One thing I have learned pretty quickly is that people with photography degrees (some of them-not ALL of them) seem to think they are above those that don't have a photography degree. Don't get me wrong-I realize everyone thinks they are a photographer these days-even the point and shooters. Every teenager with a Facebook and a Picasa download thinks they are a photographic artist. I get that.....
But what makes a great photographer is more about what's inside than what degree you have. It's about concepts and execution and vision and planning and recognizing the unplanned moments that are worthy of capturing.
Let's not forget that getting a degree in photography or photo journalism is a relatively new thing. Many of the "greats" in the world of photography (Ex: Ansel Adams, Peter Hurley) that are over 40, do not have a photography degree. If you want my honest opinion, a degree in photography is just another way for colleges to make you feel like everyone successful in life has to have a degree. Colleges probably realized they were missing out on this artistic group of people and culminated a way to get their money too.
Don't misunderstand, I know classes will teach you about ISO, Aperture, speed, how to take a great photo at high noon, lighting, shadow and lighting techniques, and a gamut of other things, but you could easily learn these on by taking a class from a working photographer-or a famous photographer through a workshop and even learn a lot on Youtube. For those that want to be great, education is not a limitation, it's a challenge to prove that you can be just as good as a guy with a 4 year degree.
One thing I think I bring to the table that makes me have a better eye for model and head shot photography is that since I was a child, I collected these pictures in magazines of models. I filled 7+ photo albums with collages of my favorite models, runway photos from magazines, faces of models with edgy make-up etc. My obsession as a kid to teenager was the fashion industry. I didn't want to be a model-I was obsessed with the photographs of models. So family photos for me are fun to shoot, but they are not my forte or my first love.
My son started an acting career at the age of 7 and since then I have really studied head shots so that I could take his head shots. So what makes a good head shot? I have looked up famous people and their working head shots and find out who took the photo. Then I would go to the website of the photographer and study what they do-how did they shoot it? Can I see the catch lights in the eye? is there a shadow? did they warm the picture? Cool it?
Now, I am studying photo shop. I watch countless videos on photo shop....and Lightroom.
I will be taking classes periodically. I do not undervalue the educational side of photography. There is a lot to be learned, but I think workshops with famous photographers are a better way to hone your craft than to sit in a class with a professor who didn't make it in the industry. Now I sound smug, don't I? I realize there are not many people who can work full time as a photographer-especially if you live anywhere but New York, LA, Chicago etc. Although I do know a few photographers in Kansas City who work full time doing freelance photography. It's hard, but it's not impossible.
My plan is to take a basic class in the fall from a photography studio, then take a workshop in the fall also with several famous photographers that are coming to Kansas City for a weekend workshop, and eventually in the next year, head to LA to take a class from world famous head shot photographer; Peter Hurley.
Becoming great takes time. I am only in my late 30's. I have plenty of time to improve. I don't see myself as a family photographer, or a baby photographer or a wedding photographer or senior photographer in the long run. I see myself as a head shot and modeling photographer because that is where my passion is. I am also really into capturing emotion of vulnerable people. Street shots are something I am interested in-people in the streets. People being themselves in a vulnerable way.
I do enjoy taking photos of my family and friends be it family photos, senior photos, babies etc, but my 5 year plan is to get myself imbedded in the fashion or actor photography industry.
I know some smug photographer with a degree will read this and laugh. I may not even be using the right lingo, but people probably laughed at Rush Limbaugh, (dropped out of college) Glenn Beck, (only 1 college class) Charles Culpepor, owner and CEO of Coca Cola, who dropped out of high school, and the hundreds of other people who made it to the top without a degree. Success comes from within. How bad do you want it? How much time (and money) are you willing to invest in it?
I have time. I am willing and I invest every dollar I make back into my photography business. So to all the smug photographers who look down on us "hobbyists" you only make us work harder to prove you wrong.
