Photography courses?

[Davi]

What would you recommend to look for in a course? As I'm currently "between careers" I'm very seriously looking to make something more with my camera, but everything I've learned so far is self taught and I'd like a bit of "professional" guidance!

[andy-xr]

What sort of thing are you thinking? Seems common round this way to join the BIPP/SWPP, underexpose everything by a stop and start shooting portraits of glum families for £100 a go

[Davi]

andy-xr said:

What sort of thing are you thinking? Seems common round this way to join the BIPP/SWPP, underexpose everything by a stop and start shooting portraits of glum families for £100 a go

that'd do

Honestly - anything! I just love taking photo's, be they at weddings, in a studio, whatever. I was thinking of maybe a wedding course so I could get a 'bread and butter' line but studio work would be great too - I guess not the easiest of careers to get into, but I don't care about getting rich, just paying the bills.

[andy-xr]

I dont make any money from my photography, but something I've considered doing is making up a book of around 10-15 sheets, not a portfolio, more of a lookbook than anything. Grab the yellow pages, tout round the local boutiques and hair salons with a pricelist and a comp card, then following it up with calls to try and get test bookings. That probably plays more to my strengths than anything High St portraity, yours might be different.

Round here, weddings are averaging at £350 for the bottom end of those that will actually pay, to around £1250 for the decent guys. There's a couple on £5k packages, but they're not doing many. They're already booked up for the summer, so you're looking at picking up cancellations really, or approaching other photographers for second shooter £100/day gigs

ETA - not sure a course will help you btw, it's going to be ability to market, reputation and quality over qualification from what I can see

[Davi]

andy-xr said:

I dont make any money from my photography, but something I've considered doing is making up a book of around 10-15 sheets, not a portfolio, more of a lookbook than anything. Grab the yellow pages, tout round the local boutiques and hair salons with a pricelist and a comp card, then following it up with calls to try and get test bookings. That probably plays more to my strengths than anything High St portraity, yours might be different.

Round here, weddings are averaging at £350 for the bottom end of those that will actually pay, to around £1250 for the decent guys. There's a couple on £5k packages, but they're not doing many. They're already booked up for the summer, so you're looking at picking up cancellations really, or approaching other photographers for second shooter £100/day gigs

ETA - not sure a course will help you btw, it's going to be ability to market, reputation and quality over qualification from what I can see

actually I'd be quite (extremely) happy getting second shooter gigs for a bit, to get my feet wet n all that!

Reason I'm looking for a course, is being self taught I feel there is probably a lot I should know but have probably missed, and a lot I understand the concepts of but would like fuller explanations for. I understand that won't replace raw talent and creativity, but I do find that it knocks my confidence, which certainly does reduce my creativity!

[Colin RedGriff]

Check your local adult education college. They usually have several photography courses available.

[Simpo Two]

Davi said:

actually I'd be quite (extremely) happy getting second shooter gigs for a bit, to get my feet wet n all that!

This is personal to me but as an independent 'first shooter' I think it would be impossible to work with anyone else. Either (1) I don't know how good they are (if they're competent they'd be first shooter wouldn't they?), (2) it would put the price up beyond what people would pay, (3) I already have one load of RAWs to process and don't fancy twice as many. It just doesn't work from any angle.

Davi said:

Reason I'm looking for a course, is being self taught I feel there is probably a lot I should know but have probably missed, and a lot I understand the concepts of but would like fuller explanations for. I understand that won't replace raw talent and creativity, but I do find that it knocks my confidence, which certainly does reduce my creativity!

The simple trick is to take photos people will pay you money for. What that genre is and how you get the work is up to you, but skill behind a camera is only one part.

[Major Bloodnok]

I was in the same position as the OP two years ago. I signed up for a Foundation Degree course at a local college and have loved every minute of it. Of course, it all depends on whether you can survive for a couple of years on part-time work (having a reasonably well-paid other half and thirty years-worth of savings helps), but I must say that my whole approach to and appreciation of photography has benefited enormously. Put it this way, two years ago I had no inkling that now I'd be preparing to exhibit my work in a fairly prestigious gallery in Manchester next month.

[Davi]

Simpo, tend to agree on the first shooter stance, though the last three weddings we've been too I've had long chats with the second shooter! I seem to be fluking the 'what people want' aspect at the moment and I'm getting considerable interest, from the results of the last shoot been offered several paid gigs including a wedding, I just don't have the confidence in my skill base yet and don't want to risk someone's big day.

MB - that was the kind of boost I was hoping for from a course, unfortunately 3 years of recession have removed all savings and I'm now out of work completely! 2yrs just isn't doable sadly.

[Simpo Two]

Davi said:

Simpo, tend to agree on the first shooter stance, though the last three weddings we've been too I've had long chats with the second shooter! I seem to be fluking the 'what people want' aspect at the moment and I'm getting considerable interest, from the results of the last shoot been offered several paid gigs including a wedding, I just don't have the confidence in my skill base yet and don't want to risk someone's big day.

The best boost to your confidence is for someone to say 'I like your stuff, do the same for me and here's some money'. They trust you. You've done it once, just do it again. And each time you will get a bit better and a bit quicker and a bit more confident. But don't expect to 'know' everything about photography - it's like the universe, no end.

As for risking someone's big day, well yes, nothing is 100% guaranteed; you can only anticipate all things that can go wrong and have answers for them. Two cameras, two flashguns, spare lenses. Keep your car maintained (ideally have a back-up car too!). Plan your journeys, allow extra time for traffic jams. Do a recce trip first so you know the route and where to park, and end up at St Peters and not St Marys... Have two sat navs and put the waypoints in. Use your uncertainty postively to fill in these gaps. It's like going on stage - if you're not nervous you're not trying hard enough.

[corozin]

I note you are in Southampton.

Bournemouth University do a variety of evening courses in Photography at various levels which I would highly recommend having done one of them myself. Courses are generally 10 weeks in duration and 3 hours per evening, and start at around £200 which is frankly excellent value.

Link to the starter course here but the other levels are linked on the same page.

Hope this is useful

John

[Davi]

Thanks for that John, I actually phoned the local college this morning, completely coincidentally they had an adult learning open day! Went down, met the tutors who chatted through the courses, asked what I was looking to achieve... Came away enrolled on a year long HNC! Feeling really positive about it so fingers crossed.