Getting a degree in photography can seem like a great way to get a college degree and still pursue what you love, yet many, many college graduates end up failing, despite having four years of intensive training in photography. This great video explores just why that is.
Coming to you from Joel Grimes, this great video talks about why college graduates who studied photography frequently fail when they head out into the real world. The unfortunate truth is that many art schools do a poor job (or no job at all) preparing students for the business side of things, and those students leave with little-to-no knowledge about how to turn their newly acquired artistic and technical skills into viable financial gains. I think a lesson that's important to learn early on is that being good at photography and good at the business of photography are two very distinct things, and being financially successful is often more dependent on the latter than the former. It's part of the reason so many successful professionals recommend that someone looking to become a professional photographer spend those four years apprenticing with an established photographer rather than going to college.
If you're struggling a bit with the business side of photography, be sure to check out "Making Real Money: The Business of Commercial Photography."
Lead image by Kaboompics, used under Creative Commons.
Joel is bang on about needing to learn business and sales but I think it is also important to realize that the supply of photographers far outstrips the demand for photography. Those who need to hire a photographer aren't failing to find one because 90% of photographers fail. Most of those who want to find a photographer, generally do. That remaining top 10% that succeeds is sufficiently meeting the market's needs. (for the most part) The Photography world is incredibly difficult to succeed in due to the intense level of competition. If every photographer improved their salesmanship and business practices you would likely still need to be in the top 10% in order to succeed, the only change would be the bar to reach that 90% would have risen.
just because you're proficient doesn't mean you're creative enough to get noticed.
I'd argue creativity often works against pro photographers. Sure a tiny few in a few genres at the very top are working to be unique and thrive based on that uniqueness but the vast majority of photography clients are looking for consistency and quality, not individuality.
For example, a retail store doesn't care about how uniquely you can creatively light a product. They care about how well you can consistently deliver images of a large catalog in a timely manner. Real estate companies don't care that you can make a living room into a piece of art, they care that you can showcase a property in a repeatable and fast manner so that they can have a full range of well-photographed listings. Sports magazines aren't looking for the artistic shot of the athlete at an odd moment, they are looking for the photographer who can consistently capture the moment of most intense action, in focus with decent framing. When talking about pro photographers most think of areas such as Beauty/Fashion or Editorial where creativity shines but in reality, most working photographers make a living building imagery that has no need (or want) for creative flair. They want a professionally delivered product, consistently and quickly.
Getting noticed is not how you become a pro photographer. Becoming a great businessperson and salesperson is the surest road to success in the industry.
I agree with Ryan, my college training landed me job as a medical photographer which does not have much need for creativity. However, medical photography has allows me to pursue projects that build reputation without the concerns of income. Because of a solid background I also have done subcontract work doing yearbooks, real estate, kid in sports, worked for labs, printed model portfolios for other photographers. and just technical things for a number of successful photography businesses all owned buy men with sales backgrounds.
Beauty/Fashion every young guy wants to be a rock star and get the girl. Just look at the photos of the day.
When ever someone ask what classes should they take to become a professional photographer I say business.
I agree with you that the creativity of a person is a very important thing if this person passes an exam on photography! Creativity is also a very important thing if a person passes an exam on writing! But a person can pay for research paper here -> https://edusson.com/pay-for-research-paper and pass an exam well! It is the best research papers writing service, on which students buy different types of papers for which they pay at a good cost!
This advice of doing cold call apply to so many business : photography, law, retail. When you're still small, being pro-active in calling people, making yourself known to the world, is the key.
You read an email, you forget about it. Someone calls you, you remeber him far better and long after. Human remember social interaction with humans, not with computers and screens.
This may depend on many different reasons, perhaps the reason is the lack of professionalism. I suggest you read the article, which has the title of cognitive activity of students: a modern view of the problem. Here is the link https://www.eturbonews.com/1113042/student-cognitive-activity-a-modern-v... by which you can find it, scientific research confirms the statement that that cognitive activity can be beneficial. But one must always remember that it is difficult to be a professor in our time.