First, it is certainly a wonderful artistic outlet. There are literally thousands of different ways an individual can tweak and morph the outcome of a photograph. From different forms of developing to different lenses that can be used to different types of cameras altogether, the photographer can use their own forms of artistic expression to capture their view of the world. Moreover, there is an endless supply of material. From photographing people to nature to inanimate objects, the ordinary can be made extraordinary in the hands of a gifted photographer. Majoring in photography gives you the chance to learn all of these different techniques and possibilities. Who knows? You may even get a chance to discover one of your own.

Second, there is a wide variety of jobs you can pick up with a photography major. You can work in journalism, taking stock photographs for newspapers and magazines. People in this line of work sometimes get to travel around the world, which is more than most people can say for their jobs. You can work as an event photographer, available for hire for weddings, parties or other special events. In this line of work, you get to be present for some of the most joyful moments in a person’s life. It winds up as a unique opportunity to study human nature. If you can find a place with high demand, you can even set up your own studio, doing portraits of every sort. You’ll find yourself doing senior portraits, pregnancy photo shoots, engagement shoots, and yearbooking for growing children. All of these pay varying amounts, but it can certainly provide a living.

Finally, photography is a lot of fun. The classes are often light hearted and easy to participate in. Your assignment may be to go take ten good photos of falling leaves, or to develop your favorite photo in ten different ways. Instead of writing massive research papers for your final, you may have to create a portfolio of photos on the subject of your choice. While the expenses associated with cameras and developing supplies may seem high, unlike the books bought by your peers, you will be able to use these materials in a professional sense when you graduate, too. 

Initially, it is important to note that the rankings of top schools, especially in the arts can be tremendously political. A good deal of the rankings relies on who the individual on staff may be. If a school has the resources to attract top talent in the industry to serve as faculty, they tend to get more notice. However, talent as a photographer does not necessarily translate into talent as a professor. Do not be fooled by rankings. There are plenty of smaller programs with spectacular professors who will teach you more about your craft than the most acclaimed photographers ever could.

Moreover, the rankings tend to prefer more established institutions. If a school has been around for over a century, they are assumed to be more prestigious and worthy of praise. That does not mean that newer or more experimental programs cannot offer a great deal to you as a student. While rankings can tell you a lot about history, they cannot always tell you a good amount about the quality of the education you will receive, or the way it will be delivered. Keep in mind that different people learn in different ways, so it is important to do research on the programs you are applying to, instead of just relying blindly on rankings.

However, this does not mean that top ranked schools are not excellent institutions. Some of the best schools in the country include the Academy of Art University, the Brooks Institute of Photography, the Art Institute of Colorado, the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, the International Academy of Design & Technology, Miami International University of Art & Design, the Art Institute of Atlanta, Harrington College of Design, the Illinois Institute of Art, Maine Media Workshops, Brown College, McIntosh College, Briarcliffe College, the School of Visual Arts, the International Center of Photography, Antonelli College, and the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology, just to name a few. These schools offer a variety of programs geared at photography for business and for art. Take a look at their websites, and find the one that might be a good fit for you.

While graduate school can help you polish your photography skills to some extent, it probably will not teach you a great deal more. The majority of the time, you have learned most of the skills you need during your undergraduate education. When it comes to photography, there are only so many things that can be taught to begin with. Graduate school can certainly help you, but it will likely only polish up your already acquired skills. Moreover, most graduate programs in photography have a lot to do with self promotion and management. It is a resume builder, to be sure, but experience will likely get you much further than an additional degree.

The other thing to consider is the added cost. Most undergraduate art degrees are already expensive. There is a good chance that you wound up spending nearly $80,000 just getting your bachelor’s degree. Unfortunately, graduate school is not much cheaper. If you go straight into graduate school, your payments on any loans you might have can possibly be deferred, but you will also likely gain more debt- possibly near $40,000.  During that time period, interest is accruing on your undergraduate loans. By the time you graduate, you could end up with over $120,000 in student loans to repay. While you can make more money with more prestigious jobs, the marginal increase in pay you experience from a graduate degree may not make up for the extra debt added on.

