Son wants to get a BFA in photography, but we're worried about his employability with it...

[FigmentSpark]

My son seems to have a knack for photography (but what do I know?) He's floated the idea of going to a good art school to get a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in photography. I'm just happy he wants to pursue a post-secondary education at this point, but his dad needs some convincing.

Can you be successful with a BFA in photography and if so, what paths might be in his future (beyond WDW photopass photographer!).

Thanks.

 

[tvguy]

Well, I know a couple of photographers with a BFA, so they ARE employable. One had a tough time getting used to his job as a TV News Photographer, understanding that he wasn't going to have the time to use the techniques he was taught in school. Not how things work in the real world.
I had lunch yesterday with a retired TV news photographer who quit 30 years ago to do Wedding and Portrait photographer and he does very little now because someone with an iPhone and good photo editing software can not only taking amazing pictures, but fix mistakes with the software. And I'll be honest, it seems like every other person now is doing photographs as a side hustle.
So it is a gamble.

 

[Stratman50th]

My daughter is an amazing artist. She got her degree from VCU in Richmond. She's still an amazing artist, but hasn't done a thing in art since graduation 6 years ago. The only plus has been she can put 4 year degree on her resume, which indicates she can be educated. She's planning to get her masters in, I don't know what it's called but it's designing video games. What I do know is we explained before she got out of high school we would cover 4 years. Anything else is on her. If you want some advice, which I assume you do since you posted, have him get a degree in something like business. That way he can get a job that pays and has benefits and he can pursue his passion on his own time. If it turns out he can make a living as a photographer he can methodically and carefully transition.
Best of luck

 

[kdonnel]

My neighbors son loved music. Band was his life in high school.

He got accepted into a couple colleges music programs but at the last minute decided to instead stay local and get a business degree, what kind of living could he make with a degree in music was the thought process.

College was a disaster. He made it three years before quitting. His heart and soul were not into getting a business degree.

It has been 5-7 years since then and he is still listless in his life bouncing from one job to another unsure of his future, pursuing jobs that will make him money, not make him happy. The only thing that makes him happy is music.

I think he would be much better off at this point if he had got his degree in music.

 

[DLgal]

Visual arts degrees, even the technical ones, have a way of becoming obsolete quite quickly as technology advances and now suddenly everyone can be an artist via apps and built in software on cell phones and cameras that anyone can buy. The most successful and talented artists don't usually get degrees, they just launch their careers. I'd have a hard time supporting an arts degree as a means to boost employment potential. Rather, it should be considered a passion degree unless the plan is to become a teacher, in which case the degree can be useful. Most high school arts teachers have degrees and immediately obtain masters and become teachers. This is the most logical path. Otherwise, if college is a must, major in something that directly translates to a specific career skill set.

I can't even tell you how many failed photographers I personally know. Everyone thinks they can do it. It's an incredibly difficult job market to make it in.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Those are all my fears. But my other fear is him floundering and not doing anything because nothing interests him.

 

[AaronB]

Not going to offer advice, so much as just what happened to me. I have a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Fine Arts degree for music composition. I knew going into both, it would be a long shot that I would end up specifically doing what I wanted to do (composing music for media). I did do a few small things, but never enough that I could support myself as a musician. What I did have on my side was an interest in computers, and computer technology was still a part of my degrees. Eventually, I ended up in IT, and now make a comfortable living as an IT Engineer. There is a bit of luck in that career path, because with how fast IT changes, you can learn so much on the job (and so much of my career has been building up the resume of simply working with various technologies). I do not regret getting my degrees for a second, they were great experiences and I still have a passion for music. I also think having the degrees did help a little during job searches, even if it was not in the same field.

So, as I said, I hate to give this as advice, as it is such a personal decision, but maybe help put your mind at ease, that if motivation is there, I think any decision that is made will work out. I don't think I would have been happy if I actually went to college for something other than music, because it was that passion that kept me engaged (forcing myself to do something else would have just made me miserable). Then, I guess, the fortunate side was that while I did enjoy the journey, I still had the mentality that I needed a career to support myself too. And in today's world, I think even outside of IT, someone can start on a career path without having a specific degree, and learn as you go.

 

[firefly_ris]

So, here is my experience. I'm a front-end web developer, so not the same profession. But, I did go to college and got a BA in Visual Arts (with a concentration in Digital Media) and graduated in 2005. I went to a community college for 2 years first. At this point in my life I had already been making websites for years and was making side money doing it for small businesses.

Once I graduated, zero employers have ever required a degree from me or have asked if I have one. Everything is "What are your current skills" and "Please send me a list of some work you have done recently". If he has interest in being a self-employed freelance photographer, most people are going to be looking for examples of work more than a degree, IMO. If he is looking for work with something like National Geographic, I'm not sure how that works -- whether they have fully employed photo staff or they pay freelancers or what. Looking back, I honestly could have saved my parents some money and not gone to college at all and still have the exact same job I have today. And really honestly, if I were college-aged over again in the current year, I could teach myself just about everything with online video courses and YouTube. The amount of information available these days is amazing. The same kind of content can be found for photography.

If it were me, I would get a degree in something that will always be useful/in demand regardless of the economy or living location, and start pursuing photography on the side by building up a portfolio, and saving up for some good equipment that will last many years. He could also still do elective classes related to photography to help keep interest.

 

[RogueX]

As someone mentioned above, a lot of people seem to be doing photography as a side hustle and it seems with the the advances in technology it's become easier to do so.

My mother has a bit of a photography side business to supplement her retirement and has sold a few prints in a gallery. My sister works at a dental practice and one of the hygienists also works as a wedding photographer.

On the other side, my husband flies the helicopter for news and when a photographer has to be hired, that person has to have more than a little skill behind the camera.

