I am thinking of giving up University to become a Photographer

[Photo Marksman]

I have been interested in photography for a long time, I recently received a Pentax K-7 as a gift and thought the time was right to start taking pictures. Unfortunately I have had no training in Photography and while I use the manual mode, focus manually sometimes, adjust the ISO, the Aperture and the Shutter Speed the other functions of the camera remain a mystery to me. I am lucky enough to have been born in a family with a lot of connections and since my main interest has always been portrait photography I would be able (if I wanted and once I feel ready to do so) to take pictures of some very famous people for my portfolio. Money however is another issue, my family doesn't make much of a living anymore and I can't afford fancy two week photo courses that cost £2000.

I am currently a university student and I feel that what I am studying is not the right thing for me. I am an admirer of only one art which is photography and until now I was only the audience, now I am the one who takes pictures. Am I good? I don't know, I think I am not at the moment because I haven't found anything really worth shooting (I haven't tried people yet, I am too shy to ask someone if I can shoot them at the moment... Yes I know...) but shouldn't any good photographer be able to take a good picture regardless of where he is?

I would really love some advice and input. Maybe also some book recommendations, that would really help. I already have a copy of Fashion photography by Bruce Smith by the way, it came when I got the camera.

I also know most people edit their images afterwards, I would rather not do that, I am not a very technical person and computers give me a headache after a while.

 

[KmH]

I am thinking of giving up University to become a Photographer

Big mistake. Huge. Immense.

Most successful photographers are self-taught, but over a period of many years. Anyone with a bit of technical savvy can learn to do professional photography.

Where people fail when trying to make money at it is they lack business knowledge or skill. To start and keep a photography business going takes constant marketing, self-promotion, people, and salesmanship skills.

I would stay in school, but maybe change your main interest of study to business, if it isn't already.

 

[reznap]

I'm sure someone will be more thorough but..

Making money taking photos is easier said than done. You're also not likely to make near as much money as you would if you finished school and worked in that field. Try to pursue both interests (even if school is more of a chore than an interest) at the same time and don't put all of your eggs in one basket.

 

[mix1983]

I would stay in college and continue working towards your goal in photography as well. Its nice to have something to fall back on.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Big mistake. Huge. Immense.

I've never agreed with anything more in my life.

Ever.

Period.

 

[Photo Marksman]

I am going to finish my BA in any case but I might not go further afterwards.

 

[thomphoto]

Don't even think about it. Stay in University. It's tough s**t out there trying to make a living at photography, especially if you don't know anything about photography, or most importantly, running a business. The business end kills a lot of photographers. I'm speaking as a retired photographer.

 

[e.rose]

Why on Earth can't you do *both*??? :scratch:

 

[Stradawhovious]

Why on Earth can't you do *both*??? :scratch:

DING DING DING!!!! I think we have a winner!

 

[Photo Marksman]

Thank you all for your input, so what can I do while at university to work on my photography?

 

[mwcfarms]

Practice taking pictures. Challenge yourself to find something interesting every week to take pictures of.

 

[Rit]

I'm currently a student myself and just getting into photography. (Hopefully getting my camera this week!) Down the road, whenever I feel my skills are up to at least 'par', I would like to be a second shooter for while and maybe even do a few advertisement shoots with my uncle. But from reading forums and talking to people, it's something you just don't pick up. You could quit school and it take you 10 years before you are a professional photographer, so what are you going to do during those 10 years isn't pretty, not to mention if you don't have a decent job, how can you afford the gear? So there's a lot of variables and they are against you in this situation.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Thank you all for your input, so what can I do while at university to work on my photography?

Take pictures of anything and everything that you enjoy taking pictures of.

 

[Photo Marksman]

I'd love to learn about the more technical stuff too, like understanding lenses, using other functions of my camera other than the ones I mentioned before etc...

 

[reznap]

Thank you all for your input, so what can I do while at university to work on my photography?

See if they have a photography club at school. Would be sweet if you could get access to a darkroom too. Carrying your camera around will attract the attention of other photo people or thieves...