Hi all,
Please don't shoot me down for my questions, I need some honest help.
Currently I'm studying 10 GCSEs (already got one) and am thinking about my career path, from next September (I'm in year 11 at the moment)
I have two options:
1) Stay at my current school's Sixth form, taking 4 A Levels (photography not being one of them, as it's not offered in schools)
2) Move to a local college to carry on my education, with the option (which I would take up) of photography.

I'm very undecided on the route which I wish to take.

I know this sounds silly, but what are some jobs in the photography industry? Don't say a photographer, I'm after more specific descriptions..

Also, if any UK pros wouldn't mind sharing their career route, I'd be very interested.

Highest Regards,

Sam (15)

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From kasstzam/Richard (2,303) on September 14, 2006 1:11:29 PM CDT Id start to think about what YOU want to do regarding photography, rather than what jobs are out there. What do you want to be taking pictures of, do you have an interest? Glamour, event, music, journalism, landscape, sport, portrait, stock, commercial, even "adult"... the list of jobs is endless really. Most photographers have the financial need to cover more than one area - its only those who have carved a name for themselves that can afford to specialise. Taking up photography as a living can be hard financially. Our company offers all aspects of photography and we are lucky to have a range of photographers who have a speciality, along with the desire to shoot other things too. With regard to your schooling options I would try to find out what you want to do and then see which options give you the closest experience. Some of our Associates have recently taken college courses, and have found that although they are technically good, they lack real world experience - and still tend to concntrate on film techniques more than digital. Although I feel that it is valuable to know about film and processing, in the real world most Agencies and media companies expect their photographers to be using a digital workflow. If you need any advice, Id be happy to help - also check out the associate information on our website at www.kasstzam.com. Reply

From bcskier/Arie (6,354) on September 14, 2006 1:23:00 PM CDT Sam, running a successful photography business is 80% business and 20% photography. If you are going on to university or college I suggest looking into a business degree. Finance, marketing, economics, all that stuff. Maybe try to take photog courses to fill your arts requirements. See if you can get a summer job as a photographer's assistant. If the photog business doesn't pan out or your interests change, then a business degree will give you other options. Reply

From marshall/Marshall (11,928) on September 14, 2006 1:33:37 PM CDT The pro with whom I've worked always recommends shooting a LOT but studying english and business. Unfortunately, I can't help with the English educational system, but my initial thought is to continue with "normal" studies but find ways to study and shoot a lot on the side. Reply

From john2/John (6,345) on September 14, 2006 4:10:51 PM CDT It's hard to know what to advise regarding formal qualifications in photography. Some say that it teaches you techniques and that employers will want to see a formal qualification. Others say it forces a degree of conformity that can destroy your personal touch. Personally I don't know as I've never done one. If you specifically want a career in photography I'd defer just about all informed comment to the professionals here, although you will need to decide what sort of photography you want to be doing. In terms of what you could do there's everything from shooting naked women for Mayfair magazine to dodging bullets reporting the news from Baghdad. You'll need to decide whether you want to work for someone or run your own business, or indeed to work for someone while you build a business. You could do what I did which is to work for someone in a completely unrelated business, then start your own business and keep photography as a secondary business activity, which may or may not become your primary business. If you keep it as a secondary business you could work a 9-5 office job and do weddings and portraits at weekends, or use your holiday time to visit scenic places and sell stock landscapes and so on. If you're willing to spend a little bit of money (I think £49) check out the BFP at www.thebfp.com Reply

From benlovejoy/Ben (8,668) on September 14, 2006 4:20:17 PM CDT First, it's worth being aware that photography is (for the vast majority of pro photographers) a very badly-paid profession. You need a real passion for it to have it be a sensible career choice. Second, if you think you may want to run your own business, I would absolutely echo the advice others have given to do a business degree. If you have the eye, read a few books and practice, practice, practice, you'll develop the photography skills you need. The business skills are ones you need to be taught, and those will serve you well whatever you eventually end up doing. Reply

