Best training?

snigg

snigg

Messages
359
Edit My Images
No
Thinking about doing a College course to hopefully make photography a career, I'm 40 now and only learning so I know it will take some doing.

The thing is I don't rate college course very highly, not sure why, probably hearing about all these courses you can now do on every subject under the sun, so wondering would I just be best getting out there and learning myself by taking pictures etc or would a foundation degree in photography be worth the time, as it's a 2 year course, any advice welcome and stories on how you made this a career.
 
I suppose it all depends on finances - are you keeping a full-time job while training or have you got cash in the bank - I'm guessing it will be the former!

You don't need a formal qualification to be a professional, especially college ones, although if you really need the basics that might be the place to go. Having said that there are companies that do day, two-day or even week long intensive basic courses.

Once you're confident with your camera and taking a photograph - lighting (natural & artificial), composition, colours, white balance etc. - then you need to deci on what discipline if any you want to follow such as sports, journalism, weddings etc and go on specific courses for that discipline. If you want a qualification based on your photographs then join an organisation such as the NPS, MPA, BIPP, SWPP, RPS (I'm not going to recommend one over the other although the NPS is good value) who all run assessment based qualifications such as Licentiate, Associate & Master.

Don't forget though that training never stops and PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! Also, be aware that there are a lot of so called 'trainers' out there who have basically done one course themselves and are nw advertising themselves as trainers when they're not so get advice on here are through any organisation you might join.

Good luck.
 
You could try online education. As Wilko mentioned, you dont need qualifications. No customer cares about them.

There's some really good online workshops available at CreativeLive.com
They are free whilst theyre being broadcast, then afterwards they charge to download them. But they have top photographers teaching things.

The thing I noticed with college courses, is I didn't want to study 90% of the things they were teaching.
And by the time you've travelled to college and back for 2 years with fuel, you could have bought some top class photography courses online.

Not to say that Uni courses arent a good idea. I didnt do one, so it's not for me to say.
Perhaps someone who has done the college/uni courses could share their thoughts on what they'd recommend?
 
Cheers guys you have summed up my thoughts, the course I was looking at was full time but it is only a two day attendance at college, the rest of the time is coursework, you work on the remaining 3 days, which is good as I could keep working but if most of the time I'm working on my own, why bother with the course, unless anyone else has a different experience to set me right.
 
Last edited:
Of course you dont need but it gets you places if you want to get work with firms/studios and companies. Tired of togs saying you do not need quals. NOT EVERY PRO TOG wants tobe self employed.

I did 20 good/great years working for government and companies.

And even if you do want to go self employed. you are 40. So do private or college courses as it will get you to where you want to be much quicker. Self learn is always there even when qualified as you never stop learning. But to cover the basics and ans save problem solving pick a mini course on what you want to do.

Weddings? Do Diddy Daves course on business and Photo inspire for shooting weddings etc and then look for another course on off camera flash etcc etc... Look for training on the skills you want to use.

Get experince as a 2nd shooter. All the above will get you to where you want to be.... You don't have the time to spend years on self discovery.....

Go for it.

Good luck
 
Last edited:
Cheers Daryl,

As you say I don't have time to discover myself and I guess that is what a foundation degree is about.

A couple of well chosen courses sounds like a plan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top