Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Yep, neither my wife nor I display our qualifications. I think we still have them, but whether we could find them is an entirely different matter, but they are a matter of record so we can claim them when and if we need to. I hang some of my photographs around the toilet!

On the other hand, my wife's professor is going through tough times medically right now, so we phone him periodically, as well as staying in touch with a support community. The paper isn't the important thing, even though it may be a useful or necessary thing.

HStephen

I would go for it. You have nothing to lose but you have more knowledge to gain. If you don't you may find youself doing the "what if" years from now.

I quit a well paying job when I was 30 to get a photography degree from Spokane Falls C. C. in 1980. I have never regretted it.

10MPlayer Loc: California

Why not if you're really that interested in doing it. That's why people join Master's swim teams, bowling leagues, golf clubs, sports car clubs. It's a chance to get together with people with similar interests and get that group effect you just can't get doing it alone. Go for it!

10MPlayer Loc: California

It might be a real good idea to ask for references from working pros who have graduated from the program.

VAC Loc: Akron, OH

One thing that stands out on the above linked site is the 21% graduation rate. That is a very low graduation rate.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

As long as they’re not of hot naked women!!! LoL
SS

Norm W. Loc: Southern CA

I emphatically agree with suggestions about carful selection of a school. School should be reputable, accredited and well established.
I have known of to many situations where the school folds abandoning the students who have paid for an education they won’t get.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Lee, in the school portrait industry, we took the same approach— hire for attitude and basic intelligence, then train for skills. We found that MUCH easier than trying to change prima donnas. We wanted employees to know what WE needed them to know and do, not what some art professor thinks is important (which is usually interesting in itself, but useless in most contexts outside academia).

College is great for learning *how* to learn, making connections, and whetting your appetite for a particular field of study. But the best learning is via individual initiative and experience, guided by a mentor or master in your field.

Hal81 Loc: Bucks County, Pa.

I started out at the age of fourteen in my home town taken photos of babes. Didn't make much only enough to buy film and developer. But I would suggest find an established pro and ask him or her if you could tag along as a helper to learn the ropes. Most are eager to help you learn. I started in wedding photography. Now wedding photography is something different. You have to be a people person. I only had one year of collage when Korea broke out and I was in the navy reserves and was called up. Collage wont keep you out if you are in the reserves. But a coarse I had in child sociology helped a lot in Handling people. After all people are only big kids. Hack, Im 88 and still feel like a big kid. Oh I did take the New York Institute of photography by mail while in the navy. It did help but you cant beat hands on. Good luck.

Diocletian

I keep taking an "intermediate" digital photography class at the local junior college. The latest instructor is EXCELLENT! Every semester there are different twists/ assignments. I get a whole lot out of each, and it has taken my photography up to a whole 'nother level. At least it would if i could actually remember anything for more than 1/2 second. But I enjoy them because it forces me to get out and take lots and lots of pictures, and go to different locations, and try new things. .that's what works for me, anyway.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

No, these ones are out in the main hallway, where my wife can approve of them, and our visitors can see them!

PhotoMike5319

I would highly recommend going to an accredited public college. Yes, you will have to take classes in English, History, Math, etc., plus all of yoyr photography classes. But all of them prepare you with the knowledge and skills that you will need to succeed in the business world. While there, you can also take classes in accounting, economics, and business management. All of these provide you with the knowledge necessary to succeed as an independent business (you will be the boss of your own business). If you are in a hurry, look at local community colleges that offer an Associates Degree in photography. These programs can be finished in 2 years and all of the credits can be transfered to a 4 year university to get a Bachelors Degree later.

The main reason I recoommend getting a degree is that if you are looking for employment for an established business, many use a computer to screen all the applicants and reject all those who do NOT have the college degree. The piece of paper (your diploma) is the key to getting looked at. Good luck however you decide.

Charlie157 Loc: San Diego, CA

I was going to suggest Brooks Institute but I just found put that after 70 years they are closing. Don't know why, but they were a school that had a good reputation. A co-worker (not in photography) went to Brooks, he did product photography for several cooperations. After many years working he got tired of it. Met a guy with a photography store in Zion canyon. Really good photographer, great prints. He had an AA degree from a local Community College. Read up on biographies of photographers you respect, see if they went school and what schools they went to. Correspond with them if you can. Of all things be clear on what you want do with what you learn. Understand what you want to be, as a final product. Good luck

Ricopix

Good idea! I did it by accident. While in school at the University of Florida I stumbled into a show of Jerry Uelsman's photography ( sp?). At that point in my life my only camera had been a brownie star flash and I had no interest in photo at all. This guys pix literally changed my life. Sounds silly to say I'm a student of photography but that's what happened.
You can get a BFA and an MFA in photography, I got em, sounds silly, senseless, useless. I would like to warn you that if you decide to study photography your life will change. If for better or worse is up to you but once you start to explore the medium you will learn that it's a universal language that is totally open ended. You can take it wherever you want to go with it. It's not about cameras, it's about pictures., study photographers and their vision. It's a pleasure to explore the vision of others, not just Ansel Adams but photographers like Arbus, Winogrand, Friedlander, Gibson, Paul Strand,
D. Lange. I could go on and on but the beauty of photography is about how people see. UHH is about cameras and equipment. I wish that it could be a bit more educational,about vision and seeing. That's the essence of photo and digital takes it miles away from just pictures. Do the basics, learn to see, cameras are a prosthetic to vision, not a way to better photography.

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

I guess you need to decide what are the rewards for getting this degree. Will you recoup your expenses down the road as a professional?

Myself I find education cannot teach you what experience does. Experience is the ultimate specialist learning environment. No text book will compare.

I am a senior hydraulic cylinders designer in my firm and proficient in 3d Modeling. No formal education in the field or software. I have been here close to 22 years now. Drive and ambition has got me where I am today not schooling. I would rather be making money vs spending it and paying for it the next 20 years. College can leave you with a mountain of debt as can be seen in the US today.

I have approached photography with the same drive and ambition and have paid for all my equipment in doing so. I have been published 12 times in the past 2 years and am still looking for that elusive photo. The one all photographers are looking for.