A Career in Photography

In a global marketplace of images, photographs speak. As such, students in the U.S. and internationally are hungry to be professional photographers, and many are wondering what opportunities exist in the photographic industry and how to get there.

There are endless career opportunities available to someone with a photographic education. Graduates just out of photography school generally start off assisting established professional photographers while building their own businesses. Well-prepared and driven recent graduates are freelancers, often starting their own businesses and/or operating their own studios immediately after school. There are several fields in photography, and a photographer with a strong technical and artistic education as well as dedication should be able to find a niche for himself/herself in any of them. These fields may be broken down into the following general areas:

• Advertising and Commercial photography: This involves producing images for advertising and promotional purposes, and typically involves a lot of product shooting and/or controlled studio or location shoots.
• Editorial and Corporate photography: This field involves producing images, typically of people or places, that will be used in magazines, company annual reports, editorial articles, etc. The images in editorial photography do the same thing that an editorial in a newspaper would do—they express an opinion about the subject (being photographed).
• Architectural photography: This field involves creating images of spaces—buildings, interiors, skylines—in short, architecture. Generally a commercial field, images are primarily produced for magazines in some capacity or as promotional tools.
• Digital Arts: Digital imaging has become the mainstay of the photographic industry. Digital Arts is a field that incorporates the fine art of image-making with the latest Adobe Photoshop and imaging techniques. Photographers in this field have the skills to work both commercially and artistically.
• Portraiture and Wedding photography: This field involves producing images of people and sometimes their pets. Clients are generally hiring a portrait or wedding photographer to record a moment in their personal history—a family portrait, a wedding, a 50th wedding anniversary, etc.
• Fashion photography: This field is similar to portraiture photography, but is highly stylized. It is a mix of portraiture, editorial, and advertising photography.
• Photojournalism: This field deals with content-oriented, visual storytelling. Typically, photojournalists are news or sports photographers working in still images, audio recording, and video.
• Fine Art photography: This field focuses on making art for exhibition in galleries and museums.
• Documentary photography: This field allows for the visual investigation of contemporary issues. It is a cross between photojournalism and editorial photography and generally draws those wanting to explore social and personal issues through their images.

The first step to becoming a professional photographer is getting the right photographic education. Choosing a photography school can be a daunting task. Important factors to consider in choosing the right school for you are:

1. How long has the photography program at the school been in existence and where are its alumni? It's important to know that you will be attending a school that has expertise in educating photographers. Time in existence is a one way to look at that. Another important factor is to ask about the alumni—where are they? What are they doing? Are they succeeding in photography?

2. Is there a career services department? A strong career services department reaches out to students while they are in school—offering extra-curricular educational and professional opportunities, internships, etc. that help to build a résumé and enhance one's photographic education and experience. Be sure your school offers placement assistance to graduates.

3. How long is the program and are you able to immerse yourself 100% in photography from day one or must you meet other requirements before delving into what you love? A good photography program must be long enough for you to develop a strong foundation in the technical aspects of photography, explore your creativity and hone your artistic skills, concentrate on mastering one or two areas in which you would like to focus your career, and allow you to learn the business skills necessary to succeed in the industry. In investigating a school, really look at the content of the courses and make a judgment as to whether or not that content can be accomplished in the length of courses indicated. Be cautious when considering programs less than a year long to ensure you are getting the depth and breadth of the photographic education you will require to succeed as a professional.

4. Is the faculty made up entirely of professional photographers who are CURRENTLY working in the field of photography? Your teachers should be active in the area they are teaching—the industry evolves so quickly that you will want instructors who keep up with it so the knowledge they impart to you is relevant.

5. What is the mission of the school and is the school accredited? If you are seeking a career as a working professional photographer, you should be sure that the school's goal is to produce working professional photographers. This sounds elementary, but many schools focus solely on art theory and neglect to prepare students for the realities of the current photographic market. Others focus heavily on the technical aspects of photography and neglect to educate creative visual artists. Look for a balance. Accredited schools must consistently meet high quality educational standards and can make financial aid available to qualified applicants.

6. Does the school offer a comprehensive photographic education, including an artistic, technical, and business education? A well-rounded education is best achieved by being exposed to the widest possible variety of opinions and experiences. Be sure you are getting a solid education in the art, technique, and business of photography. Look for a range of electives and/or concentrations. Be sure your program offers you choices appropriate for your career goals.

7. Where is the school located, and will its location offer diverse photographic opportunities? Being located in a major city is vital to the photography student who wants a well-rounded education and a diverse life experience. Larger cities typically offer countless photographic resources, galleries, museums, photo-retailers, higher concentrations of other students and many other places that add to a student's educational experience.

8. What is the atmosphere at the school? In short, is it somewhere where you will fit? Do you feel comfortable touring the school? Is the admissions process a positive experience for you? Are you inspired by the school, its students, and its staff?

9. Lastly, but most importantly: Look at the images produced by the students. Nothing is a greater testimony to the photography program you are researching than the work of the students and recent graduates coming from it. Are the images professional, diverse, personal, and unique?

If photography is your passion, pursue it. There is nothing better than waking up each day to do what you love.

Editorial provided by Alison Geehan, Vice President, New England School of Photography (NESOP), Boston, MA, Accredited by The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).