AboutSteve Meltzer Expertise I am a professional photographer and I've been shooting for newspapers, magazines, commercial clients and artists for over 30 years.
I have shot stock photography for dozens of years and in 1977 created West Stock (Seattle, WA) which was one of the first to produce stock photo CDs and later one of the first to establish an online stock photo slaes site.
I have a new book on digital photography "PHOTOGRAPHING ARTS, CRAFTS AND COLLECTIBLES (Lark Books, 2007)which is available at Amazon.com, eBay.com and in bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Borders. I have another book, CAPTURE THE LIGHT which will be puiblished in November, 2008.
I write 20-30 feature articles and columns for regional and national publications a year.
My education includes studying with photographers like Cornell Capa, Duane Michels and Oliver Gagliani (from the Ansel Adams Center.)
Expert: Steve Meltzer Date: 4/28/2008 Subject: Correspondence Schools
Question Hi Steve,
Unfortunately at my young age of 55, I do not have the time nor monetary means to go to college whether it is full or part time to learn more about my favorite hobby: Photography. However, I am seriously considering taking my hobby to the next level and want to try to earn some income doing portraits and maybe occasionally sell a nice landscape shot.
I have found what seems to be the two most popular correspondence schools; The NY Institute of Photography and The Photography Institute. Have you run into anyone who seems to prefer one over the other? Any critiques of either school?
Thanks for your input.
Joe
Answer Joe
I don't have experience with either correspondence course school so I can't tell you which one is better.
But my question to you is why do you want to go that route? There are plenty of good photo guides that can get you started in portraiture. They can get you started with gear and lighting and then its up to you. What I did was offer to do free shots for families and for models until I got my portrait work tight enough to sell.
As for landscape photos, good luck! Everyone takes those and except for ocassionally selling them in your own town there little or no market you could get into. Too many very heavy hitters in landscape.
I studied photography by taking courses in school and signing up for workshops. Consider checking for workshops in your town. Its the personal contact with a pro that will help you not the long distance of a correspondence school.
