Photography training/qualifications - Who's got what and why?

[GSXRMovistar]

We seem to have a huge variety of photographers on OcUK ranging for hobbyists to working pros and I wondered what (if any) qualifications you have relating to photography. Be it from college/university whilst being in full-time education, night classes, paid training sessions, or something from the Royal Photographic Society (L/A/F).

I'm also tempted to do something formally purely to give me a little inspiration/push and keep me busy, therefore:-

• What training/qualifications have you completed?
• Why did you undertake it/them?
• Has it helped your photography?

As for me:-

What training/qualifications have you completed?
No formal training/studying/qualifications. Joined an evening class some years back with a group of mates from work. To be honest I didn't think much of it, very very basic and aimed more at giving bored retired pensioners somewhere to go rather than actually study. Other than that I did a single one day studio workshop to learn more about portrait flash photography (on the back of giving up on the evening class).

Why did you undertake it/them?
Had owned my first SLR for a short while and wanted to learn how to get more out of it as opposed to using like any other P&S.

Has it helped your photography?
Well both reinforced I had an interest in photography I wanted to pursue, as for learning anything well not so much from the evening classes but the studio session taught me a reasonable amount to get started with considering it was just the one day. Although from attending various other meets via forums etc all that type of knowledge can be picked up without having to pay someone to show you.

What about the rest of you then?

 

[ElDude]

Before I got my current job I was tearing my hair out trying to get involved in photography at any level. I couldn't find anything at all so went looking for college/uni or even night classes. The only night class was ALWAYS fully booked before it was even announced, which was very dodgy I thought. As for the Uni side they used to insist on a media qualification before you qualify to apply for entrance into photography/film/media. Ironically my mate is the lecturer for the media side in the local uni now. That ruled that out as it meant doing a 3 year course I wasn't interested in. Now apparently any Tom, Dick or Harry can roll straight into a photography course. It seems to have lost meaning, although if you have experience by somehow getting involved with someone I suppose it'd help if you had a qualification on top of that, over someone that only had the qualification.

It's the same in any field, experience counts over qualifications, which makes it extremely hard to get on in any area unless you're lucky AND talented. I've seen some very average photographers become professional by using gimmicks and somehow becoming popular. Trends come and go, and so do they, and real talent generally sticks at it.

In all honesty it seems that you need to get into photography at a young age so you've got the time and lack of debt needed to allow you to get in at ground level and put in a LOT of work. I honestly can't see a way for someone like me to get involved in it now, as barring a lottery win, I'll never have the time to do it professionally due to my job.

Life sucks.

 

[An Exception]

How old are you?

 

[ElDude]

Far too old

 

[Rojin]

I know where you're coming from ElDude, I wish I had got into photography when I was younger as well. There's no way I can make a go of it now with the financial commitments I have. A job came up at the local paper last year, photojournalist with a biase towards sports. It would've been awesome if I was 20 years younger!

On the topic, I have no qualifications in anything photography related or have taken any classes in anything. You don't need 'em to be a happy snapper

 

[Nexus]

What training/qualifications have you completed?
While my degree wasn't specifically just Photography, I had a number of Photography modules that were part of it. It covered operating an SLR, Shooting, Developing in a Darkroom, Theory, History, How to read a Photograph and appreciation of famous Photographers. Only area that I didn't really touch on was Studio Lighting, but I did cover Studio Lighting for Video Camera work which has similar principals.


Why did you undertake it/them?
Degree course I really wanted to do, however my main interest was Video work and Editing. I'd always liked taking Photos, but using an SLR for the first time opened up a new world for me.


Has it helped your photography?
Without a doubt as it taught me a lot.

 

[jonneymendoza]

Far too old

50?