Photography is not just about expensive cameras and taking cool pictures, it is more than that. Humanity developed a device that was able to capture time on a piece of paper. I’d say it is one of the marvellous inventions ever to be made. In simple terms, it is the camera that made something like capturing a moment in time possible. Someone rightly said, “A picture is worth a thousand words“. Choosing your career in photography you get to tell people stories in a more beautiful way than you can describe to them.
Let’s talk about photography as a career. Photography is one of those few careers that people choose after trying it and experiencing the immense joy they get while clicking beautiful pictures. No photographer is ever forced to become one, unlike many other professions where people directly or indirectly influence you to choose your profession. This being said we can establish that Photographers are always true to their work, which they don’t even consider work it becomes their life.
We all know how charming of a career a photographer can have however since it is not a very cliché profession people might not know the right things to do in the right manner. So first of all you need to have a beautiful vision of not only the pictures you click but also of how you will manage your business. Because you are not straight away getting a contract from a company, since there are no on-campus placements. This is why you need to prove yourself every time and have a vision for your business. Secondly, you need to get the right education. Yes, becoming a photographer indeed has nothing to do with a degree and you can learn stuff anywhere be it online, photography talks, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, etc. Though having a certificate or degree from a reputed institute increases your chances of getting into a community and it also strengthens your career. Some of the best photography courses are:
Associate Degree in Photography:
Associate Degree in Photography is a two-year program that focuses on the artistry and technical sides of photography. There are even theory-based classrooms. To get into the course you need a high school diploma, a camera, and basic knowledge of using a Windows or Mac computer.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography also known as BFA Photography is a 3-5 year full-time program. To get into this course you need to have a passing certificate of class 12th and you need to clear an entrance exam that checks a candidate’s creative visualization, aesthetic sense, passion, and interest in photography.
Master’s Degree in Photography:
Master’s Degree in Photography is a 3 semester or 1.5 years program that requires a completed bachelor’s degree in art, design, or media. It helps you gain great practical experience and theoretical knowledge of photography.
Various Online Courses:
Apart from these, there are also online photography courses that will help you in your career. Post-production plays a very important role in this industry. Some professionals are traditionally working on editing software to make the picture look even better. However, if you master the art of clicking and editing both you can make true art because if you know what happens in post-production you will click photos with a different vision which after editing will become the most oozing thing you have ever seen. This is why you should learn how to edit pictures and edit your pictures yourself.
Experience Matters More than any Certification
In Photography having experience is very important, and this not right to say because it is not a profession people choose for money but more experience means more money and that is a fact. So you have to earn more experience some way or the other, and what best way there is than an Internship other than a job. Getting a part-time internship will help you not only gain practical experience in photography but also how the industry works and what right steps you will have to take after the internship.
After you have done everything to learn about cameras and lenses, learned and mastered different software, gained practical experience and knowledge, completed a course at a university, and got yourself a degree what do you do next? If you are a Photographer just out of passion you don’t have to make a choice, but if you want to become a Photographer you will have to choose your best foot or the genre that suits you and you will love to continue further in your career.
12 Photographic Genres
There are 12 different fundamental Photographic Genres, and they are Portrait Photography, Fashion Photography, Sports Photography, Architectural Photography, Event Photography, Product Photography, Fine Art Photography, Travel Photography, Lifestyle Photography, Photojournalism, Wildlife Photography, and Scientific Photography. There is no fixed number to the genres because they can be further divided into many subgenres but these 12 according to me are the basic.
Now, you are only left with setting up your dream business. After all the hardships you faced right from the beginning where you had to convince your family you have come a long way. You live your life by capturing memories and tell a story with every picture you click. You earn enough money to fulfil your other dreams and if you try your best who knows someday you will beat Andreas Gursky’s record of selling the most expensive picture of all time which costs 4.3 million dollars. Photography is the most beautiful dream to pursue, you get to travel to different places meet many different people who share the same interest as you, you learn every day, and the best part is that you never get tired of it because you love your work.
