School vs Learning as you go.

[jptsr1]

I'm interested in how the pros on this board got to the pro level. i was going to post this question in the "how you got started" thread but i didn't want to risk hi-jacking it. also, my question is a bit different. i want to know how many of you pros have some sort of formal education in photography. I'm talking about beyond the occasional workshop or distance learning course. anyone have a photography related degree or was it just a culmination of trial and error experiences with a healthy amount of practice that got you where you are?

J.

[PhotosGuy]

I had a general background of amateur shooting, but finding a job as a assistant in a commercial automotive studio is the route that I took & I learned more targeted info from that in 6 months than any class I took at university. Then it's up to you what you do with it. Classes in business, marketing, accounting, etc would be of benefit to you, but you can always hire that out.

[mspringfield]

Classes are good to give you the basics but there is no substitute for experience. There are some things that you just can't teach.

Michael

[Vegas Poboy]

Started on my own and wanted more, so I started going to school to learn the basics, afterwards with taking small jobs and still attending school its been great. Overall you never stop learning.

[dzstudios]

You can always build up experience - but you wont always have the opportunity to get a degree/qualification. If you have the opportunity to go to school, DO IT.

Apart from learning the basics etc. you ALSO get something invaluable: a very good NETWORKING and EXPOSURE opportunity: you will be exhibiting with the school, you will probably compete with other schools, your classmates will one day be fellow photographers, you will have professional speakers... You will have several years or more of producing work to a brief... and getting feedback... you will GROW and learn CONFIDENCE... you will see how OTHERS work (so you can beat them when youre competing for business).

On top of that, you will have the opportunity to work with MANY different types of kit and media. YOu will have have the school's resources at your fingertips for a few years. Studio lights... high-end computers... or use cameras which you will NEVER get to use once you buy your own kit.

Not to mention working with OTHER departments at the school - performing arts (shooting opportunities) - visual arts - etc.

Its much harder to go out there and just 'do it' without any of these things which comes for free with a photographic course.