Mother telling me to forget photography

[PatrickCheung]

Being 18, I had to make a decision of what I wanted to study in my next 4-5 years in University this year. I've always wanted to make it as a photojournalist, travel the world, see beautiful things, capture memories, tell stories. But never once have I thought of going to university/college for photography. Everything you need to learn is already available to you. If not from the internet then from self learning through shooting. I've never once taken a course to learn photography (though I did take one in highschool as an easy credit) because the info and experience is already there for me. In college course you learn a little, meet a few people, that's great and all but you can do that outside of a school too.

I'm going into Architecture next year because it's a practical way I can assert my creativity... and it's something that photography can help me in. But that doesn't mean I've given up on my dream to be a photographer. I still take on the odd job on the side, enter (and sometimes win... $1000 grand prize from nation wide contest... sorry just had to throw that in there) photo contests and stuff. Making photography your life doesn't mean you'll become a photographer, it doesn't even mean that you'll be better. Maybe it's best to find a way to incorporate your dream into a stable future!

 

[Ryan L]

Why don't you follow another career path in something similar, media, journalism, in most media related fields you will take some of the same courses. You could still have some of the same material in another degree field, make your income more stable in the process, mom happy, still enjoy your photography, and have income on the side of your career. I am not saying to do it either way, that's up to you. It wont be an easy field if you work for yourself, you have to save for your own retirement, provide your own health care, balance the business end, etc. Talk to a academic counselor and see what you come up with.

 

[mickmac]

Poor baby. Get a bloody job! Even a part time one and start paying your way. Do the course if you want to, but get a job. Work every night if you have to. If it really is your dream then nothing will stop you.

 

[vtf]

Good Luck.

 

[pgriz]

One fact of modern life that comes up is that people generally change their careers every 5-7 years. It used to be (cue in the music please) that a job was pretty much for life - not true any more. Unless you are in a profession (lawyer, doctor, engineer), the chances are that you will find yourself adapting to many changes. Formal training (university degree or techical college) is just the entry ticket, the real learning happens on the job, and there is much about "work" that is not taught in any formal school. So whatever you choose now - you're going to be changing again soon enough.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

These people who change every 5-7...why is it? Poor choices? Boredom? Unhappiness? Disillusionment?

 

[Kerbouchard]

One question...are you currently living with your Mom or is she supporting you?

Other posts have mentioned that you are an adult now and should make your own choices. I agree with that. On the other hand, if your Mom is still supporting you, while you may be an adult, you haven't grown up yet. Your decisions have consequences. Some positive, some negative. But you should bare the full consequences of those decisions.

If you are supporting yourself(which it doesn't sound like), then you should make your own decisions. If you are incapable of supporting yourself, you should listen to the people who actually are supporting you.

Life isn't about your dreams. Life is about reality. It's up to you to make that dream into a reality, and, IMO, nobody has the right to chase a dream on somebody else's dollar.

 

[Ryan L]

These people who change every 5-7...why is it? Poor choices? Boredom? Unhappiness? Disillusionment?

I'd like to know where those statistics came from. Most people I know stay in a career field. I have been in communications for 14 years...and I am 32. So my entire adult career has been in one field.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

These people who change every 5-7...why is it? Poor choices? Boredom? Unhappiness? Disillusionment?

I'd like to know where those statistics came from. Most people I know stay in a career field. I have been in communications for 14 years...and I am 32. So my entire adult career has been in one field.

Same here. Except i has more years.

 

[Fantastic4]

You will never get over photography.... not now, not 30 years from now and not even 60 years. My advise from California.... go to college, get a Master's or PHD in a math or science field and get employed with good pay. You should then make enough to buy all the high end photo equipment you ever want and travel to all the exotic photo locations of the world once or twice a year. You shall be able to support a family, drive a German import and spend every other weekend on a photography adventure. You will always carry your D3, flash unit, tripod/monopod and about 3 other lens with you just about where ever you go.

Now if you choose the photography field and skip the PHD.... focus on weddings, that is your bread and butter and get good really really fast. You will make enough to get by, but let me warn you when you go on vacation you won't be taking your Nikon D3 and accessories, you will have your pocket Lumex or Canon S95 and smile knowing your not carrying 20 lbs of equipment on your shoulder.

Either way you won't ever stop taking pictures.... Good luck and choose wisely.

 

[pgriz]

These people who change every 5-7...why is it? Poor choices? Boredom? Unhappiness? Disillusionment?

Life changes - new love, company going bankrupt or downsizing, bad personal situation needing a big move, an industry collapsing, a mid-life crisis, an offer you can't refuse, etc. etc. Sometimes people discover that what they really thought they wanted - they didn't. Life is linear for some, a complete random walk for others. Throw in an unexpected pregnancy, or a death of a close family member, or an accident that hits close to home, or a diagnosis of a potentially deadly illness - all end up forcing a re-examination of where one is, where one is going. I've had a number of major changes in my life: prospective engineer, then MIS manager, then QA, Software design and support, Project management, customer service & business development, consulting, manufacturing operation, Contracting... Many of my colleagues in those companies/industries went through similar changes - some staying in their field, others went completely into different directions. The only security of employment seems to be a portable skill set and a flexible attitude. Beyond that, we can have the illusion of control over our life, but it doesn't take much to force a change.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Makes sense. I just havent seen it in any of my friends or family. Now, 11 years ago, I picked up and moved to Long Beach, CA, for :heart:, and was a waiter for a year. Then we moved back to Ohio, and I was back in my career. But I wouldn't call that a career change. Really.

 

[pgriz]

Well, my purpose in posting was to tell the OP not to be too afraid of starting something - life is long and you can change many times. But you do have to make a commitment and then try to make it work. If it doesn't, then make a change. I have observed the sister of a good friend who I've known for many years, be stuck because she "doesn't want to make a mistake and do something she'll regret later". As a result, she never (fully) committed to a career or a relationship, always being tentative and in the end nothing she "tries" really works. She's over 45 now, and still can't decide what she wants to do. There's a life lesson there.

 

[Forkie]

Get on the photography course and get a part time bar job in the evening and weekends to pay your way. Mothers always say stuff like that (I was lucky, mine didn't, yay!). If you know what career you want, do a course that teaches you that career. If you want to be a lawyer, go to law school. If you want to be a photographer, go to art college.

 

[PJL]

One of the security guards at my office is a retired NYC detective.

His undergraduate degree was in photography. Go figure.

One fact of modern life that comes up is that people generally change their careers every 5-7 years. It used to be (cue in the music please) that a job was pretty much for life - not true any more. Unless you are in a profession (lawyer, doctor, engineer), the chances are that you will find yourself adapting to many changes. Formal training (university degree or techical college) is just the entry ticket, the real learning happens on the job, and there is much about "work" that is not taught in any formal school. So whatever you choose now - you're going to be changing again soon enough.

I'm a lawyer. I suppose it's good enough until I figure out what I really want to do.