New to Forum and Request for help if you have a couple of minutes

[otherprof]

Hello Photographers!

My name is Andrew Barnhorst and I am new to this forum. I’m 36 years old and was practically born with a camera in my hand. I still remember my first camera that used 120 film. When I made it to high school (and one intermediate class in college) I signed up for as many classes as I could. There I learned the basic workings of the camera as a complex tool and then subsequently spent a lot of time in the darkroom. I can’t say that I feel that I ever came close to mastering either discipline, but I do feel that I had better control and produced better images on film.

Seven years ago my Wife bought me my first digital camera. It’s great to be able to take a shot and instantly see the results. It’s also nice not to worry about the rarity and expense of working with film. However, I feel like I no longer produce images as good as I would like to. I feel like I don’t have a handle on my newest camera (Nikon 7100). I also feel like I am drowning in a collection of digital images. They sure do add up quickly! This is how I found this forum. I was looking for reviews of Lightroom 6 prior to purchasing the program. I thought it might help me manage my images, but after the reviews I am not so sure. Regardless of what brought me to this forum, I am glad that it did because this sounds like a very nice community of artists.

If you’re still with me, great and thank you!

I also wanted to bring up the fact that I am a disabled American veteran that was injured in the line of duty. This is important because I have been working with the Veterans Administration (VA) for a couple of years to retrain into a job field that does not aggravate my injuries. My previous job was working as a Fireman for the U.S. Air Force, Minnesota Air Force Reserves and Colorado Air National Guard. I have also volunteered for local structural departments as both a Fireman and Assistant Fire Chief. So, naturally I wanted to continue to serve my community in some capacity and I chose to retrain into Nursing. I attended school for a couple of years, made it to the testing stage to enter nursing school and missed the program by one seat! I was bummed, but tried again and again and still didn’t make it. So, now I am trying to retrain into photography.

The problem and the reason that I bring all of this up is that the VA has told me that photography is not an accepted, “vocational goal” in their eyes. I understand where they are coming from, but I strongly disagree and I am requesting your help. I need to show them that there are photography jobs out there. In fact, several weeks ago I found a vacancy announcement posted by the VA looking for a photographer/designer!

Where can I find job announcements for Photographers? I am not to that level, yet, but I need to provide proof that a vocational goal of Photographer is a profession that is both easier on my injuries and a means of financial support. I would like to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) and any input regarding this school would be great, too!

Thank you for listening and thanks in advance for your help,

I am excited to have found this forum,


Andrew Barnhorst

You might want to contact the placement department of RMCAD and other colleges, including community colleges, and ask about their success in placing their photography and/or related majors. That would seem very relevant to your situation now, and more useful than a survey of the general job prospects for people who want to be professional photographers. Some colleges have great reputations among employers.

 

[ANB]

Thanks for your service, and welcome.

Many major newspapers/media outlets have laid off/fired all their photographers - even SI did I think and went freelance. The Chicago Sun Times gave their reporters cell phones... that apparently didn't last long since they brought back and contracted freelance many of their former full time staff photographers. But of course that doesn't give them a salary, benefits, etc.

I think it could turn around someday because there seem to be problems already contracting freelance with people with cameras. But it will depend I think on newspapers even staying in business and if/when media outlets might decide it was better hiring staff to maintain their journalistic ethics and quality standards. But I wouldn't hold your breath, I wouldn't expect if things would change it would be anytime soon. Anyway for that you'd need a degree in PR/media relations or journalism more than art.

I always took a lot of art in school but I don't know what someone might do with an art degree unless they wanted to teach art or at college level. I'm not familiar with the one art school you mentioned but the Art Institutes are everywhere, there's one in my area (I recognized the logo). At best you'd get some classes in some field of art but the reputation is nothing special; just discovered the one here got put 'On Notice' meaning they're in danger of losing their accreditation. Those type schools are usually accredited for distance learning, or as a career/tech school (formerly vocational schools) which can be a way for someone to get some training for a particular type job but it doesn't issue a college degree. I've seen some called 'bachelors' degrees but they aren't a 4 year university degree.

I would think it might be worth checking into anything in your area that might be holding a job fair, or a seminar on changing careers or re-entering the workforce, etc. Saw a lot of those being held the past few years. You probably need to find out what would be some viable options. I don't think there ever were a lot of existing jobs as photographers but now it's really slim pickin's. (And 'everybody' saw that National Parks job that went viral, if it's the same one.)

