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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Baumgarten
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
Photography Articles

Photography Tip- Total Breakdown

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

Recently, I had an appointment for a photography shoot with a wonderful family. We made plans to meet at the lake for their yearly family photo shoot. As usual I got there well before the family was scheduled to arrive so I could set up the equipment and be ready to go. The family of five and one pair of grandparents pulled up in a black Hummer. I introduced myself and as we were walking to the lake, Mrs Weber said to me I love pictures, my husband let's me buy whatever I want. Do you sell photo gifts? I got a little spring in my step and answered, "yes we have a variety of cool things like photo mugs and puzzles you can see our full selection when you order." Then she said she wanted a close-up portrait with Lake Tahoe behind her for her blog. I said, "just go with the flow!" Now I'm thinking to myself, it's time for a Total Breakdown!

• I started with a photo shoot of the entire group of seven. We did a few different poses and I shot a ton of photos. Then, I broke it down!
• I had the grandparents step out of the picture and photographed just the family of five. We had fun shooting poses for the family portrait and did some creative and traditional portrait photos. Then I broke it down again!
• I had Mr and Mrs Weber step over with the grandparents out of the picture, who by the way were throughly enjoying the entertainment, but the best was yet to come, the kids were next! They were great fun, so I got wild and crazy shots with them. We did a ton of cool shots. What now? Break it down!
• I shoot three or four quick shots of each kid. I'll do a standing full length pose. Some mid and close-up shots and something unique and different for each kid. Another breakdown? You bet! I'll keep going till they beg me to stop! Why do you think I sell so many pictures?

• I had grandma and grandpa step-back into the beautiful outdoor studio overlooking the lake. I shot a wonderful photo of the lovely couple, then breaking it down again, I photographed grandma and grandpa separately.
• Next, I had Mrs Weber join her mom and dad (grandma and grandpa) for a photo of her together with her parents.
• Now your thinking what else can you do with this? I had grandma and grandpa exit-stage-left and photographed mom by herself, remember she wanted a head-shot with the lake in it for her blog bio photo?
• Wow!!! We still don't have a shot of mom and dad together! So I have dad come over and join mom. The couple is easy to work with because now they are in sync with my flow. We capture some gorgeous pictures of them.
• I wrap up the shoot with some handsome photos of dad by himself.

I could have kept going all day, but the kids are climbing trees in their nice clothes and mom... So I call it a wrap! The key to The Total Breakdown Method is transitioning from one combination of subjects to another quickly and smoothly without interruption. With an attitude of professional confidence go from one pose to the next.

The Don't ask! Do Tell Policy states that you never ask a client if they want a break down! If you display skill and confidence, clients will allow you to do your job and take control. For instance "Mom-n-Dad, please step to the side, I'm going to get some pictures of the kids". And that's what happens. If I had asked Mrs Weber "would you like to get a photo of the kids" she may have said no, after that, I'm in the situation of getting every photo approved and I don't want Mrs Weber to decide on whether or not to get an image, until we are looking at them on the monitor on the sales floor or at our online photo sharing pro gallery!

If you use this photography technique with every group, you should see an increase in image sales. If you haven't been doing any breakdowns, the increase in photography sales could be substantial. By the way, Mr Weber slipped me a very generous, "thank you" after the family photo shoot and said I did a great job! In addition they spent well over $1000 on photos.

Brandon is a professional digital photographer from Lake Tahoe, California. Brandon specializes in on-mountain action and portrait photography during the winter months, photographing skiers and snowboarders on the slopes. Brandon also has a digital photography website which is full of excellent techniques, products and services. Including tips to help you create your own impressive online gallery, with flashy photography templates that are designed for serious photographers.

Article Source: Photography Tips