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Step 1
Narrow down the field of study. Selecting a specific area will determine which photography degree program and school can help achieve your goals. Decide on location. Look for local colleges and universities with a suitable program if you want to live near home. Identify schools with strong reputations for their photographic programs. Look at the school's faculty. Learn about its individual work and exhibits. See if it falls in line with your own goals.
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Step 2
Start a photographic studio business. Select a college or university with a focus on studio and business. When looking to teach, find a program that combines education as part of the curriculum. If you prefer to work for someone else, consider a school that offers internships and placement programs. To become a nature photographer, look into fine art schools. A prospective fashion photographer will want a curriculum incorporating art, business and design.
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Step 3
Receive an associate degree. This preference is for those who are not ready to declare a major but want to have a foundation in photography. The student will receive necessary skills to work at entry-level positions in the photographic field. They will build a portfolio for a career in commercial, portrait, artistic or photojournalism, among others. Consider an accredited program that will transfer credits for a bachelor's or master's degree in the future.
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Step 4
Find an associate degree curriculum that focuses on the fundamental processes and techniques of photographic and digital imaging. Take the core classes. In addition, learn essential instruction in operating and maintenance of camera, lighting and equipment. Courses might include film processing, composition and other basic photographic applications. For fine art photography, find a program in the traditional arts. If commercial is the preferred direction, seek programs with a business edge.
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Step 5
Earn a bachelor's degree in photography. This student has a clearer objective. These curricula are more focused and comprehensive over a four-year program. The focus includes more attention on various cameras and their application, light and composition in art and film, films and printing media, color and special effects, commercial and fine photographic arts, photographic history, photographic and film theory, use of computer, and digital applications. For a photojournalism major, English and writing-related courses are incorporated.
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Step 6
Utilize online programs. This opportunity is for students who prefer to study from home and at their own pace. Programs are available for an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree. As above, find an accredited school in order to transfer credits should options change. For example, the Academy of Art University offers Associate, Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees with a curriculum "geared toward the industry."
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Step 7
Locate a Master of Fine Arts program in photography. Graduate programs offer the highest level of instruction in both traditional and digital photography. Students will gain mastery of specific skills in their specialized area of expertise. Faculty work closely with the students with their personal vision and current photographic experience using all the core knowledge that they maintain both in the classroom and out in the field. The students' practical and theoretical knowledge will take shape to complete a final thesis.