I'd take a look at American Society of Media Photographers or PPA for resources, ASMP does webinars (free, don't have to be a member, just sign up and they email the link - I've done some, last an hour). They often deal with the challenges photographers have in trying to stay in business. Or maybe the Photo District News Photo Magazine | Professional Photography Industry News and Resources , they have some job listings and list agencies, etc. Might help figuring out what might be a viable option but I don't think there's much in the way of existing jobs.

Vintagesnaps,

I did not know that about media outlets. My Grandparents owned a small newspaper and I remember hanging around the paper when I was a child and collecting all of the sports photos that they didn't want etc... They had photographers on staff. That's been some years though. That's really too bad that they're not keeping photographers as staff.

I've also heard negative things about AI and have already dismissed attending that school. RMCAD seems to have a great reputation and qualified instructors to back it. I should say that I am not a proponent of any type of degree (especially art degrees) unless it is the only path to employment such as in medicine. There's just to much fluff in our education system. It is a business. I think that even medicine should go back to the apprentice days. That's another subject though I've excelled without a degree, but I would really like to learn from masters of photography in a shorter time than it would take me to do on my own.

I heard, and later saw the hype about the NPS job, too. so, I went to USAJobs and could not find the announcement. It must have been bogus. I was actually referring to my personal dream job with South Africa National Parks. They needed a photographer last year. I have spent a lot of time there and would have loved to taken that job, but I didn't have a portfolio together in time. I will be fixing that!

Anyway, thanks for the welcome and for taking the time to share your advice and providing the links to ASMP and PPA. I will be looking into those. Have a great evening.

Andrew

 

[ANB]

Hello Photographers!

My name is Andrew Barnhorst and I am new to this forum. I’m 36 years old and was practically born with a camera in my hand. I still remember my first camera that used 120 film. When I made it to high school (and one intermediate class in college) I signed up for as many classes as I could. There I learned the basic workings of the camera as a complex tool and then subsequently spent a lot of time in the darkroom. I can’t say that I feel that I ever came close to mastering either discipline, but I do feel that I had better control and produced better images on film.

Seven years ago my Wife bought me my first digital camera. It’s great to be able to take a shot and instantly see the results. It’s also nice not to worry about the rarity and expense of working with film. However, I feel like I no longer produce images as good as I would like to. I feel like I don’t have a handle on my newest camera (Nikon 7100). I also feel like I am drowning in a collection of digital images. They sure do add up quickly! This is how I found this forum. I was looking for reviews of Lightroom 6 prior to purchasing the program. I thought it might help me manage my images, but after the reviews I am not so sure. Regardless of what brought me to this forum, I am glad that it did because this sounds like a very nice community of artists.

If you’re still with me, great and thank you!

I also wanted to bring up the fact that I am a disabled American veteran that was injured in the line of duty. This is important because I have been working with the Veterans Administration (VA) for a couple of years to retrain into a job field that does not aggravate my injuries. My previous job was working as a Fireman for the U.S. Air Force, Minnesota Air Force Reserves and Colorado Air National Guard. I have also volunteered for local structural departments as both a Fireman and Assistant Fire Chief. So, naturally I wanted to continue to serve my community in some capacity and I chose to retrain into Nursing. I attended school for a couple of years, made it to the testing stage to enter nursing school and missed the program by one seat! I was bummed, but tried again and again and still didn’t make it. So, now I am trying to retrain into photography.

The problem and the reason that I bring all of this up is that the VA has told me that photography is not an accepted, “vocational goal” in their eyes. I understand where they are coming from, but I strongly disagree and I am requesting your help. I need to show them that there are photography jobs out there. In fact, several weeks ago I found a vacancy announcement posted by the VA looking for a photographer/designer!

Where can I find job announcements for Photographers? I am not to that level, yet, but I need to provide proof that a vocational goal of Photographer is a profession that is both easier on my injuries and a means of financial support. I would like to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design (RMCAD) and any input regarding this school would be great, too!

Thank you for listening and thanks in advance for your help,

I am excited to have found this forum,


Andrew Barnhorst

You might want to contact the placement department of RMCAD and other colleges, including community colleges, and ask about their success in placing their photography and/or related majors. That would seem very relevant to your situation now, and more useful than a survey of the general job prospects for people who want to be professional photographers. Some colleges have great reputations among employers.

Otherprof,

I agree and have already done much of this leg work. I was really hoping for to find a website that listed available photography jobs, but I now realize that it probably does not exist. This doesn't change my interests, but it will force me to come up with another plan of attack.

