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Chopsueybrandy
Lv 5
Chopsueybrandy asked in Arts & HumanitiesVisual ArtsPhotography · 9 years ago

Do I need a degree in photography to start a career as a photographer?

I'll be getting a BA in Sociology this December, but I absolutely hate it. Since I'm so close to the end, it seems silly not to finish it. I thought about going to law school since everyone in my family either has a law degree or a PhD, but I am not a very academic person. Perhaps it's time I finally admit that I don't belong in an academic world and try to find a different career path. Since I have always enjoyed photography, it seems like my best bet.

As far as experience, I have taken photography classes in high school for 3 years. I also have 9 hours of college credit in photography and I have been published in an international magazine. Further, I was a staff photographer for multiple clubs in high school and college.

Given my experience, and the fact that I *will* have a bachelor's degree, should I go back and get a second degree in photography, or go ahead and start working on my career? How much would it hurt me to not have a degree in photography?

Update:

I am not interested in pursing a legal career due to the intense competition for jobs, the enormous debt I will carry after graduation, and the stress of the job. Sure, it sounds like a great career for people who don't know anything about law, but for those who do, we know that the job sucks and the pay is barely enough to compensate.

5 Answers

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  • keerok
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    You don't need a degree in photography to make a career out of it but studying photography in college will minimize the mistakes you'll make as you work. There's a saying that a year in college is equivalent to 4 years of work experience. What you learned in high school will count little. The college degree is more rigorous.

    Since you are almost through with Sociology, get it done. At least you have a college degree. Law is the best profession a person can arm himself with. You can never go wrong with it. If your family has a law office, you won't have a difficult time starting your own. I encourage you to continue to law. I am not telling you forget about photography though. You can still pursue it as a hobby. I've known some lawyers showing their passion with motorcycles and classic cars. Why not do it the same photography?

  • ?
    5 years ago

    Try Trick Photography Special Effects : http://tinyurl.com/jqKSaav7ND

  • dsmaster186
    Lv 4
    9 years ago

    You do not need a degree. If you want to be hired by a company, all you need is a resume with your training and education, and a portfolio. If you don't know what a portfolio is, its a document you assemble to show off your previous work, previous photos you've taken

  • Forlorn Hope
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    there are no photography careers...

    most photographers are self-employed/freelance...

    do you have an exceptional porfolio??? do you have any contacts in the magazines to get your work shown???

    do you specialise in any photography genre??? can you back that up with a qualification in that discipline???

    or are you going to market yourself to attract clients???

  • rick
    Lv 6
    9 years ago

    You do not need a degree. You need talent, determination, intelligence and persistence.

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