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More than half of all photographers are self-employed, a much higher proportion than for most occupations. |
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Freelance and portrait photographers need technical proficiency, gained through either a degree program, vocational training, or extensive photography experience. |
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Growth of Internet versions of magazines, journals, and newspapers will require increasing numbers of commercial photographers to provide digital images. |
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| (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Photographers) |
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| Degrees in Photography Articles :: Photography Schools |
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| Focus Your Talent at Photography Colleges |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
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If you're serious about finding work as a photographer, you need more than a good eye and a creative edge. In order to make it in the fast-paced Photography field, you'll need the technical know-how that can be attained at Photography Colleges .
In fact, most entry-level positions in photojournalism or industrial/scientific photography require a degree from photography colleges. Freelance and portrait photographers also need the technical proficiency that can be gained from professional photography training.
Photography training
Basic photography training covers equipment, processes, and techniques. Photography colleges provide instruction on choosing and presenting a subject to achieve a particular effect, and selecting the appropriate equipment. Perhaps you want to enhance a subject's appearance with natural or artificial light. Or maybe you're trying to shoot the subject from an interesting angle. Can you draw attention to a particular aspect of the subject by blurring the background? How can you use different lenses to produce desired levels of detail at various distances from the subject? Professional photography training provides the tools you need to make these artistic decisions.
Though you may only be shooting digital photos, it's still a good idea to learn the art of photography on a traditional silver-halide film camera. Photography colleges offer in-depth training on the array of equipment you'll need, including lenses, filters, tripods, flash attachments, and specially constructed lighting equipment.
When you work with film, you may develop and print your own photographs in a darkroom, especially if you use black and white film or seek to achieve special effects. You'll need photography training to acquire the technical skills needed to operate this developing and printing equipment.
Photography resources
When you're researching photography colleges, tap into the alumni network for information -- this should be one of the school's most valuable and powerful resources. Where are graduates working? Are they leaders in the field? At Brooks Institute of Photography, for example, graduates work for distinguished organizations including National Geographic, Smithsonian, Los Angeles Times, Hallmark Publishing, Cousteau Society, HBO, and Kodak.
Photography colleges also offer opportunities to participate in events such as the prestigious College Photographer of the Year competition. The goal of this competition is to encourage student photographers to evaluate their own work and assemble a portfolio that demonstrates their vision and abilities. In 2006, 517 student photographers from 98 different colleges and universities entered about 12,500 images into the competition.
If you want to be a professional photographer and a leader in your field, photography colleges are the place to focus and develop your talent.
About the author:
Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.
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