I really appreciate your professionalism as well as everyone that has responded. I look forward to interacting on this site and helping where I can. Thank you!!

 

[Gary A.]

Denny,

Self employment is definitely my ultimate goal even with an employer that supplies regular work. I currently have a great Federal job with all the benefits, but with the disadvantages too. You know, I think that the VA does support self employment (I could be wrong on that), but I am not looking for that at this time. I'm really trying to find decent paying photography jobs. I've found one for National Parks and believe it or not the VA. So there are weddings, hospitals, portraiture, but what about news agencies and... I can't think of other potential employers. I'm guessing that even a news photographer is a freelancer?

Andrew

Andrew-
I appreciate your attitude. You know there are jobs out there in photography, decent paying jobs. A lot fewer today than yesterday. The thing is ... somebody is getting them, so why not you. Granted the odds are long ... but there is nothing wrong with beating the odds. I doubt if the VA will pay for photo classes ... but if you desire to be self-employed, have the VA pay for business courses. Enroll in a community or four year college, major in business but take all the photo classes you can get away with. Join groups and clubs and shoot everyday, then shoot some more and at the end of the day when you're done ... shoot again. Find a genre which hits a special chord with your passion.

Yes, the Panorama Fire is a pix of me. I used to be a photojournalist back in the film only days. Even back then photo jobs were tight. But if I could beat the odds ... so can you. (Somebody has too.) I have a few Vet friends that are in school on the VA's tab. The VA is paying for tuition, books and overhead. Not a bad deal, if you don't mind getting your ass shot off in order to qualify. The major market newspapers still have some photo staff, but the big papers, the ones which will pay a decent salary, typically demand a degree in Communication/Journalism. (Being a reporter is equally as important as being a good photographer.)

For commercial/studio work I'd go with an Art degree. A specialized photographic schools would also be a great place to develop one's skills. On the west coast, Brooks Institute is one of the better places and the Art Institute is also very good. Of the successful commercial/studio photogs I know, I'd say that a good head for business and marketing is more important than exceptional photographic skills.

Fire Departments and Police have photogs, but you probably have to be a firefighter or a cop first in order to qualify.

 

[ANB]

Denny,

Self employment is definitely my ultimate goal even with an employer that supplies regular work. I currently have a great Federal job with all the benefits, but with the disadvantages too. You know, I think that the VA does support self employment (I could be wrong on that), but I am not looking for that at this time. I'm really trying to find decent paying photography jobs. I've found one for National Parks and believe it or not the VA. So there are weddings, hospitals, portraiture, but what about news agencies and... I can't think of other potential employers. I'm guessing that even a news photographer is a freelancer?

Andrew

Andrew-
I appreciate your attitude. You know there are jobs out there in photography, decent paying jobs. A lot fewer today than yesterday. The thing is ... somebody is getting them, so why not you. Granted the odds are long ... but there is nothing wrong with beating the odds. I doubt if the VA will pay for photo classes ... but if you desire to be self-employed, have the VA pay for business courses. Enroll in a community or four year college, major in business but take all the photo classes you can get away with. Join groups and clubs and shoot everyday, then shoot some more and at the end of the day when you're done ... shoot again. Find a genre which hits a special chord with your passion.

Yes, the Panorama Fire is a pix of me. I used to be a photojournalist back in the film only days. Even back then photo jobs were tight. But if I could beat the odds ... so can you. (Somebody has too.) I have a few Vet friends that are in school on the VA's tab. The VA is paying for tuition, books and overhead. Not a bad deal, if you don't mind getting your ass shot off in order to qualify. The major market newspapers still have some photo staff, but the big papers, the ones which will pay a decent salary, typically demand a degree in Communication/Journalism. (Being a reporter is equally as important as being a good photographer.)

For commercial/studio work I'd go with an Art degree. A specialized photographic schools would also be a great place to develop one's skills. On the west coast, Brooks Institute is one of the better places and the Art Institute is also very good. Of the successful commercial/studio photogs I know, I'd say that a good head for business and marketing is more important than exceptional photographic skills.

Fire Departments and Police have photogs, but you probably have to be a firefighter or a cop first in order to qualify.

Thanks Gary,

I appreciate the encouragement and good advice. Well, the Panorama Fire struck a chord with me because I was a Fireman for many years, including a dozen wildfires or so. I even worked as an Assistant Fire Chief for a while. It sounds like you have had a very interesting life so far and thoroughly enjoy being a Photog. I look forward to future conversations with you on this forum.

Thanks!