Expert: Don Wood - 4/17/2007

Question
Taking pictures is something i love to do and was wondering what and if any schooling is needed to pursue this type of career.

Answer
If you love to do something is important. However, you need to have more than just a love for photography. The more training you can get the better, not just in photography, you must develop your people skills, your sense of what is the most important viewpoint for your photos. I recommend that you get as much training in business as you can. Photography is not just taking pictures and getting decent exposures, with the automatic cameras of today, anyone can master the technical side. Get as much as you can, the completion of college demonstrates to the prospective employer that you have the knowledge of how to learn and what it takes to succeed. Business courses will be extremely helpful as it's not enough to merely charge twice the lab charge, you've got to include your training, mileage, length of time spent in getting the picture, these are all part of the expenses. Sometimes, its even the clothes if you have to dress up.
There are schools which will give you the technical training you will need. Use your favorite search engine and ask for photographic schools.
I wish you the best of luck, please use this forum to ask your questions.
Thanks, Don