However, if graduate school is something you are truly interested in, there are plenty of wonderful options to explore. US News and World Report publishes a report on an annual basis that lists some of the best graduate schools for photography in the country. These include, but are not limited to, Rhode Island School of Design, Yale University, New Haven, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Maryland Institute of Art, Virginia Commonwealth University, California Institute of the Arts, UCLA, Alfred University, Art Center College of Design, California College of the Arts, and Columbia University.

First, know what the rankings actually mean. There are multiple sources for these rankings available online. The most reputable source is easily the US News and World Report rankings, published annually. How do they develop their rankings? 40% of their score relies on the ratings of peer faculty in the industry. Another 30% has to do with the amount of funding the school receives for development and experimental arts. The remaining 30% is a mixture of class size, amount of faculty, GPA, and graduation rates. Not much of this has to do with the actual quality of a program, or whether or not it would be a good fit for you as a student and artist. While other rankings are available on other sites, and those rankings can be based on anything from opinion to percentage of students hired after graduation, none are very thoroughly researched or vetted. Bottom line? The rankings do not really matter.

Second, you should always research the top ranked schools to make sure the program would be a good fit for you. Will you have access to your professors on a regular basis? Are the classes more classical or experimental in nature? How many hours are required? Are students required to live on campus for any amount of time? These are all issues that will impact your education, as well as your life in general. Just because a school is well thought of by other members of the community does not mean it will best prepare you for the rest of your life. Just because they have a lot of money does not mean it is going to be spent on you and your interests. Do your research.

Last of all, it is important to note that with great prestige often comes a great big price tag. Topping US News and World’s list of the top photography schools is Yale. Yale costs about $36,000 a year. That means that you will end up forking over $120,000 for a degree. That is one large amount of money to pay for school. On the other hand, Arizona State University, in a respectable 10th place on the list, will save you around $60,000 over the four year time period. Measure the costs before you choose. 

1. Special Event Photographer- Make your mark in the world of photography by creating visual memories of some of people’s most important moments. Traditional versions of this might be wedding or party photographers, but you can also be hired to photograph graduations and special ceremonies.

2. Glamour Shot Photographer- As part of a movement to reclaim self-esteem, more and more people are getting glamour shots taken. As a glamour shot photographer, you would help people look their best, before, during and after the photography session.

3. Artistic Photographer- Do you enjoy capturing the beauty in everyday events? Consider being an artistic photographer. It’s a rough job, and very few make it big, but it allows you to express yourself from behind the lens. Suffer for your art!

4. Paparazzi- Lady Gaga can sing about the paparazzi all she wants, and Guy Richie can keep throwing things at them, but they aren’t going anywhere. These photogs make good money snapping shot of the rich and famous. If you’re quick on your feet, this may be the gig for you.

5. Forensic Photographer- If you have always been a fan of CSI, this is your chance to live your dream. As a forensic photographer, you are responsible for visually documenting the crime scene. Help solve the case!

6. Commercial Photographer- As a commercial photographer, you will end up taking pictures of all manner of subjects. You may need to do a shoot for a catalog or brochure, or you may need to take photographs to provide stock images to distributors. Your case load will vary, but it will pay the bills.

7. Animal Photographer- Do you have a soft spot for our fun and furry friends? Why not be an animal photographer? It may sound silly, but pets are often considered extensions of the family. You get portraits taken of your two year old, so why not your terrier? Believe it or not, it happens.

8. Travel Photographer- If you’ve always had a desire to travel the world, this may be the job for you. You get to travel from place to place, taking pictures of staples of a given region’s culture for brochures, websites and books. Get your passport ready!

9. Associated Press Photographer- For the current affairs junkie, this is a dream job. As an associated press photographer, you will travel across the country, and sometimes the world, taking pictures of important news events, from press conferences to tragedies.

10. Photographic Blogger- It’s no secret that there is money to be made from advertising online. You can use your talent as a photographer to start a blog, and if you are able to generate enough readership, companies will pay you to put their advertisement on the sides of your blog. 

On one hand, an online education in photography can be a good thing. First, it’s tremendously convenient. If photography is a second career for you, it gives you the opportunity to finish your coursework at your pace, between the hours of your day job. If you’re a primary caregiver, an online program gives you the flexibility necessary to complete your degree when your children’s schedules will allow. Moreover, if you’re one of those students who works at a faster or slower pace than your peers usually do, you can set a schedule that meets your learning needs. On top of all of this, online programs tend to be a little cheaper than a traditional four year programs. The money you save can help pay for any materials you may need to complete your class.

