You should go to photo school if you want structured learning. Groundwork from the fundamentals to the bigger concepts. It will move too slowly for many of you, too fast for others. There are lots of great programs, worldwide.
If you don’t do better with structured learning and you are highly motivated and prefer real world experience, don’t go. Instead, teach yourself, take workshops, get mentors, read books, build your support network, work for other people. And most importantly take a helluva lot of photographs. Dig the long ditch that it takes to learn to make a living with photographs.
If this is too simple a post for you, then go to photo school.
Questions like the above invite simplistic answers, as demonstrated by many of the comments. Like Chase intimates in his post, truth is that there are many roads to a career in photography, just as there are many different types of people trying to get there. Choose the path that helps you the most.
On a personal note, I practiced on my own craft for a long time, learned a lot through reading (books, articles, etc..) and experimentation. Its entirely possible to learn the craft that way, and even develop your artistic understanding. Schools help too.
I found that a photography program gave me two advantages: the first being contacts, both in the form of the network of working photographers who taught there, the companies the school has relationships with and who can make introductions, as well as the students themselves who become friends and can become an important social network you that can benefit you later. The second benefit is/was constant informed criticism, and perspective (not every criticism is true). The instructors vary often in career path and opinion about what does and doesn’t work and many styles are represented. It allows you to see whats out there and perhaps see the direction you might want to go yourself.
Great perspective Jason! I agree with everything you have written.
I prefer ‘learn it the hard way’ to structured school.
«If this is too simple a post for you, then go to photo school».
Well said Chase!
I get asked the same question a lot (about whether or not to go to photo or film school)… Most of the time, if I can see that the person has “the eye” and some talent, I tell them to go take business courses. You can teach yourself the technical side of photography, especially if you assist or get a mentor. You can also teach yourself the business side of things, but one year of practical business/entrepreneur courses will help prevent the first 5 years of business being spent learning how to actually run the business. You can be the greatest photographer in town, but if you don’t know how to sell or market your work, it’ll be hard to turn “pro”.
in the past you have blogged about what you discovered about your self and how it opened a creative door in your mind that you express through photography while at san diego st.
as you know, any monkey can learn aperture and iso, its the art history, philosophy and other courses and discussions and explorations that make chase jarvis’ work so amazing.
also for most people when they fail to become a chase jarvis in the photography world, having your four year degree doesnt hurt when you need money to support your hobby.