Bachelor's Degree in Digital Photography Schools

Photography is definitely an up and coming career path that is being pursued by more and more individuals. If you enjoy being behind the camera and delivering jaw dropping pictures, then find out all you can about this career. The possibilities are endless in this field of study; however, your path will be more successful if you begin by obtaining your bachelor's degree in digital photography.

To begin your educational path for a career as a digital photographer you should find a college or university that offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in photography. Typically, this degree program is contained within a college or university's fine arts program. As a student in this degree program you will learn technical communication skills, visual communication skills, and the principles and procedures associated with this career. Once you have obtained your bachelor's degree in this program, you will be eligible for jobs related to photojournalism, photography lab technology, commercial photography, or even industrial photography. This photography degree program typically requires four years of coursework that equal a total of 180 hours.

Most institutions of higher learning have their students complete approximately 45 hours of courses focused on photography, about 25 hours of core educational curriculum courses, and about 90 hours of general education courses. The core education courses will likely be related to the two dimensional design, the theory of color, and drawing techniques. A student's photography focused courses will have them learning about the history of photography, proper studio lighting, effective color techniques that can be used by digital photographers, and how to incorporate black and white techniques in photography.

Once you begin your career in digital photography you will likely spend your days creating images of given subjects. A digital photographer will have to know how to effectively use lens to work with the available light in order to capture an image and accurately portray it. Digital photography makes it possible for a photographer to work at a remote location and still deliver flawless images in just a matter of minutes. Today's world of twitter, social media sites, and internet websites require that photographers can stay up to the minute with the comings and goings within our world. Should you choose to use your bachelor's degree to work in the commercial photography world you have many options of how to use your degree. For instance, you could become an advertising photographer, a photographer who shoots models and focuses on fashion, a wedding photographer, even an editorial or a food photographer are viable career options.

An individual who has a bachelor's degree in digital photography has the possibility of working with an organization directly, or they can choose to work more on an independent contractor basis. Independent photography contractors have the option of selling their images to web site companies, agencies that create advertising campaigns, well-known magazines and magazines that are just beginning, or newspapers that are in need of pictures that cover a wide variety of topics.

Salary and Career Job Outlook for Digital Photographers

Deciding to become a photographer can turn into a great career. The national average salary according to the BLS is $30,490. The entire industry is expected to grow 4%. More photographers are using digital cameras due to cost and convenience. Your salary however will be determined on your specialty. Wedding photographers make a higher salary as well as those who own their own business and focus on multiple specialties including: children, couples, senior pictures, family photos or photo shoots for corporations.

How Schools Prepare you for a Career in Digital Photography

When attending photography school, especially a school where the outcome will earn you a Bachelor’s degree, you’ll take photography courses that expand your knowledge of using a camera as well as making this your career. Most training programs will cover the below:

Photography Lighting – Regardless of how great your camera is or what you are shooting if you don’t have the proper lighting your shot won’t turn out.

Different Types of Cameras – Even though the program you’ll be taking is in digital photography often the school will also go over traditional cameras including film processing. This is due to the fact that still today some of the best photographs are still taken with film and you’ll need to know how to properly take and process film in a darkroom.

Working with Subject – Are you working with kids that never sit still? Are you shooting your subjects outside or inside, sitting still or moving? These are all the things you’ll learn about in class and how to adjust your camera to fit each scenario.

Owning a Business – Most individuals that are going to photography school have a goal of owing their own studio or photography business after they graduate. Personally this is why we really like this career is does give you the flexibility to own your own business and even work out of your home. Most of the contracts and individuals you’ll be working with will be shot remotely so actually having an office doesn’t make sense for most. During your training in school you will be taking general education courses that will cover business related topics such as accounting, finance and even marketing.

Promotion – One of the key areas that any photographer will face and sometimes seemed challenged on is the promotion of their photography business after they graduate. We often see this in careers where the individual has all of the knowledge of their own subject matter but can’t find clients or properly market their business. It is advised to take as many marketing courses as you can so that you can advertise your photography business properly when you graduate.