On the other hand, online courses in photography can be uniquely challenging. Initially, you don’t have the benefit of interacting with peers and professors on a daily basis in the classroom. Because of this, you don’t get to hear the questions that your classmates may raise, and the answers the professors provide. This is often considered a critical component of the learning process. Plus, online programs, regardless of how challenging they may be, tend not to be as highly regarded as traditional arts programs. This could present a challenge when it comes to finding a job post-graduation. Finally, especially in an arts related degree like photography, the presentation of your work may be diluted by digital transmission. There are some things you just have to be there for.

So, should you pursue an online photography degree? The answer is not an easy one. An online program can provide a great deal of convenience, and save you money in the long run. However, online programs do not always provide the best learning atmosphere, and rarely are given as much credit as a traditional, classroom based program is. In conclusion, an online photography program is not necessarily a bad idea. Before you enroll, you need to consider all of the components, and make the decision that is best for you and your goals. 

First, what do you want to do with your photography degree? If you’re looking to shoot photographs for art exhibits and the like, a photojournalism program is probably not the kind of training you are looking for. If you’re interested in photojournalism, an experimental art program is not going to be a good fit. Moreover, if you’re looking for steady work, and not just a freelance position, a community college degree is probably not going to make you competitive enough. How you intend to use whatever kind of degree you get from a photography program should inform what kind of school you attend while studying the subject.

Second, how much are you looking to spend? Art schools can be prestigious, with vigorous classes and training and high payout after graduation. However, those schools can also be expensive. If you can’t afford tuition in the ballpark of $40,000 a year, you may not want to get your heart set on a fancy art school. A state school can provide you similar training for a fraction of the price, even if it does not look as impressive on a resume. However, even your average four year university can cost a pretty penny. If you’re worried about racking up thousands in student loans, community schools may be the ticket for you. These programs are usually much shorter, and much, much cheaper. Though these degrees may not carry as much weight as one gained at a university, it will be enough to possibly get you a job at a local photography shop, and still bring in some income. Moreover, the training you receive with it can be translated into your own freelance career.

Finally, you should think about what kind of training you need. Are you someone who needs to have access to your professors on a regular basis to have questions answered? A large university may make that impossible. Are you someone who prefers self-paced learning to rigid, structured classes? An art school, or even an online program, may suit your needs. Everyone has their own way of learning, so it is important to take that into consideration when selecting your photography school. Look into class sizes, length of study, and class structure before you sign up.

First, do your research. There are hundreds of scholarships out there for students interested in the arts, and in particular, for photography students. Start out by looking around locally. Art galleries and photography studios may offer scholarships for deserving residents who are interested in pursuing a degree in photography. If you can’t find something close to home, then check with the school you’re applying to. Many of them have departmental or talent based scholarships for arts students. If you have good grades and test scores, you may even qualify for an academic scholarship. Finally, get online and get searching. Websites like www.fastweb.com will compile your personal information and develop a profile for you, matching you with scholarship opportunities you may qualify for.

Second, apply early and often. New scholarships are constantly being offered. Doing your research once and then giving up is not an option if you want to get school paid for. Make sure you check back to see what new scholarships are offered on a daily basis. Sometimes scholarship opportunities are offered with very short deadlines for application, so it’s important to constantly monitor what kind of funds may be available to you.

Finally, make yourself a desirable candidate. Your application should reflect any and all activities you’ve participated in that are related to your field of study, or your eligibility for the scholarship you’re applying to. Did you win a photography contest in fifth grade? Make mention of it. You never know what might pique the interest of those reviewing your application. Spend a good amount of time crafting your personal statement, as well. It should never be generic. Do not say you want to study photography because you love taking people’s pictures. Tell a story about what inspired you to pursue your field. Let the reviewers know who you are, so they can feel good about giving you money. If you don’t have anything notable to put down on the application, then get to work! Volunteer your services as a photographer for special events nearby and you’ll find you now have some credible achievements to brag about as you search for scholarships.