So, you’ve decided it’s finally time to take your photography skills to the next level. If you think you might want to turn your hobby into a professional career, the first thing you want to decide is how you want to invest in growing. If you have been wondering if photography school is the right move for you, I am here to help you decide! As a wedding photography educator, I love working with clients to help them reach brand new heights with their talents. Here is what you need to know. 

What You Need To Know About Enrolling In Photography School

Benefits of Photography School

The very first thing you want to consider is the benefits. While it is absolutely possible to go as far as a self-taught photographer, it’s easy to miss out on some crucial information as you grow. Photography school is going to give you a solid foundation, teaching you all of the basics so you walk away with a thorough understanding of the craft. Being in a group setting can also be beneficial because it allows you to talk with other students as well as experienced teachers and get the constructive criticism you need to grow. Lastly, it’s going to help you find networking opportunities you might miss out on otherwise. By meeting with other photographers, you can find both job opportunities and collaboration potential you might otherwise miss. 

Average Costs

The cost of photography school is really going to be dependent on where you choose to go to college. If you go through a liberal arts/private college, you can expect to pay up to $100,000. If you decide to go through a state school, you will pay closer to $25,000-$40,000. A lot of people decide to go for a cheaper option by instead opting for a community college course. With each class you take, you can expect to pay less than $700. 

Alternatives

Beyond the sticker shock, there are a lot of other reasons why a lot of people have chosen to ditch the traditional education and instead find other ways to grow. If we’re being honest, a photography degree doesn’t really mean a lot to your potential clients, and a lot of photographers find it inhibits their ability to explore their own style. If you want an alternative, here are a few things to consider: 

Taking an online photography school: You can find courses from experienced photographers ready to pass on their skills for a discount. As a wedding photography educator myself, I have two different courses available on my website that you can try. 

• A Beginner’s Guide: This is going to teach you all the essentials of your camera, gear, and editing software. It also shows you how you can take your hobby and turn it into a career. 
  
• Wedding Photographer Formula: This one focuses mostly on really growing your business. I’ll teach you how to find clients, maximize your time, and figure out all the legalities.

Shadowing a Photographer: Once you have improved your skills, you can work as a second shooter for events so you can learn from their expertise while expanding your network. 

Participating in a Styled Shoot: I love these opportunities because they tend to be collaborative ways to learn, giving you the benefits of a school setting without the photography school prices. 

I Hope This Helps Guide You To The Right Photography School For You

If you have been trying to figure out whether or not photography school is right for you, I really hope this helped you out. And if you do want to learn more about my classes, send me a message so I can tell you all about them! Hope to chat soon! 

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