 

[Miffy]

The degree may have nothing to do with employment, but that doesn't mean it won't be valuable for employment at some point. Many many jobs require a candidate to have a bachelor's degree, and it doesn't matter what that degree is in. Without it, they won't even consider you.

But to think that getting a BFA in photography is a career path? Highly unlikely. A lot of degrees are like that, not just this one. But your son might get something out of it that's unintended, like a connection or an interest in something else altogether.

The only person I know who has this degree has never used it as such, although he has a great business doing something completely unrelated. However, he made lifelong friends at his college and doesn't regret his education even a little. On the flip side, I have a friend who got a bachelor's in audio engineering--another useless degree, which he got only because his parents insisted he get a college degree--and he delivers pizzas for a living.

 

[Orion Nebula]

All I know is if he is passionate about it and set on going in that direction it's probably a good idea to just be supportive. Fighting against something like that is going to cause a lot of animosity. Not to mention if he does heed your advice he probably will look back wondering "what if". Escpecially if he ends up in a career he doesn't love. It happened to me.

 

[FigmentSpark]

That's my thinking... it will mature him, and give him a "degree" to put on his resume, even if it doesn't prepare him for a particular career.

I know he's got a strong artistic streak, enough ADHD to want to be moving around, loves the outdoors and wants to travel the world. He's smart, but studying is not his great love. He can hyper-focus when he enjoys something, but does struggle with motivation when he doesn't.

His other problem is he went to another university for Criminology last year. He passed (with okay, but not great marks) 9 out of 10 classes, but this last semester, he flamed out, failing everything. That was because he didn't want to be there and didn't want to finish that program, not because he wasn't capable. I'm afraid that will be a hindrance to his acceptance in another university, but he has 9 credits that he should be able to move over as electives, if they accept him.

 

[AustinTink]

He would be employable as a photojournalist with that degree. He can also moonlight as an event photographer. My son did that as a side gig during college and would make $250-300 a pop for a couple of hours work. Event gigs are easy money.

 

[holden]

I have an artist as well. She took a gap year, which turned out to be the best thing for her. She starts college in the fall. Right now she's undeclared but will likely be an art major (or art education, which is more employable).

She has had a very rough road. I look at college as a chance for her to become more independent and grow into the person she's meant to be. To me that's more important than what kind of degree she winds up with.

 

[bjscheel]

That's my thinking... it will mature him, and give him a "degree" to put on his resume, even if it doesn't prepare him for a particular career.

I think this is right. I was ready to allow DD20 to pursue a degree in Theatre, because she would have a degree, and skills in public speaking, etc. Many other possible majors she would have found unbearable. She settled on Parks & Rec instead, with basically a concentration in Theatre. Whether that will get her a high salary is debatable but she is supremely happy (and has had good luck finding internships in the meantime so I think she'll be fine).

For your son, I would ask if this degree is reasonably affordable or if it is going to put you and/or him in much debt for it. If affordable, I'd say let him go for it and like you say he'll have a degree which may be all it takes to get a decent job in something.

 

[AustinTink]

I have an artist as well. She took a gap year, which turned out to be the best thing for her. She starts college in the fall. Right now she's undeclared but will likely be an art major (or art education, which is more employable).

She has had a very rough road. I look at college as a chance for her to become more independent and grow into the person she's meant to be. To me that's more important than what kind of degree she winds up with.

If she pursued a commercial art degree in digital art and animation, for example, she would be in high demand, especially here in Austin.

 

[HashberryOTG]

I would consider a double major if it were me. Perhaps something like journalism, business, graphic design or some such could help to boost it up and make him stand out when job hunting. When I went to college, my passion was philosophy. Not the most job-laden major in the world. So I doubled in with accounting, since that's what my job skills were. I did my emphasis in ethics to tie it better into my business classes, so I suppose not a total waste. The interesting philosophy classes helped get me through the more boring of the business classes. It IS more school tho, obviously, which may not be something he wants. I was a nerd tho (well, still am), so it worked.

To be employed as a photographer, as many have mentioned above, is more about skill & portfolio and less about the degree tho. A friend of mine is a professional photographer and does not hold a degree. A "corporate" type job is going to be more likely to require a degree, whether it makes sense or not, due to HR requirements. Freelance, of course, wouldn't, but those business classes might come in handy when building your base and doing paperwork.

 

[E&Cmom]

I look at college as a chance for her to become more independent and grow into the person she's meant to be. To me that's more important than what kind of degree she winds up with.

I agree with this. My daughter is in her first year of an Art University towards a BFA in illustration . She is into digital art. This is her passion and at 18 years old who knows where she will end up. Maybe she will end up in a job related to art but maybe not. I myself ended up going into something else from my original degree. I wish I had had a passion for something like she does at her age. Even if she doesn’t end up with a job in art, I do not want to discourage her from pursuing it and agree with the above that it will help her grow into the person she is meant to be.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I encourage my kids to do what they love...and to have a back up plan.

That is working for kid #1...and kid #2 is also setting herself up for the same plan...

 

[FigmentSpark]

I think this is right. I was ready to allow DD20 to pursue a degree in Theatre, because she would have a degree, and skills in public speaking, etc. Many other possible majors she would have found unbearable. She settled on Parks & Rec instead, with basically a concentration in Theatre. Whether that will get her a high salary is debatable but she is supremely happy (and has had good luck finding internships in the meantime so I think she'll be fine).

For your son, I would ask if this degree is reasonably affordable or if it is going to put you and/or him in much debt for it. If affordable, I'd say let him go for it and like you say he'll have a degree which may be all it takes to get a decent job in something.

We have a limited amount set aside for him for university. He's already used up a quarter of it, but he can do at least 3 years without going in to debt. More, if he doesn't live in residence.

A double major is a good idea.