Photography Schools & Online Degrees
There are many types of photography schools and academic programs available to students interested in pursuing a career in the industry. From photojournalism to commercial photography to portraiture to artistic photography to fashion photography, students can find their niche through majors, minors, concentrations, workshops, online programs and internships. Depending on your academic and professional experience, you may want a well-rounded, four-year educational experience that rewards you with a bachelor’s degree. Or, you may want to supplement your on-the-job training and natural talent with night classes at a community college or an online program. Some photography institutes only offer individual courses or certificate programs that teach photographers very specific skills. The New York Institute of Photography, for example, currently offers courses in using Adobe Photoshop, learning about digital photography, and becoming a professional photographer. If you’d like a top job in photojournalism, you may want to consider earning a master’s degree to help you build up your contacts, connect you to more internship and professional opportunities and develop your skills even further.
If you plan to get an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree in photography or a related field, you can research the school’s communications, fine arts and visual arts departments. These programs combine general academic courses with photography courses, giving students a more well-rounded education that can help them become a competent photography professional as well as a creative talent. If you are interested in starting your own photography business or want to become a photojournalist, enroll in a bachelor’s degree program that lets you specialize in a particular area within the field or add electives to your major that will help you with your future goals. These concentration areas could include marketing and public relations, digital photography, communications and journalism, and others. Fine arts programs, at the bachelor’s and master’s levels, require students to complete more photography coursework and studio time than BA or MA programs. General academic courses may be sacrificed, or students may have to complete more total hours to graduate.
Photography schools teach students a variety of skills that help them succeed in the industry, including the business of photography, the history of the art, different photography specializations, using digital and traditional techniques, understanding contemporary art, engaging an audience, storytelling, developing film, and more.
