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Photography Associate Degrees
Digital technology and image editing software have made photography infinitely more accessible than it was in the days of 35mm cameras and roll film. Amateurs no longer need to wait days for photo processing, and even a relative novice can manipulate images with the aid of a computer. However, despite these major advances, the US Department of Labor estimates that new opportunities for professional photographers should increases about as fast as the national average for other occupational fields.
How is it that full-time photographers are able to maintain clients and secure new ones when amateur photography keeps becoming more professional every day?
Photography Associate's Degrees Make the Difference
Finding good photographers is becoming easier and easier, but finding great ones is becoming more challenging. Formal training from an accredited photography school, community college, university, or technical program is one of the safest and fastest ways to develop those skills separating the amateur from the professional. Through one or more years of study at the associate's level, you can master:- Composition
- Lighting
- Special effects
- Image editing
- Framing
- Image processing
- Equipment maintenance
However, the creative and technical aspects are only part of the process. Photography associate's degrees can also teach you the business side of the industry, including marketing yourself, securing clients, networking, and setting up your own studio. These areas can prove extremely useful given that more than half of all professionals in the field work as self-employed freelancers.
With time and practice, it is possible to master all of the creative, technical, and administrative aspects of professional photography without going through formal training. However, many jobs require an associates degree or higher in the field. This is especially true in journalism and media circles. And thus, each successive year of training potentially opens up more opportunities down the road. |
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