Training as a professional Photographer!

Kaybenson

Anyone knows where i can get such training in london area?

Nile

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brightonman123

if already a good photographer, i would just get some advice on how to promote / cost your skills, and also keep good accounts..?

be wary of the over priced 'job at the end' type courses..

Little_Maya

Well I can't recommend anything, but here's a my 2p worth that could help you in your search:

- What are your current skills like, do you know need a course that covers the basics.

- Are you looking for a short intensive course or something more academic over several years.

- Are you looking for a general "try a bit of everything" course which will cover a broad area or something more specialised if you know what type of photography you want to do (and what you're good at) - the training, skills and equipment needed are completely different depending on the field: photojournalism, advertising, weddings, still life, fashion, etc.

Once you've narrowed this down, you can have a look at what's on offer.

Kaybenson

Thanks Little Maya,

At the moment, i can use basic camera effectively but will like to be trained to the highest i could reach.

In the last few years, i have been to a number of graduation ceremonies here in UK and i have always admire the professional touch the Expert photographers displayed after the ceremony.

I hope i can make career out of this, basically for occasions like weddings, fashions etc

santacruz_2

Ideally you need to get some photography qualifications. Most people who want a career in photography have them nowadays so theres a lot of competition. The way it usually works is you become a Photography assistant for a year or two and hopefully get employed by a company or do it freelance. You learn most when assisting.

Write to photography companies and include some sample shots you have taken, you never know if they need someone to set up shots/make tea/tidy up that week!

teabelly

There are loads of professional photographers around. Have a look at professional photography monthly magazine. That is aimed at the professional and will show you what the competition is like. Competition is fierce so you have to do something out of the ordinary to make a good living. I know a few pro photographers and times are hard. They've been in the business a long time and have expensive, high quality digital slrs costing several grand so there are high start up costs.

Have you thought about helping out on your local newspaper? Pay will be lower but it isn't glamourous like weddings and sports event photography so there is less competition.

Also have a look at the stock libraries like fotolibra and see what kind of images and what quality are around. The more you look at the competition the more you can improve your photos.
CTJT do a distance learning freelance journalistic photography course. http://www.ctjt.biz/course_details/journalism_courses/freelance_photojournalism_course.html

Kaybenson

Contents are well noted.

Thanks.

[Deleted User]

I'm sure i've read somewhere that there are more people studying photography in the UK than there are professional photographers in Europe..

If you want to study at 'the highest level' then wouldn't that involve a degree in photography? Plenty of courses around:
http://www.hotcourses.com/uk-courses/Photography-degree-courses-in-London/hc2_search.adv_col_do/16180339/220704/search_category/KJ.1/qualification/A,M,N/town_city/GREATER+LONDON/page.htm

neonbible

Like a lot of people have already said, professional photography is a fiercely competitive business, especially since the introduction of very good quality digital SLRs at very reasonable prices. It's become a much more accessible career than it used to be, which in turn has led to a massive increase in the number of photographers out there. I'd second Teabelly's recommendation to check out some of the pro photgrapher magazines out there like Professional Photographer. As well as checking out the competition, these mags contain some useful tips and techniques articles which will help you progress your own skills. You'll find a good range of these magazines in most decent newsagents, but lots of them have started to offer digital subscriptions which is a great way to save a bit of money. Take a look digitalmagazinedeals.com/photography.html to find some of these

sharkie

there is also morely college (about 20 min walk south from the houses of parliment - lambeth tube i even closer) that once offered these