These classes to go into professional photography?

[6_Time_Momma]

I have been interested in learning photography and possibly doing professional photography for a long time. What I don't know how much education "qualifies" you to be a professional photographer.

I have one college near me that offers the courses listed on this page http://www.kellogg.edu/artscomm/photography/index.html They have beginner's, intermediate, advanced, and digital listed on this page, but this school also offers basic, landscape, and technical. So, are these classes enough to go into it as a pro or is there some other course offerings to take. Sorry to sound so unknowlegeable, but I don't really know where to begin.

 

[zagafi]

http://www.nyip.com/ The NYIP course is very good. The materials are dated in appearance, but the information is solid. I know several people who have gone pro after finishing this course.

 

[RitchG]

Well, I'm not sure about Kellog, but my sister has done photography for a while with a liberal arts/sociology/biology degree, and went to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography (and made me really envious) (http://www.rmsp.com/) to see what she was missing. She loved it, not so much for what she learned but more for being able to do nothing but photography for eight weeks, and for the contacts she made while there. I've also heard really good stuff about the Hallmark School here in Massachusetts (http://hallmark.edu/).

The "real" photographers I know are probably about 50-50 with and without a "degree" for photography. Most of them would probably agree that the photo stuff comes easily but the business stuff they took some course for. I went to school for seven years (guess I was having too much fun) and ended up with an engineering degree and almost an design arts degree (still a bit schizoid).

As a part-time teacher (with no bias whatsoever), I'd recommend that you try out some part-time courses to see what it is all about, to meet other photographers, to learn how "the business" goes. But IMHO photography is one of those things that you improve on by doing it over and over and over again.
HTH.
---Ritch

 

[AndrewWG]

I always wanted to go to the Hallmark school.....

Maybe someday I will. I will have to get a DSLR for that though! If I remember correctly, it was not a cheap place to go, but the education was priceless.

 

[photo_chick]

I know quite a few people who make thier living as a photographer and have no formal education in that field. Myself I am working on my degree at a 4 year college. Not because I think I need it to make a living as a photographer but because I want to finish the darn thing!

I really think a lot of how much or what kind of education you need depends on what you want to do. There is such a wide range of jobs that fall under the heading of "professional photographer".

 

[mommyofthreeboys]

Any recommendations on online courses???

TIA

 

[6_Time_Momma]

Any recommendations on online courses???

TIA

Not online, but I was looking at the NY inst of photography that someone posted and it is a study at your own pace at home. I may look a little deeper into that!

 

[MICKEY88]

Not online, but I was looking at the NY inst of photography that someone posted and it is a study at your own pace at home. I may look a little deeper into that!

I highly recommend the NYI course, that's how I got my start,,after reading all I could about photography and being confused on some issues, I tried the course....after the first lesson, there was a major improvement in my photos
{ at the time I was taking a lot of pics of the Hersheypark shows and sharing them with the performers, the performers commented on how different my photos looked, they said they thought my pics were good before, but the new shots blew them away}the things I had been confused on were explained much more clearly in the NYI courses..

I loved being able to progress at my own pace, since my work schedule is unpredictable....plus it's neat being critiqued on tape by full time pro photographers,they never said..this is bad, or this is wrong...they would point out good things about the photo and then say, maybe next time you might want to try this, or this...so you never felt bad about any photo assignment
they assign one as your special contact, and you can call them directly with questions...

 

[zagafi]

I'm taking the NYI course now. I tried to do it a couple years ago, but the twins came along and well...

I'm on Unit 1 now and am getting ready to begin my projects.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

I'm taking the NYI course now. I tried to do it a couple years ago, but the twins came along and well...

I'm on Unit 1 now and am getting ready to begin my projects.

Well Iwent ahead and took the plunge and signed up. Maybe I'll ask you for help if Iget stumped.

 

[zagafi]

Well Iwent ahead and took the plunge and signed up. Maybe I'll ask you for help if Iget stumped.

Heck, yeah! We can muddle through it together! PM me anytime.

 

[polkadotladybug]

Just curious - I looked up the NYIP courses - how much are they? I tried to look and it said to request info and I'm way too impatient for that - LOL Anyone care to share the cost? And does that include materials or is that an additional charge?

Thanks!
Carol

 

[MICKEY88]

Just curious - I looked up the NYIP courses - how much are they? I tried to look and it said to request info and I'm way too impatient for that - LOL Anyone care to share the cost? And does that include materials or is that an additional charge?

Thanks!
Carol

I don't remember what the course cost when I took it, but back then you could either pay in full and get all the course materials at once, or you could make payments, and they would send the next set of lessons after every 2 installments..

 

[6TimeMomma]

Just curious - I looked up the NYIP courses - how much are they? I tried to look and it said to request info and I'm way too impatient for that - LOL Anyone care to share the cost? And does that include materials or is that an additional charge?

Thanks!
Carol

The Pro Photography course was $748 (I think) if you pay all at once) or $200 more if you choose the installment plan.