You should go to photo school if you want structured learning. Groundwork from the fundamentals to the bigger concepts. It will move too slowly for many of you, too fast for others. There are lots of great programs, worldwide.
If you don’t do better with structured learning and you are highly motivated and prefer real world experience, don’t go. Instead, teach yourself, take workshops, get mentors, read books, build your support network, work for other people. And most importantly take a helluva lot of photographs. Dig the long ditch that it takes to learn to make a living with photographs.
If this is too simple a post for you, then go to photo school.
For me there has been many forks on my road to becoming an image maker, I did the self taught bit and then went to University to top-up my skills and CONTACTS… Being a photographer is great, best thing I have ever done! Making a living out of photography, probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done…
I’m probably not the best photographer around, well most definitely not. But I believe in my product and can sell the concept and that you can only learn by DOING 🙂
I would rather go to school for a business degree… I’m a self taught photographer and I’m always learning. I hope to never stop learning!
Smart.
take a helluva lot of photographs
You explained this to me a while ago and its refreshing to hear it again. People usually say I should go because it would at least be fun and provide credentials, but there is something frightfully exciting about trying to figure it out on my own. I can’t pass up an adventure like that.
“And most importantly take a helluva lot of photographs. Dig the long ditch that it takes to learn to make a living with photographs.” – I disagree.
I wish I could get more photographers to understand that “the business of photography” has NOTHING to do with the pictures you create – it’s the BUSINESS you create. Our images are only a SMALL part of being a COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER. Next time your at lunch with a client ask them point blank – “what images of mine do you like or love.” I bet they only remember one or two of your images, but they’ll remember how fast you delivered your last job and how the overall experience effected their company. IT’S NOT YOUR IMAGES – It’s YOU. – Stop “worrying” about creating pretty pictures and start creating a successful business. My two cents and years of experience!
Don, you can’t say things like that. Photographers who understand that professional photography is a business first and foremost will more likely become long term competitors. Let’s stick with “Take lots of pictures and follow your vision.”