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Tacey

Tacey

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Stacey
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Hello!
My name is Tacey and I am new to the forum - hoping for some advice.
Hope it is okay to ask this here, not sure if it's the correct section of the forum...

Basically I am looking into photography qualifications. I am currently studying an English Lit and Music degree... and realising it's totally NOT what I want to be doing! I'm in my 3rd year so it is really too late to change and obviously would be a waste to not complete it at this stage. I am very much wishing I did a photography degree, but now with the new tuition fee's there's not much chance of me being able to afford a second degree.

So I've been trying to research into other affordable qualifications that might help me begin a career in photography, but there seems to be so many different online qualifications and I have no idea whether anything is actually 'worth' anything when it comes to putting it on my CV. Would anybody be able to give me any advice on this? Can anyone recommend any helpful courses for learning more about photography as well as being a recognized qualification?

My mum is a successful self-employed photographer (she photographs weddings and pre-school children) so obviously that is a great help, although she began her work many years ago when qualifications were not as important as they are today, so I'm really not sure whether I can follow the same route as her or not. Ideally I would like to have my own pet photography business, and I'm going to attempt this regardless but wondering if this is realistically going to be possible. Are qualifications even important when you are self employed?

Thankyou for any advise given, and I look forward to participating more on the forum!

Tacey :)
 
Hi Tacey, and welcome. :wave:

Frankly, the only qualification that holds water in photography is ability. Most of the people who employ photographers have little interest in anything on paper other than the quality of image. What area(s) are you interested in? Doing a course that will make you a better snapper is a good idea, so it may be of more worth to look at courses that can give you some sound training in the type of photography you'd prefer to work at. Also, consider that the wider your field of ability, the better are your chances of finding work.
 
I could be wrong as I've never really looked into it but I don't think qualifications are overly important in photography (I'm surprised you can do a degree in photography, I'd have thought it would form a part in another arts degree?).

Yes you do have to understand photography, camera settings, artistic composition, lighting etc which you can do courses in but THE most important thing is experience and a good portfolio. Most people struggle to get a break but you have (presumably) got the ideal opportunity as your mum can tutor/mentor you and offer you work experience.

I would speak to your mum and ask her if she'd take you on as an apprentice.
 
jon ryan said:
Hi Tacey, and welcome. :wave:

Frankly, the only qualification that holds water in photography is ability. Most of the people who employ photographers have little interest in anything on paper other than the quality of image. What area(s) are you interested in? Doing a course that will make you a better snapper is a good idea, so it may be of more worth to look at courses that can give you some sound training in the type of photography you'd prefer to work at. Also, consider that the wider your field of ability, the better are your chances of finding work.
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I'm glad to hear that what is on paper isn't overly important. :) I love most areas of photography, but in particular animals (pets) and scenery, and I've just recently purchased some macro filters so have been fiddling around with that, taking flower photos and stuff. I'm not hugely interested in people photography though.

Nawty said:
I could be wrong as I've never really looked into it but I don't think qualifications are overly important in photography (I'm surprised you can do a degree in photography, I'd have thought it would form a part in another arts degree?).

Yes you do have to understand photography, camera settings, artistic composition, lighting etc which you can do courses in but THE most important thing is experience and a good portfolio. Most people struggle to get a break but you have (presumably) got the ideal opportunity as your mum can tutor/mentor you and offer you work experience.

I would speak to your mum and ask her if she'd take you on as an apprentice.
Click to expand...

Problem is my mum mainly takes photos of children... really not my thing at all! She does teach me how to use my camera, but I couldn't do the job she does. Having her knowledge of running her own photography business is extremely helpful though.
 
Experience is experience is experience. For example, she could probably teach you how not to blow the highlights on black and white dogs, the theory is sound no matter what the subject :)

When you're starting out you really can't knock it, there are 1001 other people out there thinking exactly the same thing as you who would give their hind leg to have the opportunity.

Also, that's 1001 people who are in competition for your clients. Pro photography is not for the faint hearted and is definitely not an easy option (as nice as an idea it is).
 
A little foot note... if you want to do pet photography i think you will need to learn some people photography skills(portrait) because I would think most people, not all, will want pictures of themselves with their pet.

Just my 2p
 
Nawty said:
Experience is experience is experience. For example, she could probably teach you how not to blow the highlights on black and white dogs, the theory is sound no matter what the subject :)

When you're starting out you really can't knock it, there are 1001 other people out there thinking exactly the same thing as you who would give their hind leg to have the opportunity.

Also, that's 1001 people who are in competition for your clients. Pro photography is not for the faint hearted and is definitely not an easy option (as nice as an idea it is).
Click to expand...
This^
DorsetDude said:
A little foot note... if you want to do pet photography i think you will need to learn some people photography skills(portrait) because I would think most people, not all, will want pictures of themselves with their pet.

Just my 2p
Click to expand...
And This^

You have the best introduction to the industry under your nose. If you can't see the value in this you probably have no chance of gaining valuable information from anywhere. I apologise for sounding harsh, but every pro photographer learning the business would give an arm for the insight you're overlooking.

The obvious move would be to set up a sideline of the already (presumably) successful business shooting pets. Once you've got a foothold you could split the business back out.:thumbs:
 
Phil V said:
This^

And This^

You have the best introduction to the industry under your nose. If you can't see the value in this you probably have no chance of gaining valuable information from anywhere. I apologise for sounding harsh, but every pro photographer learning the business would give an arm for the insight you're overlooking.

The obvious move would be to set up a sideline of the already (presumably) successful business shooting pets. Once you've got a foothold you could split the business back out.:thumbs:
Click to expand...

I do see the value. I guess I was assuming that nowadays as you need qualifications for everything it would be the same with photography, but I'm seeing that isn't the case. :)
 
Tacey said:
I do see the value. I guess I was assuming that nowadays as you need qualifications for everything it would be the same with photography, but I'm seeing that isn't the case. :)
Click to expand...

I suppose it's so obvious to us that we never think about it.

About 90% of people who get a photography degree don't get a career in photography, and probably a similar percentage of 'professional' photographers don't have a degree in photography.:shrug:
 
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