There are many courses on photography available both online as well as offline. These can guide you on the technical aspects of photography so the finished photographs are of professional standards. The information courses available on our site are a class apart because they discuss a wide variety of topics and combine practical sessions with theoretical aspects.
Qualifications needed:
If you are interested in pursuing a career in photography the most important aspects to build on are your networking skills and your overall experience.
The more experienced a photographer is the more chances of him or her getting work. Technical aspects are indeed important as otherwise the photographs will not be of a good quality.
You could opt for a university or college course in the specialized segment of photography that interests you. A better option would be to enrol in an online course such as the list of courses available on our site because not only is it cheaper but you can schedule classes as per your own convenience and pace, unlike an offline college course.
Apart from the technical aspects of learning photography, you would need to opt for a program that provides you with work placement opportunities. This way, after course completion you can work as an assistant and gain experience practically.
Types of degrees offered:
There are many types of degrees offered today with respect to photography. There are full-time as well as part time courses available across universities and colleges.
The range of certifications extends from foundation degrees, to Guilds and City Diplomas, A-level degrees like HND BTEC etc. These A-level degrees may require candidates to have a foundation course as a basis to gain entrance or some other equivalent A-level course.
Courses you can benefit from:
Certain courses specifically equip you with techniques to become a successful photographer in the real world. These include courses that provide you with contacts from the industry whom you can contact for future work.
There are also courses available, which offer placement to candidates once the course is completed. No matter which course you are opting for, always ensure that the course syllabus is comprehensive and that it encompasses practical sessions as well. The information on list of course modules covers various aspects of photography such as landscape, basic photography aspects, digital photography as well as freelance photography issues.
Getting work:
One of the foremost things on any aspiring photographer’s mind should be on getting more work. This is the only way to build on your credentials and portfolio.
Most acclaimed photographers have begun their careers as assistant photographers. This is the conventional method of starting out as you get more experience in the real world scenario this way. You get to add on more work to your portfolio and learn new aspects about photography while working.
If you wish to start as an assistant, you could contact photography studios or professional photographers and ask them for work. Press photography is another segment altogether, which requires a degree in photojournalism.
Since this is a creative segment there are not too many qualifications that you can get. Instead, the focus should be on getting more work, experience and building on contacts.