Photography School- Choose The Right School

Thanks to the revolution in digital photography, the industry is growing quickly, photographers are more in demand than ever before and some very specialized fields of study are facing shortages, while other fields are extremely competitive. The key is to choose the right specialty and then a photography school to prepare you for your field of study...

By Brandon Baumgarten

Why go to school for photography can't you just freelance? Well, you could. But a degree from photography school opens up opportunities that would be out of reach without a formal education.

You have the opportunity to learn the occupational skills necessary to become a professional photographer. You'll also make contacts that help your career as a professional photographer. In fact many photography schools have placement programs to assist graduates connect with employers after they graduate. Plus, photographers attending college, can enhance their future resume by completing an internship with a major newspaper or magazine during the summer months.

There are many things to consider prior to selecting the school you will attend.

• Choose a field of study- Thoroughly research each field of study, to get a feel for which one is best for you. By narrowing down your field of photographic study, to the job profiles you are most interested in pursuing when you graduate. You can concentrate on learning the occupational competencies for your specialty.
  
• What is the demand for your field of study? In some specialized fields of photography photographers are really in demand. For example medical and scientific photographers with a chemistry degree or degree in medicine are highly sought after right now. Other fields like media photographer jobs are much more competitive.

• School Location- The location of the photography school is an important factor. If the schools are not nearby, consider the cost of living in the area. Search CraigsList to get an idea of rent cost, job availability etc. If moving to another location is not feasible, community colleges and online classes are a popular option.
• Tuition Cost- The cost of tuition while attending photography school can play a major role in your ultimate decision. Research scholarships and financial aid that may be available. Keep in mind that a good education isn't expensive, it's invaluable.

• Read school reviews- When choosing the right school from your top picks, do some research for objective reviews of the institution and it's staff.

Request information from each photography school you are considering attending and maybe even a few more just for reference purposes. Most schools will send you a free no-obligation information package. Compare programs for the schools that match your goals and narrow the list down to two or three that provide the curriculum required for your field of study.

Narrow your choice of photography schools down to two or three that match your field of study. Now go check them out! There is no substitute for visiting the school in person. You can meet with the faculty, inspect the facility and get a feel for the local community.

Find out more about choosing a field of study and compare online and campus based photography schools for the program that best fits your field of study.

Brandon is a professional digital photographer from Lake Tahoe, California. Brandon specializes in on-mountain action and portrait sports photography during the winter months, photographing skiers and snowboarders on the slopes. Brandon also has a digital photography website which is full of excellent tips and techniques.

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Photography Tips

Photography School - Choose The Right Field Of Study

Here's a photography tip to help professional photographers get more out of each group they shoot! This very simple technique can help you sell more pictures and substantially increase your income.
By Brandon Baumgarten

Photographers may specialize in one field of photography or they may generalize in a combination of two or more types of photography. Prior to selecting the photography school you are going to attend. Narrow down the specific fields of photography you are most interested in. The differences between photographer specialties are in the subject matter, work conditions and in the type of equipment used and required for design and composition of the photograph.

Photographer fields of study for you to consider:

Wedding and Portrait Photographers pose their subjects and carefully set up lighting and use flash units to enhance the images.

• Fine arts photographers sell their images as fine artwork. In addition to technical proficiency, fine arts photographers need artistic talent and creativity.
• Commercial Photographers shoot scenic photography for advertising, stock image and print sales. They also photograph products like food and merchandise or buildings and architecture.
• News Photographers typically work on location at news-worthy events. They take pictures that enhance stories used by the news media.
• Industrial Photographers shoot photos of machinery, employees working, equipment, products, and company officials. The images are typically done on location and used for the analysis of engineering projects, publicity, or company records.
• Medical Photographers specialize in more technical forms of photography, such as Ophthalmic, Surgical or Pathological photography.
• Freelance Photographers line up their own work and projects. Then they sell their photography directly to clients. They must be highly motivated to become successful.

Which field should you pursue? Ask yourself, why do I want to be a professional photographer, for the love or the money? Most of us do it for the love of photography. If you do it for the love of photography, consider combining your passion for photography with other interests like chemistry, medicine, news, special events etc. Important things to consider when choosing a specialized area of photography:

• Working Conditions- If you want to work indoors in an air conditioned office or outdoors in the elements and on the move.
• Salary Range- The compensation you can expect from each field of photography varies greatly. Research pay ranges before you select your field of study.
• Educational Requirements- In some fields of photography like portrait and fine art, talent and experience are enough for motivated individuals. However additional education in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry are required for other fields.
• Advancement Opportunities- Opportunities for advancement at a small photography studio are limited. Photographers in other industries such as media, medical and scientific photography can find room for moving up.

Careers in traditional photography like the media positions are highly competitive, since salaried jobs are extremely desirable. Some of the less crowded fields in the photography profession are the aerial, industrial and scientific fields of photography. In addition to photography skills, these jobs require college degrees and specialized technical training. When you carefully consider all of the factors, I'm confident you will choose the right career path.

Find out more about choosing a field of study and compare online and campus based photography schools for the program that best fits your field of study.

Brandon is a professional digital photographer from Lake Tahoe, California. Brandon specializes in on-mountain action and portrait sports photography during the winter months, photographing skiers and snowboarders on the slopes. Brandon also has a digital photography website which is full of excellent tips and techniques.

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Baumgarten
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