Photography Education & Training
Photography can be a fun and rewarding hobby and an equally fun and rewarding career. The skill to operate a camera and take quality photographs takes training and education. While many amateur photographers have developed skills through self teaching, formal training is still regarded as necessary to achieve professional success as a photographer.
Other People Are Reading
-
Photography Degrees Through Univiersities
-
Photography degrees can be obtained through accredited colleges and universities. Photographers are trained in the use of photographic equipment and technique, as well as theory in the use of light and color, working with subjects, and working with technology. Photographers can specialize in photojournalism, fashion photography, and wildlife photography for magazines and other publications, while others choose to explore fine art and commission photography. Photography degrees can be earned on campus as well as online, giving aspiring photographers more flexibility while working toward a degree.
Photography Education Through Trade Schools
-
Schooling through colleges and universities is not the only way to become educated and trained as a photographer. Trade schools can sometimes be a quicker and less expensive route. Photographers can learn skills specific to the type of photography in which they are interested, and earn certificates documenting the training instead of degrees. As with some colleges, many trade schools also offer online options for education.
-
Photography Education by Apprenticeship
-
In addition to formal education, photographers can look into apprenticeships. An apprentice is a novice who works under an experienced professional, sometimes for free, learning how to further develop and master skills. The U.S. Department of Labor has a Registered Apprenticeship program designed to help provide education and valuable work experience for photographers, while earning money, working with professionals. Aspiring photographers can look for companies and photographers hiring apprentices.
On the Job Training and Internships
-
Similar to apprenticeships, some photographers and companies hire people with little to no experience and train them. Companies that often provide on-the-job training are portrait studios, whichtake in novice photographers, or people interested in photography, and train them to take pictures to their specifications and needs. Internships are another source of on-the-job training, where a novice photographer is hired by a company or photographer to go through job training performing photography and photo editing. Internships are often unpaid or low-paying positions that can sometimes grow into higher-paying, full-time positions. Studios and photographers offering to train new employees are required to pay at least minimum wage, though some will increase wages after initial training. These options can often allow a novice to get a foot in the door of professional photography, teaching valuable and marketable skills.
Self Teaching
-
While they often my not receive recognition for training and education, self-taught photographers can still learn the fundamental skills required for photography through books, playing around with the equipment, and learning through experimentation. Self-taught photographers are often recognized as having an innate talent for understanding important photographic elements such as light, color, depth of field, and cropping, without formal knowledge as to why and how the elements work together. Many self-taught photographers take beautiful pictures, but can be hindered by their lack of formal education if they seek to become professional photographers.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit black and white photography image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
