Graphic/Web design and photography: Do they go together?

I recently graduated with a Bachelors in History and am trying to decide what I want to pursue as a career. I've always been artistically inclined but at someone between now and when I was younger I gravitated away from the arts and into sports and then back and forth with sports and music. There isn't much I can do with a BA in history, so I have considered getting a teaching certificate once I move to Chicago next year. But, there's a part of me that thinks I'm just settling for teaching since.

So, I'm curios, if I got a Masters in graphic or web design, how much time could I dedicate to my photography and could the two fields be connected? I want to focus and dedicate as much time as possible to my photography and make it take me places. Does anyone here have any experience with these types of degrees or fields of work?

I've been a graphic designer for about 17 years. Dabbled in some web design for about 10 years. and am just getting myself deeper into photography (past 3 years). Do they go together? Hell yeah! I would prefer to take my own stock photo images as opposed to buying an online subscription, or sell my stock photos online with a company. I'm getting rather burnt out in computer design work and would like to extend myself further with photography.

I'm not a people/wedding photographer so there are a lot of things that coincide with each other between graphic/web and photography.

do I have degrees in any of them? All I have is a very late Associates degree in visual communication that I only received 2 years ago. Just wanted a notch on my belt.
I also work for a newspaper, so I'm a creative designer but having photography knowledge, I am able to help out reps with product shots for an ad.

Do what you love to do. Do what you feel passionate about. For me, I was or maybe still am, passionate about designing but my photography is starting to flow over that.

um duh. great for making your logo and web design d:

aussiedee wrote in post #12867513
I've been a graphic designer for about 17 years. Dabbled in some web design for about 10 years. and am just getting myself deeper into photography (past 3 years). Do they go together? Hell yeah! I would prefer to take my own stock photo images as opposed to buying an online subscription, or sell my stock photos online with a company. I'm getting rather burnt out in computer design work and would like to extend myself further with photography.

I'm not a people/wedding photographer so there are a lot of things that coincide with each other between graphic/web and photography.

do I have degrees in any of them? All I have is a very late Associates degree in visual communication that I only received 2 years ago. Just wanted a notch on my belt.
I also work for a newspaper, so I'm a creative designer but having photography knowledge, I am able to help out reps with product shots for an ad.

Do what you love to do. Do what you feel passionate about. For me, I was or maybe still am, passionate about designing but my photography is starting to flow over that.

Thanks for the info! I really dig things that designed cleverly and interestingly. But, photography is my MAIN passion. I gave up playing music for this. So, because of that, my main concern here is that the design aspect would override the photography and take away from my time to focus on shooting.

don't give up playing music for photography, that's a terrible idea. i do both. keep a guitar or piano or whatever it is around, it's great stress relief.

^^^ +1

Never give up one for another. You CAN do both if you manage your time. I'm not a professional photographer so I can't tell you how hard it would be to do the job full-time unless you were great at it. Also, I can tell you first hand that doing something you love passionately and doing it as a job, tends to take away from that passion. I love designing.... if it's for myself or as a favour for someone but... when you get paid and are forced to do it can be a big turn off.

Think twice about giving up something you love to do. and you CAN do both

They easily go hand-in-hand. As stated above, a lot of guys with a hobby of photography will take their own pictures for their design work. A lot of people also make their own brushes by painting or drawing etc. and importing them into PS to make digital versions.

StayLucky wrote in post #12867379
I recently graduated with a Bachelors in History and am trying to decide what I want to pursue as a career. I've always been artistically inclined but at someone between now and when I was younger I gravitated away from the arts and into sports and then back and forth with sports and music. There isn't much I can do with a BA in history, so I have considered getting a teaching certificate once I move to Chicago next year. But, there's a part of me that thinks I'm just settling for teaching since.

So, I'm curios, if I got a Masters in graphic or web design, how much time could I dedicate to my photography and could the two fields be connected? I want to focus and dedicate as much time as possible to my photography and make it take me places. Does anyone here have any experience with these types of degrees or fields of work?

I am a graphic/web designer and have been one for a little over 15 years. I spent 8+ years at local university studying Visual Communication and don't have a degree. Yet I managed to land some well known gigs in town to work on their branding/marketing they hired me based on my portfolio.

In graphic/web design field, portfolio is EVERYTHING. If you don't have strong pieces demonstrating your design expertise then it will be tough landing certain gigs. As far as photography goes - it's an entirely different field that also requires LOTS of studying/research. Just because someone can snap pictures with inexpensive digital camera does not mean he/she is a photographer. If you have passion for photography, I suggest maybe you get a degree in photography?

Personally I am graphic designer by day time and a beginner photographer by weekends. Photography for me atm is a hobby and one day maybe I'll get a degree in photography. I found myself to be obsessed with photography lately. Capturing life/life moments is a LOT more fun than trying to convince a client why their clip art logo that their cousin "designed" for them isn't working for their business.

alexdesign wrote in post #12868672
Capturing life/life moments is a LOT more fun than trying to convince a client why their clip art logo that their cousin "designed" for them isn't working for their business.

OMG that struck my funny bone..... so on the mark!

StayLucky wrote in post #12867379
So, I'm curios, if I got a Masters in graphic or web design, how much time could I dedicate to my photography and could the two fields be connected? I want to focus and dedicate as much time as possible to my photography and make it take me places. Does anyone here have any experience with these types of degrees or fields of work?

Works for me. I don't know if you need the degrees (i'm sure they help), but I don't have any.

For a particular sports facility, I am parlaying spec photography into exclusive photographer/ logo re-branding and web site guy. Instead of working all this out individually, I will be contracted on a retainer per month for track photographer (of which I still have the right to sell images privately), I update the web page with results and schedules and if I design a new banner or similar, I get it printed and add margin. It's a great deal for me.

Another benefit is you basically start your own stock archive and draw on that for your design work.

I've always thought in the back of my mind that if photography is my passion, then that's what needs to be focused on. I just don't know how to go about getting SOME SORT of degree that will enable me to do it.

Im actually headed into design school myself... My first thought on the school isnt really the degree in the end. What I feel Im getting out of the school is hands on professional training. Ive been doing graphic design/photography work for awhile now, but I know theres features Im not using or a ideas Im not taking advantage of that this formal training can help me out with. Once Im done, Im sure the degree will help me prove to others Im legit and hopefully they will want to take a look at my portfolio. I know my portfolio should speak for itself, but I think the formal training will help once Im through with school. Goodluck!