Are Photography Schools A Good Investment?

Photography schools are on the minds of a lot of people who have an artistic bent, but find that they aren't good at painting, sculpting, or any of the other ways of expressing a physical expression of their take on reality. Being a photographer would allow them to give voice to their inner artist, and possibly change the world in the process. However, learning photography is a bit different than developing other talents, such as painting or drawing. With painting or drawing, an artist can go to school for training, but in most cases there was an innate talent that the education builds on. In other words, a person should be pretty good at drawing or painting before they think about going to school for it. Art school can show them how to take their basic talent and greatly improve upon it, but it usually can't instill the talent when it's not there to begin with. Photography schools are different. But are they a good investment?

Well, when it comes to photography, there's really no such thing as a natural talent for it, simply because it is so technical. No one is born with the ability to instinctively know which lens is best, or what shutter speed, or how to light a scene. It's true that they don't necessarily have to get training or instruction on such aspects of photography, and they can experiment, using trial and error until they get these things right, but that's far different than being born with the ability. So when it comes to taking photos, some instruction is clearly necessary. That doesn't necessarily mean that going to photography school is a good idea, though. In fact, for most people, photography schools are probably a bad investment.

Why is that? Well, it's because for most people it simply isn't necessary to plunk down thousands and thousands of dollars to become skilled in photography in the age of the internet. Just as the internet has radically changed the television and publishing industries, and is continuing to do so, it has also made learning certain skills, such as photography, much easier. There are an abundance of sites where a person can acquire professional level photography training for a few dollars a month, choosing which areas they want to focus on. There are formal courses offered on the internet for a fraction of the price of a degree in photography. And these are just the paid options. The amount and quality of free photography instruction on the internet is truly staggering. There are thousands of free instructional videos on YouTube alone. So, for most people, photography schools are a poor investment. If someone simply can't learn on their own, or is interested in a certain, unusual technique, photography school can be worth it. Everyone else, though, can find the training they need on the internet.

Photography School - Choose The Right Field Of Study

Photographers may specialize in one field of photography or they may generalize in a combination of two or more types of photography. Prior to selecting the photography school you are going to attend. Narrow down the specific fields of photography you are most interested in. The differences between photographer specialties are in the subject matter, work conditions and in the type of equipment used and required for design and composition of the photograph.

Photographer fields of study for you to consider:

Wedding and Portrait Photographers pose their subjects and carefully set up lighting and use flash units to enhance the images.

Fine arts photographers sell their images as fine artwork. In addition to technical proficiency, fine arts photographers need artistic talent and creativity.
Commercial Photographers shoot scenic photography for advertising, stock image and print sales. They also photograph products like food and merchandise or buildings and architecture.
News Photographers typically work on location at news-worthy events. They take pictures that enhance stories used by the news media.
Industrial Photographers shoot photos of machinery, employees working, equipment, products, and company officials. The images are typically done on location and used for the analysis of engineering projects, publicity, or company records.
Medical Photographers specialize in more technical forms of photography, such as Ophthalmic, Surgical or Pathological photography.
Freelance Photographers line up their own work and projects. Then they sell their photography directly to clients. They must be highly motivated to become successful.


Which field should you pursue? Ask yourself, why do I want to be a professional photographer, for the love or the money? Most of us do it for the love of photography. If you do it for the love of photography, consider combining your passion for photography with other interests like chemistry, medicine, news, special events etc. Important things to consider when choosing a specialized area of photography:

Working Conditions- If you want to work indoors in an air conditioned office or outdoors in the elements and on the move.
Salary Range- The compensation you can expect from each field of photography varies greatly. Research pay ranges before you select your field of study.
Educational Requirements- In some fields of photography like portrait and fine art, talent and experience are enough for motivated individuals. However additional education in areas such as engineering, medicine, biology, or chemistry are required for other fields.
Advancement Opportunities- Opportunities for advancement at a small photography studio are limited. Photographers in other industries such as media, medical and scientific photography can find room for moving up.


Careers in traditional photography like the media positions are highly competitive, since salaried jobs are extremely desirable. Some of the less crowded fields in the photography profession are the aerial, industrial and scientific fields of photography. In addition to photography skills, these jobs require college degrees and specialized technical training. When you carefully consider all of the factors, I'm confident you will choose the right career path.