From bratman/Bratman (13,463) on September 14, 2006 7:22:28 PM CDT Hi Sam...Being a UK professional photographer I'll try to help. Your achedemic qualifications mean zilch as the GCSE's have been dumbed down. I have gained nine taken in the late 70's when they had some substance. Employers don't recognise them now as they are worthless. Even graduates are having a hard time. I also qualified as an accountant (as well as HND's in Business studies) but got bored in the office. I really love photography and worked for the biggest newspaper in my area as well as the nationals...This got me lots of contacts and I have formed a career in my area. The jobs available will be the jobs that you can provide better than anyone else...competition is intense. My main income is from weddings and portraits and contract work (Local councils...etc). I would advise you to look at the competition in your area and ask yourself if you can reach that standard...and then some. If your eye is up to the job, then so are you. I began by working (for a pittance)for a small newspaper...I then got "poached" by the largest one in the area. I got lucky...simple as that. I hope this helps but to become a photographer you need the passion...qualifications in photography only serve to provide income for a "body" that will take your money. Pictures speak louder than words... Reply

From charlesheckel/Charles (2,297) on September 15, 2006 1:22:57 AM CDT The rational question to ask yourself, particularly in this digital age, is what value you would add to your product. Essentially anyone can pick up a digital camera and get an autoexposed, autofocused picture that is for most people plenty good enough. It's not enough to have the technique and visual sophistication to make a picture that you think is "better." You also have to sell your idea of "better," optimize your production and marketing to beat out a competition selling their brand of "better," and sell your product. Is this what you want to succeed at? Reply

From jkjond/John (8,134) on September 15, 2006 5:24:19 AM CDT Let you fingers do the walking. Your yellow pages will be full of all kinds of photographers, take a look through there and see what is happening in your area, and approach some of these to discuss it with them. Not all will be approachable, but some will be prepared to give you some straight talking. Some will try to put you off - mainly to stress that if you are determined you will succeed, but if not, then look elsewhere to make a living. Careers in photography to range from the mechanical to the artistic. I'm on the artistic side, and would strongly encourage budding photographers to study at an art college. Its over 20 years since I went to college doing graphics which ran parallel with photographic options - the way colleges run these days if quite different, you need to talk to people who know - call the colleges as soon as possible, and to your art department at school. Your A level subjects could be important - no point applying to many colleges to do photography with A levels in history, geography, general studies and cooking. I get the feeling you aren't doing art at school, so maybe this would be a difficult route for you to take. If this is the case, then you need to look more to the mechanical end of the game... Reply

From bearface/Tim (480) on September 15, 2006 9:46:00 AM CDT Familiarise yourself with the types of photography one can specialise in and decide what you think you'd enjoy doing and be good at. You'll then have something to aim for. Study those who are the very best in your chosen field and try to find out why they are successful. Produce a body of relevant work and keep it up to date. In addition to an online portfolio, get yourself a quality book and use it to present your prints in the best possible way. Approach those photographers who you think might offer you the kind of experience you need and get a meeting with them, before explaining your goals and demonstating that you'll do anything to help and assist them (make tea, carry bags, run menial errands...) in return for the benefits of their experience and skills. From the outset, understand that many will simply reject the idea out of hand, in addition to the fact that even the few that you'll get to see might not be interested or impressed with you or your work. It's a numbers game and you'll need a degree of resiliance and determination (the only degree you'll need, in my opinion) to make something happen. That's the key - you have to make it happen... I initially qualified and worked in an entirely different field. Predictably I became disillusioned and decided to pursue my passion for photography. My first step up was assisting a very successful commercial photographer for a couple of years. He had actually gone to university and gained a degree in photography many years previously, but interestingly he insisted that it had done precisely nothing for his career and that he'd learned pretty much everything about the professional photography pros and cons by making mistakes and learning from them. Naturally I have made many mistakes, but far fewer than I might've done thanks to the advice and wisdom of that individual. From my own experiences therefore, I can only recommend that you find somebody similar and sell them the idea of being their skivvy in return for their knowledge and those invaluable pearls of wisdom. If you want it badly enough, you'll be fine. And believe me, there is plenty of money to be made in more or less every area of this business - you just need to be savvy, determined and good at what you do :) Reply

From jkjond/John (8,134) on September 15, 2006 10:25:45 AM CDT Hope you read that one, Sam, there speaks a go getter - if you have that attitude failure is not an option. No excuses. Reply

From sberlyn/Sam (592) on September 15, 2006 11:19:10 AM CDT Woww..... thanks for all the helpful and informative replies. It looks like I'll be aiming to go for the mechanical side... I was already contemplating a "Small Businesses" degree, which I felt could help my future career paths, be it in photography or not. I feel that if I had the business knowledge, and the photographical ability, it should be possible, providing I can find a Niche market, and take advantage... now to find a niche market :-) Cheers for the replies, once again, Sam Reply

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