and taking top quality photos. Photography schools can teach you everything they need to know to go on to have a successful career in the industry, covering all the fundamentals as well as nurturing your creativity and fueling your ambitions.
Do Photographers Need To Go To A School?
As with all the creative industries, going to photography school is not essential to have a successful career however it can still be hugely helpful. There are, of course, many stories of photographers who are entirely self taught and have forged an incredible career but in most cases, having the hands on, personal help and advice that you’ll get in a school is more than worth the investment of time and money.
Even if you feel that you’re a good photographer already, going to a school opens up so many opportunities, not only in terms of networking and personalized feedback but also in terms of the career progression or landing that perfect internship!
Why Go To Photography School – Is It Right For You?
- Learn About The Latest Equipment, Technology And Cutting Edge Software: Top rated photography schools have pretty significant budgets and as a result they offer you the chance to get a personalized education in the very latest technology and photography gear. It’s not only the state of the art computer facilities, where you can learn the ins and outs of post production, but it’s also the cameras, lenses and studio facilities that you’ll have access to which will inspire you while giving you the necessary grounding to make a successful career in the photography industry.
- Access Counselling, Job Placement Opportunities and Professional Advice: While you are at photography school you’ll be able to access a whole range of experts in the field who can give you advice on the best ways to break into the competitive industry as well as help you to find job placements and internships. Many photography schools have dedicated counselors who can be a very beneficial resource in giving you the guidance you’ll need after you’ve graduated. Your tutors will also help you to put together an impactful portfolio that will really catch the attention of future employers, giving you the best chances of landing that perfect job in the future!
- Get Invaluable Feedback: One of the advantages of studying at a photography school is that you’ll be getting regular feedback on your work from tutors who are experts in the technicalities of what goes into taking a great photo. They will give you suggestions on the ways that you can improve your output and point out things that you’re already doing well. Once you get out into the real world, photography can often end up being a solitary pursuit which can make it hard to get honest and insightful feedback. Your time at photography school will allow you to get all the advice and feedback that you need. These types of insights are invaluable for photographers when they’re starting out because the earlier you can iron out any wrinkles in your technique the sooner you’ll be producing saleable photos. Bad habits also tend to get ingrained if they aren’t addressed early on; which means that starting your photography career by going to school can set you on the correct path right from the beginning.
- Explore Different Types Of Photography: While you are in photography school you’ll be exposed to the whole range of photography; something which can be tough to do otherwise. There’s so many genres of photography that no matter what your passion and interests are you’ll be able to explore it while you’re studying at photography school. Portrait, editorial, landscape and architectural photography are all specialized areas which you can move into in a professional capacity, so being able to experiment in these fields will help you to find your feet in the industry. Having a broad base of experience in multiple fields will help you to become a well rounded photographer who can market your work successfully following your graduation.
- Create A Portfolio That Will Get Your Clients And Jobs: While you are at photography school creating a portfolio will be one of the central aspects of your course. Putting together a portfolio that will land you jobs is not easy to do but with the right help and advice you’ll be able to combine the perfect images to showcase the breadth of your talents and skills.
How Do You Go About Picking The Right Photography School?
Once you’ve decided that you want to go to photography school you’ll then have to find the right one for you. When you start your search for a photography school you’ll need to do plenty of research, find reviews by former students and study the curriculums that the schools are teaching.
Online Or In Person?
An important decision that you’ll need to make at the beginning is whether or not you want to study in person or online. Attending a bricks and mortar photography school certainly has its advantages however learning online is extremely convenient and will usually cost significantly less.
Studying online does allow you to access tutors and schools in other parts of the world which you might not otherwise be able to attend. If you decide to learn online you’ll also have a wider range of choices when it comes to the course you take compared to the options in your own home town. However, studying in person will let you make new friends and you’ll get the hands on help and advice while you’re in the lab which can’t be replaced by lessons online.
Ultimately though, this is a choice that you’ll have to make for yourself, and will largely depend on your current circumstances and requirements. Nonetheless, it’s one of the first things you’ll have to establish before you can continue on to find the right photography school for you.
Quality Of Tuition.
The quality of the tutors and curriculum is absolutely essential to research before you commit to studying with a photography school. Reading reviews from past students is a good place to start but you can also check the tutors’ own portfolios of work to see if you like what you see.
The faculty members should all be on the school’s official websites where you can look into their own training, career histories and expertise. You should be looking to make sure that the faculty has a good mix of practical and theoretical expertise so you get a broad grounding in photography.
Fees – What’s Your Budget?
Going to photography school is an investment of time and money in your future and so establishing what your budget will be a major factor that determines what your options are.
As a general rule, you’ll be able to study online at a much lower cost than if you are studying in a bricks and mortar school, however you won’t get the personalized training that you otherwise would.
You also need to keep in mind that many of the schools that offer low cost courses do not deliver the quality of tuition that you’ll need to make the investment of time worth your while. Deciding how much to spend and where you’ll study is a fine balancing act; although when it comes to your own education you should stretch your budget to its limits to get the very highest standard of training that you possibly can.
The School’s Facilities.
If you’ve decided to study at a photography school in person then you should contact them and ask if you can have a look around because this will let you see for yourself what types of facilities they have. For instance, do they have an editing suite? Are there spaces where you can do photoshoots? Are the classrooms comfortable?
Many photography schools have annual open days when you can meet the tutors and be shown around the facilities. You can find details about open days on the school’s website or, if you can’t find any details, you can call their reception desk to ask.
The Length Of The Course.
Deciding how long you are going to set aside to study is central to the process of choosing the right school and course for you. You can take courses which last a few months or you can take courses which run for several years. In the modern world the range of courses has never been wider and so no matter what your timetable is you’ll be able to find something which fits for you.
Of course, the longer the course is the more you should learn but at the same time you need to make sure that you can fit the course into your schedule. If you need to work to help pay for your fees you can study photography at night schools or part time online. Whatever your requirements you should be able to find the right photography school which suits you and your timetable.
Selecting The Right Photography School Is The First Step To Forging A Successful Career.
When it comes to getting your photography career off to a flying start there’s no better way to do so than to attend a good quality school; and whether you decide to go online or study in person, the experience should be enjoyable, informative and help you to build the networks that will facilitate your future success.
Making the choice of which school you should attend is vital to get right since you don’t want to waste your time and money on a course that doesn’t meet your requirements. Before you register with a school you always need to do plenty of background research and investigations to ensure you know what you’ll be getting for your money. Reading reviews from former students is a great way to gauge a school and the tuition they deliver as well as looking into the expertise and experience of the tutors who will be teaching you.
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