AboutJoe Appel Expertise I can answer questions related to many areas of photography, but most specifically relating to photojournalism. I can also offer advice on using digital and 35mm cameras, Adobe Photoshop, and digital photography in general. Once upon a time I was pretty good in a darkroom too.
Experience I have been a staff photographer for a major metropolitan newspaper group (over 100,000 circulation) for 12 years. Concurrently, I have maintained a freelance photography business.
Organizations belong to National Press Photographers Association
Publications Rolling Stone, USA Today, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Palm Beach Post, New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Super Street Bike, Motorcyclist, Sport Rider, Cycle World, Roadracing World, T.W.O. (Two Wheels Only), the ABA Journal.
Expert: Joe Appel Date: 9/11/2006 Subject: photography school
Question Hi Joe,
Sorry if this my be boring or too long but i need help on a decision on school.
I Graduated from a college of earning a Associates degree in Equine Studies and i really thought about wanting to be a equine photographer. I started taking two photography classes. One at my first school and another class at kent state . I decided i didn;t want to attend kent state anymore and found a better school to just focus on photography only.
I really want to go back to school and get a bachelors degree in photography. My mom thinks looking for a photo job having someone to pay me to be train to be a photographer would be better then going to school. I understand school is expensive, but I would want to know is it always practical if one should have a degree in photography to take pictures of people and pets of knowing they are with a well trained photographer with a background of a good photography degree? I know little about business in photography. I know little what would be the best look for the subject and i want to beable to answer questions from my costumers.
Answer Shelley,
You're looking to get into photography as a freelancer instead of as an employee, right?
In that case you'll be contacting art directors at equine magazines and showing them your photos. Honestly, they don't care whether you've got a degree. What they want is someone who can provide them with photos to their standards in a timely and reliable fashion.
On the other hand, going to a bachelors degree program is a great way to learn the craft. Depending on what school you go to you will make contacts that will help you as you start out.
So you've got a couple of options. Either start out by assisting a good commercial photographer. That would mean watching how they approach their job of photography as well as the business and marketing sides of their job.
Or you could look into bachelors degree programs at places like Ohio, Western Kentucky, or Rochester Institute of Technology.
I went to an associates degree program that is part of Daytona Beach Community College. It's now called the Southeast Museum School of Photography. I already had a bachelors degree so I didn't feel like four more years of school would benefit me at that point.
Things have worked out for me, but you've got to take time and explore the options you've got and make an individual decision. Talk to lots of people, visit schools, and don't make your decision in a vacuum.