Recently, I shot photos for some people who were with a modeling school and two different model and actor agencies and the agencies and school have asked who took the photos because "they are really good". These are professionals who see hundreds of head shots and modeling portfolios come through their offices on a regular basis. So I must be doing something right!
But what makes a great photographer is more about what's inside than what degree you have. It's about concepts and execution and vision and planning and recognizing the unplanned moments that are worthy of capturing.
Let's not forget that getting a degree in photography or photo journalism is a relatively new thing. Many of the "greats" in the world of photography (Ex: Ansel Adams, Peter Hurley) that are over 40, do not have a photography degree. If you want my honest opinion, a degree in photography is just another way for colleges to make you feel like everyone successful in life has to have a degree. Colleges probably realized they were missing out on this artistic group of people and culminated a way to get their money too.
Don't misunderstand, I know classes will teach you about ISO, Aperture, speed, how to take a great photo at high noon, lighting, shadow and lighting techniques, and a gamut of other things, but you could easily learn these on by taking a class from a working photographer-or a famous photographer through a workshop and even learn a lot on Youtube. For those that want to be great, education is not a limitation, it's a challenge to prove that you can be just as good as a guy with a 4 year degree.
One thing I think I bring to the table that makes me have a better eye for model and head shot photography is that since I was a child, I collected these pictures in magazines of models. I filled 7+ photo albums with collages of my favorite models, runway photos from magazines, faces of models with edgy make-up etc. My obsession as a kid to teenager was the fashion industry. I didn't want to be a model-I was obsessed with the photographs of models. So family photos for me are fun to shoot, but they are not my forte or my first love.
My son started an acting career at the age of 7 and since then I have really studied head shots so that I could take his head shots. So what makes a good head shot? I have looked up famous people and their working head shots and find out who took the photo. Then I would go to the website of the photographer and study what they do-how did they shoot it? Can I see the catch lights in the eye? is there a shadow? did they warm the picture? Cool it?
Now, I am studying photo shop. I watch countless videos on photo shop....and Lightroom.
I will be taking classes periodically. I do not undervalue the educational side of photography. There is a lot to be learned, but I think workshops with famous photographers are a better way to hone your craft than to sit in a class with a professor who didn't make it in the industry. Now I sound smug, don't I? I realize there are not many people who can work full time as a photographer-especially if you live anywhere but New York, LA, Chicago etc. Although I do know a few photographers in Kansas City who work full time doing freelance photography. It's hard, but it's not impossible.
My plan is to take a basic class in the fall from a photography studio, then take a workshop in the fall also with several famous photographers that are coming to Kansas City for a weekend workshop, and eventually in the next year, head to LA to take a class from world famous head shot photographer; Peter Hurley.
Becoming great takes time. I am only in my late 30's. I have plenty of time to improve. I don't see myself as a family photographer, or a baby photographer or a wedding photographer or senior photographer in the long run. I see myself as a head shot and modeling photographer because that is where my passion is. I am also really into capturing emotion of vulnerable people. Street shots are something I am interested in-people in the streets. People being themselves in a vulnerable way.
I do enjoy taking photos of my family and friends be it family photos, senior photos, babies etc, but my 5 year plan is to get myself imbedded in the fashion or actor photography industry.
I know some smug photographer with a degree will read this and laugh. I may not even be using the right lingo, but people probably laughed at Rush Limbaugh, (dropped out of college) Glenn Beck, (only 1 college class) Charles Culpepor, owner and CEO of Coca Cola, who dropped out of high school, and the hundreds of other people who made it to the top without a degree. Success comes from within. How bad do you want it? How much time (and money) are you willing to invest in it?
I have time. I am willing and I invest every dollar I make back into my photography business. So to all the smug photographers who look down on us "hobbyists" you only make us work harder to prove you wrong.
Recently, I shot photos for some people who were with a modeling school and two different model and actor agencies and the agencies and school have asked who took the photos because "they are really good". These are professionals who see hundreds of head shots and modeling portfolios come through their offices on a regular basis. So I must be doing something right!