Photography Degree? No or Yes?

[Kudos2Fly]

I have been thinking of going for a Photography Degree on line. Mainly in Digital Photography. I found a school out in CA-Academy of Art University that does a online digital photography degree.

My questions is do I need a degree for someone to pay attention to me if in the future I wish to get a job? Or can I just get good through camera clubs and just promote on my own?

I know this is a hard questions for people to answer, but I'm looking for what other people have done. Or what looks good if someone wants to hire me.

Kim

[Moments]

I don't know much about on line degrees of any sort, but if it gives you assignments and challenges you normally would not either think of or try, it might be a good thing depending upon the cost.

I did spend 1 year in a collage with photography as my major, and at the end of the 2nd term, I thought a photography school would be better. I then spent 2 years at a photography trade school in Rhode Island. Back then as a 19 year old in 1983, I did learn some things, but I did spend a lot of time having fun. I did come out of school with a portfolio and certificate from the school to show when looking for work.

My schooling came up in my first interview for about 5 min, then the portfolio came out. I got the job as an assistant in a large studio. I stayed there for 3 years, and when I did go on other interviews, only my work expierence and portfolio is what all were interested in.

When I had potential assistants or photographers come to see me when I was hiring for a busy studio, I was only interested in thier work expirence and portfolio. I did not really get star struck when people said to me that they went to RIT, or Brooks Int. etc. I was only looking at the work in thier books and what they have done in the real world. Thier attitude, passion, trainability, and sensibility was also a big part of my hiring decisions.

If you can get a job as a working assistant, and you are able to test and shoot as well as learn from working photographers, I would take that over school. I believe that it is also the job of a photographer to help in the training of assistants. It has to be a balance of training and no nonsense work between photographers and assistants.

[Kudos2Fly]

What you two said helps me out alot as far what I want to do. If I decide to do the college thing it will not be untell next year. So I have time to look for a school that will give me what I need. Thanks for your ideals.

Kim

[DaveG]

Photography tends to be one of those fields where people think that they can pick up the required expertise on the side. Many do. I have for example; but I also know there's holes in my self-education that you could drive a truck through.

How many romance novels use the device of the "burned out financial executive" who settles in the small town, becomes a photographer, and meets the beautiful librarian. He has no photographic education, no gear and doesn't eat sleep and breath photography. He does end up with the librarian - who's rich as well as beautiful! Now in a romance novel who cares but I think that there's a certain segment of people who belive it, even without the librarian.

No one in their right mind would go to a doctor who skipped med school and for self evident reasons. And yet doctors - even after a Yale Med School level of education - have years of training - an apprenticeship really - before they "finish" their education. No one says that the Med School part stands on its own, nor the apprenticeship part. And I think that's true for photography or any profession.

School, apprenticeship, journeyman, master.

My suggestion is to visit as many photography schools as you can and talk to the students, not the faculty. From the students you'll get an idea of the worth of the school and where it's taking them as photographers. Then talk to someone who graduated from the school a decade before.

A few years ago I was drinking beer with a bunch of other photojournalists and this summer intern kid was just bitching about his school. He wanted to this this, and they were teaching him that. Yadda yadda ... Finally the shooter sitting next to him said, "Is all of that stuff that they're teaching you in the university calandar?" "Yes it is." "Well shut the F___ up."

Now I think that he went to a great school, but it wasn't what he wanted, at least when he was 21. Now that he's 30 I wonder if some of the stuff that was a "waste of time" is the foundation of something he builds on every day.

[NGrinerPhoto]

i have one though i probably learned more on the job than in the classroom

it has gotten my foot in the door to show my portfolio though

[mwillems]

I am also looking for a part-time course, ideally a degree course. Since I live, eat, breathe photography as a major hobby, and have done for 30 years, I want to be able to do it well, and to fill in my truck-sized holes too. I am dying to do it - and yet can find no courses. The local college has evening courses that have 50% darkroom time (really not interested anymore!) and the online courses I have found seem tacky ("get a degree in 7 days". Yeah right.)

Any suggestions anyone? I have evenings and weekends buyt I travel a lot. I am willing to spend major time (and indeed, money) on this for the number of years that it takes. Suggestions welcome... for instance if anyone has found any GOOD online courses, or Toronto-based courses etc.

Oh and of course I am doing it not for the degree (got one already:-) but for the learning!

[DaveG]

I am also looking for a part-time course, ideally a degree course. Since I live, eat, breathe photography as a major hobby, and have done for 30 years, I want to be able to do it well, and to fill in my truck-sized holes too. I am dying to do it - and yet can find no courses. The local college has evening courses that have 50% darkroom time (really not interested anymore!) and the online courses I have found seem tacky ("get a degree in 7 days". Yeah right.)

Any suggestions anyone? I have evenings and weekends buyt I travel a lot. I am willing to spend major time (and indeed, money) on this for the number of years that it takes. Suggestions welcome... for instance if anyone has found any GOOD online courses, or Toronto-based courses etc.

Oh and of course I am doing it not for the degree (got one already:-) but for the learning!


If you haven't done so take a course in Photoshop. THAT all by itself will improve your photography. A continuing education course should be readily available either from a Community college or just a municipal "interest course" association.

If you are looking at photography as a recreation then join something that has an outlet for your work. An amateur organization would be the thing as long as it has frequent meetings and shows. A lot of those groups will be transistioning from slide film to digital so ask questions. With a group like that they'd either offer newbie courses themselves or could certainly point you in the right direction. Around here (Nova Scotia) there's an organization called Photo Guild that would do the trick and it has sister organizations in every province.

[SHU]

I agree with Bloodog, a recognized school is the way to go, unless this is just a hobby.

[Kudos2Fly]

MWilliems thats what I'm looking for. I found a college out in CA that offers a 2, 4, and Master Degrees in Digital Photography all over the internet. For me thats sound to good to be true. But I'm going to be calling them to find out more. Its called Academy of Art Unversity.

[NGrinerPhoto]

make sure that it is accredited

[cmM]

the Academy of Art University in San Francisco is not some lost in space community college. It IS accredited, and it's a very good school.

http://www.academyart.edu/

[Kudos2Fly]

Thanks cmM, thats good to know. I just called and getting info from them.

Kim