Courses for Photography

abetarrush

Hey

I jus wanted to know if yes could help me pick a course

I wanna become a good Photographer, but I don't wanna do the 4 year degree, so I was just wonderin if anyone else knows any other courses there is?


I was thinking of Audio Visual Media in Tallaght IT, and choose all the photography electives, but im not sure if this would be the same


Any help 'd be good!

CheerZ

abetarrush

Anybody????

Shrimp

You dont have to do a course to become a good photographer.

abetarrush

Shrimp wrote:

You dont have to do a course to become a good photographer.

I know, but ye need some sort of recognised qualification to make it as a pro

maireadmarie

Some people really need a course in a subject to set them on the right path, and if it's a good course that's the right thing for them. On the other hand, my nephew was a pro. photographer for years and was never short of business, but never did a course. He was just terribly interested and dedicated; but if you think a course is what you need, why not ring the V.E.C. head office and ask them for a list of courses, day and evening. You might find a course where you'd qualify for a college maintenance grant if it's a day one!The very best of luck to you!

abetarrush

Cheers!


Its just that the Degrees in IADT and DIT are exremely artistic, and theres a lot of criticism, a full year of it, before touchin a camera
Thats borin t me, but I could be wrong

I basically just wana dive in and start takin photos, and learnin new techniques on the way

thebaz

theres a similar thread here :-
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054952052

i myself am interested in doing a course , at night, that concentrates on digital.
Griffith do a part time cert/diploma but apparently is more film based than digital.

Roen

The majority of pro photographers I know never did a course, becoming a good photographer and making a living by being a photographer are two entirely different things. A better business person will succeed ahead of a better photographer in most cases. Try a photography course by all means but bear in mind it takes an awful lot more than a good eye to be a pro.

thebaz

Roen wrote:

The majority of pro photographers I know never did a course, becoming a good photographer and making a living by being a photographer are two entirely different things. A better business person will succeed ahead of a better photographer in most cases. Try a photography course by all means but bear in mind it takes an awful lot more than a good eye to be a pro.

What specific traits do you believe are required to become a pro ?
business acumen, brass neck , steady nerves , self confidence ?

With cheap high quality digital cameras and printers available , i would be interested in knowing how to make a sideline in photography myself !!

Shrimp

not exactly, nobody ever asks to see a photographers college degree when they commission them.

Roen

thebaz wrote:

What specific traits do you believe are required to become a pro ?
business acumen, brass neck , steady nerves , self confidence ?

With cheap high quality digital cameras and printers available , i would be interested in knowing how to make a sideline in photography myself !!

Well I think you hit the nail on the head. That's what you need in any business. Being a good photographer helps too .
Pro just denotes that they do it for money, not that they have some qualification or guarantee of quality. Best of luck!

antifuse

I'd be interested in finding a good course as well... something similar to the ones offered by the Dublin Camera Club, minus the focus on film work (ie development and printing) would be great.

abetarrush

thebaz wrote:

theres a similar thread here :-
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054952052

i myself am interested in doing a course , at night, that concentrates on digital.
Griffith do a part time cert/diploma but apparently is more film based than digital.

I was gonna do that, but it's like €4,000, and you can only apply for the scholarship when ur still in secondary

thebaz

abetarrush wrote:

I was gonna do that, but it's like €4,000, and you can only apply for the scholarship when ur still in secondary

I was thinking of doing cerificate at night , its a 2 years course, its about 2,200 euros a year .
But my interest lies in digital, so i may try more commercial courses , possibly in UK , as according to some posts here Griffith is very much film based .... having said that it might give you pointers in taking general potrait shots , that can be used for Weddings, schools, communions etc .

i71jskz5xu42pb

abetarrush wrote:

so I was just wonderin if anyone else knows any other courses there is?

http://www.ncad.ie/ do short courses - I've not done it so cannot recommend one way or the other.

masteroftherealm

Yeah Id agree with the no course needed for pro.
No big money pro photogrpahers out there have done it.
Shoot a lot, submit a lot, get your name out there. Its a slow process.
Join every single thing u can to get your name out there. Be prepared to work for free/very little for a very long time.
Basically in PJ/Studio/fashion, only the best make it, if your good youll be seen eventually and youll get your name out there.

mchphoto

My best advice is practice and practice, then choose a course or a person to help you along the way. (as a mentor of sorts)

As for qualifications if you go on a college course, complete the course you get a qualification, but remember you are only as good as your last job you did, so if the work was substandard for what ever reason and show that to a client you will not get the job.

I do not have any formal qualifications, but if I say go for the Royal Photographic Society's LRPS, ARPS etc I believe that they show you can produce 10 plus good images for that panel at that time and as long as you keep the membership up you can have the LRPS after your name, you do not need toi re-submitt any images again, just your membership fees. So in 10 years time are you the same photographer and do those pics you initially submitted still relevent?

I do some teaching to people from a practical point of view, showing you how to something in the working enviorment that I am working in etc. The people who I have taught things to have said it was like a light being turned on, as the magazines have a lot to answer for, as they do not tell you the whole story about a particular topic, perhaps I should write a book some day?? and displel some of the myths.

Michael

abetarrush

Thank for the advice guys


I dno, I just think a degree helps you get the most out of Photography

At the moment, I dont understand it, I just look at a photo and think it looks good.

So, i'll probably go 50:50

I'm gonna be doin Art for a year in Ballyfermot, which has abt 3 hours of Photography, and free access to the studios, so, that should set me off.

Jus started a new job so once I get paid, i'm gettin a Fuji S5600, and i'm gonna go crazy! Already have my first job - takin pix at me mates gig in Doran's in September

Also, me n my mate were thinkin of sellin our art, so ill make some postcards from fotos

Wahey, a plan!

Thanks again for the advice, and keep it comin !

Zillah

abetarrush wrote:

Hey
I was thinking of Audio Visual Media in Tallaght IT, and choose all the photography electives, but im not sure if this would be the same

I'm doing that course. Its a brilliant course but there isn't that much photography. For first and second year, you only do one semester of photography.

Third year you can do photography for both semesters.

abetarrush

Yeah, Ive changed my mind yet again! :S

I'm jus gonna go and do a year in Ballyfermot. so that'll gimme a year to think

Then ill either do the Photography degree, or a PLC

The only thing I dont like abt DIT is that you dont touch a camera until 2nd year, and theres loadsa history

abetarrush

Masteroftherealm wrote:

No big money pro photogrpahers out there have done it.

Thats not true

I know a few pro's based in Tallaght who said the course was well needed
****************

So, I still don't know what to do

No matter what, It'll take about 5 years t get my name out there, right?

So, i could just do a PLC for one year, then spens 5 years gettin known, so tats 6 years

or, I could do a degree, and then be like 50 times better than after a 1 year PLC


I think in the long run the Degree is the best way to go

Sleipnir

http://www.cdvec.ie/stkevins.htm

I've never done it but it's around the corner from my house!