Expert: Don Wood - 10/6/2004

Question
Hello,
I am planning on going into the field of photography as my career choice, and I am wondering what type of education I should persue.  I wonder if I should go right to a university, or begin at a community college first.  Or should I do both?  Also, I have never taken any photography classes, so would it be a good idea to enroll in one while I am still in high school?  Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, Melinda

Answer
Depending upon your circumstances, I would recommend the best education you can get. A university education would give you a very well-rounded education giving you some of the people skills you will need to pursue your career. If your high school has a photography course, by all means, try it out, you may find that the field is really not for you. Perhaps you could go to a community college for some courses prior to graduation. Photography can be a field that seems to be rather easy to pursue. Your camera does the work, it allows you to produce a good, usable picture without much work on your part. This is the reason why many publishers of small-town papers think that they can put a camera in the hands of a reporter and get two jobs done for the price of one. And in many cases, they're right. Bear in mind that of every 10 that start in the field, 8 may last a year or two, 1 may last longer, and one may really make itinto the big-time. You will need to develop your people-skills, directing people to do something can be frustrating if they really don't want to do it. You will need to develop your business sense so that you don't just base your prices on film and processing but including, transportation, appearance (clothes), down time when you don't have an assignment, building up a saving account for retirement, and various and sundry other expenses. I do wish you luck. You have the rest of your life to decide what you wish to do. You may change career choices two or three times before you retire. But your education will brand you as a person that is willing and able to learn prior to going on the job. Your college credentials will always be with you and are part of you. So do the very best you can so that these credentials reflect the true you. If you have further questions I will be glad to help.
Don