Photography Course

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  _Bruce_ on 29/04/2013 - 11:15

  What do you want to get out of it? Just learn more? Get better at specific things? Something to put on your resume? Doing it for the experience? Angling for a specific job?

  Sorry if you have already thought of this but your post doesn't indicate.

  • 

    bich.light on 29/04/2013 - 20:44

    I want to be able to become a photographer specialising in portraiture, wedding photography and nature. When I say nature I mean possibly for travel magazines, I don't know how to get there yet.

    • 

      _Bruce_ on 29/04/2013 - 22:27

      My understanding is most of this your get from self promotion and having a good portfolio. Look for the course that covers gaps in your knowledge while building a portfolio. Try to get casual photography work on the side as this will help you build your name, portfolio and experience.

      Don't expect it to be easy though, there is a lot of competition.

      • 

        bich.light on 29/04/2013 - 22:39

        Yeah, I know it's not easy.
        I'm looking to improve my skills though, in all aspects. That's why I'm asking about the above education? I don't exactly want a few one-off courses, I'm willing to dedicate a year or a few to it.

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  scrimshaw on 29/04/2013 - 14:30

  Private colleges are terrible. I've had friends waste so much time and money attending private colleges, their teaching staff are just second rate at best and they haphazardly hand out passes to students who shouldn't even pass.

  • 

    bich.light on 29/04/2013 - 20:44

    Really? Can you tell me which ones in specific I should avoid?

    Thanks~

    • 

      scrimshaw on 29/04/2013 - 22:43

      +1

      It's just a generalisation… well based solely on anecdotes none of my friends who went thru private college enjoyed it, they either complained that the teaching staff didn't really know how to teach or the curriculum was badly implemented and too simple. Plus the fees in general are also tad higher than a government subsidised TAFE or Uni course.

      With private colleges and TAFE, they usually employ industry professionals to teach, rather than actual teachers or professors who instruct according to a curriculum. Whether that's good or bad depends on your perspective and possibly the type of discipline that's being taught.

      There's a bit of feedback on CATC on Whirlpool

      For a listing of designer oriented teaching facilities in Australia, you can go to http://education.agda.com.au/ and click on "facilities" to see which colleges and university cater to design courses.

      • 

        bich.light on 29/04/2013 - 23:35

        One of the feedback from an actual student is there and I'll take it into consideration. I'm going to check them out on the information night this Wednesday.

        That link you gave me led me to Raffles College
        (http://www.raffles.edu.au/barts-photography)

        They offer a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Communications) with Major in photography.
        This course seems a little more interesting than the UWS one.

        Thanks

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  [Deactivated] on 30/04/2013 - 00:04

  I've just signed up with http://www.urcreative.com.au/canonacademy/ and all seems good so far. All depends on what you're trying to get out of it though.

  • 

    bich.light on 30/04/2013 - 12:54

    Thanks but I'm not interested in that course.

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  rt1 on 01/05/2013 - 07:29

  My advice is to either:

  1. shell out for a prestigious academy that has a reputation that will impress future employers,

  OR

  1. alternatively, work your ass off as an intern or assistant (unpaid if necessary) for the best photographer you can find who will take you on.

  This formula is universal for getting the career you want, whether it's photography or film or music etc etc

  • 

    bich.light on 01/05/2013 - 12:29

    I've chosen the former because the latter has failed.

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  deltakilo on 01/05/2013 - 15:01

  You could try online such as http://www.lynda.com/ or http://www.kelbytraining.com who cover photography as well as software post-processing plus other stuff. With them, you can focus on what you want or need and if you don't fully understand something, press replay until you grasp it. A 12 month subscription is currently $199 & $250

  Lynda provides a 7 day free trial but Kelby only do a 24hr freebie so for the latter, pick a day you'll be home the longest. I myself took a subscription with Kelby a few months ago but for me, it's a hobby.

  When it comes to photography, you'll get more jobs/recommendations/survival from a stunning portfolio of work rather than any fancy gold embossed certificates and mediocre photos.

  Edit: Have looked at your Deviantart stuff (should have done that first) and you're doing okay :) To me your focus needs to be cropping/framing and composition. Have a look at www.kelbytv.com, go to "The Griid" section and watch their numerous Blind Critiques videos. They give good examples of describing how to fix okay photos (if possible) by cropping, fixing light, touchups etc.

  • 

    bich.light on 01/05/2013 - 19:28

    "When it comes to photography, you'll get more jobs/recommendations/survival from a stunning portfolio of work rather than any fancy gold embossed certificates and mediocre photos."

    Yeah, that is true but I've failed at doing that. That's why I thought I will try get more training to improve my skills. Also, I'm leaning towards the Barts of Visual Comms at raffles college.

    That will provide me with a degree. Apparently having tertiary education / degree goes a long way in our time. Even if I don't end up doing photography in the end.

    • 

      scrimshaw on 01/05/2013 - 23:35

      A degree would give you a lot more credibility than someone who doesn't have one, but experience always trumps degree when it comes to landing a job.

      • 

        bich.light on 01/05/2013 - 23:38

        Yeah it does~
        But I've been asking around for assistant jobs and some volunteer ones but no-one has been willing to hire me.

      • 

        scrimshaw on 01/05/2013 - 23:47

        Try to expand your portfolio or work on creating a better resume.

        Read this guide for eg.
        http://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0011/18749/Resu…

      • 

        bich.light on 02/05/2013 - 01:06

        My resume is fine; it is the critical experience that I am lacking.

        Trying to expand my portfolio as well; however, there is a lack of volunteers and friends who wished to be photographed :\

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  SBP on 27/07/2013 - 22:07

  contact me using this form

  http://www.simplybeautifulphotography.com.au/#!contact/c1et

  I'll see if i can get you experience

  • 

    SBP on 28/07/2013 - 23:39

    it didn;t make a link so I guess you can copy and paste or if you want a link then go to

    http://www.simplybeautifulphotography.com.au
    then clickon the contact tab

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  charliebor on 31/07/2013 - 01:34

  Check out online schools like GreatPhotographyCourses(dot)net