How Good is Online Education in Photography

How Good is Online Education in Photography?

It’s not a discipline that demands a formal education, however, more and more people prefer to earn a degree in photography because it gives them an edge when it comes to finding suitable employment. Some people take the traditional route – they choose an arts degree that allows them to specialize in photography or visual communication straight out of high school and prepare for a career as a photographer during the four years they spend in college.

Others become photographers because they’re passionate about their craft – they see their cameras as an extension of their hands and as instruments to bring their creativity to life; and because of this, they choose to turn their passion into their profession. They gain employment through their expertise and experience and don’t accord much importance to formal education. However, there may come a time when a degree could come in handy, especially if it means a promotion or a change to a better job. The question that needs answering then is if an online degree will suffice or if you have to go back to school to study photography from an academic point of view.

While the choice is personal and depends on factors that vary according to each individual, most people find that they prefer to take the online route if:

· They don’t want to give up their regular job in exchange for a degree

· They cannot afford to take time off work and go back to school full-time

· They don’t have the money to finance a regular degree at a private art school

· They are able to find a good online school and degree that meets their needs and is affordable

Some people do go back to a full-time degree even though they have a good job and are well set in their profession if they gain admission to prestigious institutions and popular courses. They know that their degree, once completed, will open more professional doors to them than ever before. Also, the schools they join offer golden opportunities to work with masters in photography and learn firsthand from them techniques and skills that cannot be learned or picked up elsewhere.

Any education in photography, online or traditional, is worth it only when augmented with skills in and a passion for photography. A degree only adds to what you already know; it cannot teach you to be a photographer if you don’t have creativity running through your veins. And the only way to boost your creative instincts and perfect your skill is through practice – when you continue to hone your craft and practice even though you’re at the top of your profession, you grow and become a better photographer and artist.

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This guest post is contributed by Becky Patterson, who writes on the topic of Become a Photographer . She can be reached at beckypatterson89[@]gmail[.]com.