Top Online Arts and Photography Degree Programs

Photography is an art and creativity; and creative people are moody. This is also because they are very less likely to have a “usual” day in their occupation. Everyday happens to be a new challenge to show the heights of their creativity.

Some of the basic duties/tasks/responsibilities that they perform are enlisted below:

• Marketing their work and developing their contacts in order to get new and more cliental
• Articulating client requirements
• Scouting locations for shooting
• Scheduling the shoot
• Renting equipments for the photo shoot
• Arranging and preparing apparatus – background, props, lighting and various equipments
• Images – Capturing and processing
• Administrative tasks including billing, studio maintenance and so

In order to perform the aforesaid tasks individuals are supposed to have some basic skills which would help them or are rather the source of your success.

Creative thinking: Creativity is the key to this entire show. One must possess those skills of visualization. Customers hire photographers for their creativity and the methodology to portray their work in order to communicate their thought process. Distinctiveness in the methodology and creative approach – is the one required to give you an extra edge over others.

Client relationships: One of the key factors to a successful photography career is client relationship. It happens to be important for those who are self employed or work on freelance basis. Good communication skills are mandatory to manage good client relationships as one is required to understand the client requirements at its fullest for satisfying the client needs.

Required skill set: Photography being art needs creativity and creativity blended with technical knowhow can create wonders. Intense technical skills are mandatory for operating the photography equipment for optimum results. Digital photography and digital technology have become integral part of photography hence certain basic required skill sets play vital role in the success.

Commercial know how: End of day it is money for what the entire exercise is being done and so irrespective of the status either as an freelancer or self employed, individuals need to be in a position to execute the commercial aspect of the business. Aspects of accounting statements payable and receivable, costing, marketing, customer service and many more are to be handled by photographers.

Usually photographers are self employed or work as free lancers. Research, writing and teaching about photography may also be one of the careers in photography. Print and electronic media has enhanced the demand of quality photographers.

Photography has been a competitive market for career seekers. Individuals find it to be a fun and frolic filled career; which attracts more and more students to take up careers as photographers.

Basic technical skill set a photographer requires are:

• Computer software for photo manipulation
• Darkroom skills
• Lighting
• Processing black and white film (as and when required)

One may come across accredited online photography colleges and universities offering degrees alike all other subject matters. The degrees offered in photography fall in the same range as other subjects starting from a certification course to a Master’s degree. Each degree is awarded for a higher state of learning and knowledge. Associate’s degree for entry level and so on till Master’s degree for those who are planning to have their own business.

Associate's Degree in photography

Two years college coursework leads you to an associate’s degree. It is basically meant for portraying that an individual possesses beginner’s knowledge. It also talks about the basic but mandatory skills including lightings, using the technical photography apparatus and much more. At some of the colleges some basic classes of math and science are also required to accomplish this degree program.

Bachelor's Degree in photography

Two more year’s coursework after an associate’s degree would lead to attain a bachelor’s degree. Different from associate degree a bachelor’s degree syllabus is all about photography and rarely on general subjects. Some of the aspects of bachelor’s degree include developing and maintaining of portfolio, usage of computer technology for enhancing the quality of work, application of your skills for various subjects.

Master's Degree in photography

Post a bachelor’s degree the doors for a master’s degree open up inviting you to polish your skills. Ranging anywhere between two to four years – syllabus is purely based on photography. Business and cliental are prominently focused upon during this tenure. One may find some colleges offering internships and career opportunities for successful students.

Photojournalism programs

Individuals might come across some colleges offering degree in photojournalism – though with the same syllabus. The difference here is the focus being set towards topics including ethics, various techniques of journalism and current affairs. The basic idea here is to teach the students policies and procedures to be followed while working with a team and skills are developed to capture images which are attention seeking. Information about the rules and regulations regarding public photography and maintaining the studio, camera and apparatus appropriately.

Apart from above there are schools of photography and colleges with top photography college rankings offering bachelor of fine arts in professional photography and master of fine arts in photography as well.

Careers here are estimated to grow in average range of all other occupations. 12% is the growth projected till 2018 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of the reasons why the projected growth rate is modest and not rapid is that now a day’s attaining more affordable and advanced apparatus including digital cameras and computer peripherals majorly required for successfully articulating your creative thought process has become easier as compared to recent past; bringing about saturation in some of the photography segments.