and often encourage (or require) specialization in a specific aspect of photography, such as digital or advertising photography.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nBefore pursuing formal education, however, would-be photographers must consider:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n- The cost of obtaining a degree<\/span><\/li>
- Time spent in classes<\/span><\/li>
- Courses that don\u2019t adapt as quickly to changes in the field<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
On the flip side, those that do attend college in pursuit of a photography degree can benefit from:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Networking and connections<\/span><\/li>
- Internships<\/span><\/li>
- A more well-rounded education, such as time dedicated to learning history, craft, and theory<\/span><\/li>
- A professional certificate or college degree<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Formal education helps open doors of opportunity for those that graduate a photography program. In this way, it may be easier for them to find a job or branch into another field, like teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSelf-Taught Education for Photographers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In contrast to a structured education, self-taught photographers are not bound by any one path or curriculum. Instead, they can pursue their passion for photography immediately after (and even before) high school graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nBy following a self-directed regimen, photographers can focus on a particular specialization. They may also choose to attend a technical school aimed entirely at developing photography skills. From there, experience can be earned in real-world situations: on the job, either as an intern, employee, freelancer, or self-employed business owner.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nSelf-taught photographers miss out on:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Earning a degree in photography<\/span><\/li>
- A structured learning curriculum, such as courses in theory and history<\/span><\/li>
- Access to experts and equipment found in a college setting<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In contrast, self-taught photographers:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Gain real-world experience<\/span><\/li>
- Can begin their career immediately<\/span><\/li>
- May adapt to the ever-changing landscape of photography<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Self-taught photographers hone their skills through trial and error, with less guidance than those who attend school. For many, the ability to be in control of their own destiny is well-worth the trade-offs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nChoosing Formal Education or a Self-Guided Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Between a formal education or self-guided education, which choice is best for a would-be photographer?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt depends.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nEither choice brings its fair share of pros and cons. What ultimately matters is choosing a path that complements your lifestyle, finances, and goals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are merits to being, or hiring, either type of photographer. Passion for photography and a desire to continually hone and improve your craft will take you far, no matter the path you choose to walk.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Do Photographers Need College Degrees? Novice photographers are often faced with two choices before embarking on a professional career path: attend school or learn as they go. There\u2019s no one right answer. Every photographer has a unique situation and set of goals. Some novices may not be able to afford college tuition, while others may […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2360"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wremedia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}