Expert: Don Wood - 9/11/2008

Question
I'm looking to be a photographer one day, im a junior in high school and am looking around for a career for my life..and suggestions on picking photography? and how much does a photographer make now days?

Answer
Get all the education you can. Investigate the schools that offer photography either as a major of minor. Plan to incorporate some business classes into your curriculum. Go to the libraries and study the Fine Art and Photography books. Look at the pictures and try to figure how you could duplicate that picture. By doing this, you will develop your photographic eyes, an ability that will prevent you from taking 1000's of pix to get a few good ones. Study what the approximate exposure must have been, this will include shutter and f/stop settings.
A photographer can make a good living if he is knowledgeable about his craft, is careful with his business dealing, and is fortunate. Of 10 new photographers in a year, 7 will quit before the end of the year, 2 may last the second year, 1 may make it to a longer period of time. There are so many areas; advertising, sports including news and team photography, journalism, portraits, weddings, etc that each will have different levels of earnings available. So I can't say what you could earn.
The field of portrait/wedding photography is very easy to get into on a part-time basis as most of this work can and is done on weekends, evenings, etc.
I repeat, get all the education you can afford, if you can afford a school such as Brooks Institute, California, go for it. If you can only afford a state school, or trade school, go for it. Bear in mind that all professional photographers had to start from scratch just like you are doing. I commend you for trying to learn about the field prior to jumping into it. Set your goal for your life study and work, then work toward the goal. Stay focused on your dreams. Bear in mind that you may change your mind several times prior to graduation and you may even change careers after you graduate.
Good luck to you. If I can help further, please use this forum for a more specific question you'd like answering.
Don