 Lisa Lyon |
Photography as a Career I am a college freshmen, currently majoring in Communications, but I have a strong interest in photography. My parents are concerned that becoming a professional photographer may not be a very practical career. My question is: how realistic is a photography career? Is it feasible to make a living as a photojournalist or even a studio photographer?
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Ask Helio Castronevas how feasible is a race car driving career is and he'll say " Of course it is, I do it all the time." If you want practical, be a nurse because there are shortages of those and you're practically guaranteed a job. But will you be happy, and will you enjoy your college experience? Or will you be in all your classes telling yourself I wish I was doing something else. Some careers you have more a plan to follow like the newspaper side of journalism. Go to school, major in photojournalism, graduate, get an internship, apply for a job where there's an opening. Others not so much. You can read bios of some very well paid fashion photographers that sound overly simplistic and others that lay out some fortunate step by step milestones. That can include degrees from art schools or regular universities, or it may not. I know the feeling of thinking you have to choose something that sounds good to your parents. That's why I can't tell you anything but if you've found something that thrills you, then to follow it. There's other avenues that involve photography other than journalism. Even minoring in photo can help if you combine it with communications. The use of photographs involves communications, so who's to say a comm degree won't get you in the door somewhere that you can use both for advertising, graphic design, who knows. Follow your bliss, as some say. What does a comm major do anyway? You're communicating by typing in this thread. I guess you're ready to graduate.
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Lisa Lyon |
Thanks for the advice!!! In response to your comm major question, at this point in time I'm thinking about a career in marketing or journalism...that is if I don't go for photography. Secondly, I am basically an idealist. I always believe that my dreams will come true, but I'm starting to learn that it doesn't usually happen that way. Following my dream might be fun and exciting in college, but what about afterwards? Will I be able to support myself? Don't get me wrong, I haven't given up on what I love, I'm just trying to weigh ALL the consequences both good and bad. Thanks again for your help!! Feel free to add on if something I said struck another chord.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Don't you have to be an idealist to be comm major? Wasn't the idea behind that is you'll graduate, get a good paying job, house, ect... None of that is guaranteed. Just check out the housing problems in the news. I'm saying that even playing it safe has some kind of idealism. You still work at it and have faith that things will end up good. You have to make the choice of what's going to satisfy you. Not out of fear. If there's a person out there that can support themselves doing something, that means it can be done. Marketing can involve random survey taking in a shopping mall. Some kind of idealism is going to make you want more than that. Just beware of getting yourself in the position of constantly feeling you're molding you life to meet somebody else's predetermined approval.
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Christopher A. Walrath |
Lisa there's no reason why you can't have a career to support your photography. Houses and food are overrated. No, buy a Minolta sr-T101 and a 50mm MD-mount lens and four rolls of Kodak T-Max ISO400 black and white film. If you can find one camera shop that has all of these then you also have found a good local source for reliable information on how to use it in addition to us. Don't worry about photogrpahy as a career. just follow your interest and see where it leads you. Chris
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Christopher A. Walrath |
(NO!!!!!! She's looking at the digital point and shoots! AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!) Go film. Learn better. Chris
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
"Feel free to add on if something I said struck another chord." Watch out for the creepy guy with the camera.
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