Online Courses

[maynard_richard]

Hi Guys ,

Can any suggest any online courses for photography?

Im looking to take up photography as a job, so I need to get some qualifications and maybe a city and guids or something.

Id like to be able to start making a portfolio so Ive got something to show clients to drum up buisnes.

Hope you can help.

Thanks in advance.

[jinky]

Look at your reasons for wanting to do the course first and think about what you are aiming for. If you are fairly young and see photography as a career you want to do full time - maybe getting into a studio or such then city and guilds is fine but you need to aim for a photography degree if possible. In chasing work the portfolio you present is the key issue but where people ask for qualifications it is usually a degree that they cite.

If it is about develop[ing your interests / wanting to know more on the technical side then C&G, OU units and even online stuff can be useful. I did an online course with the Photography Institute. Took 18 months to do it in my own sweet time and enjoyed the support of an interested tutor. Learned some technical stuff I had not grasped before but if I am honest don`t really use now. Yes I cite the qualification on my website and I have a certyficiate - is it worth much anywhere - probably not. Then again at my age another degree was out of the question and I sought to get a portfolio together and once my work was seen I managed to get a few little jobs to pay for the hobby. Whethjer I will advertise and move it on to becoem a proper pro at some stage I don`t know (and doubt it as I want to keep the passion for a hobby rather than it being an earner as such)

[maynard_richard]

Thanks for your advice, to be honest im not to sure my self yet, Id like to get out of the carear im in at the moment, Im still quite young im 23, but a Full time course isnt and option for me, I carnt afford to leave full time employment, Mortgage etc... Im looking to do photography either full time or to give me a little extra cash if I dont leave the sector im in.

Like I say im still new at most of this , so at the moment im getting used to my new camera, all ive had previosuly was some higher end Digital cams, that had apature and shutter on them.

I spose im looking to gain experiance so I can do some free lance stuff and sell my images online. not to sure id like to to wedding stuff, proberly thats beacause me and the misses are sorting our own wedding out.. though the amount were paying the photographer I guess its a good way to go If i did go pro....

I know its going to be a long process to get where I want to be, but if I can do some courses / degrees around my work, then it would be fantastic ... and who knows I might win the lottery in the mean time so i can take it up full time.... lol ......

Is the course from the photo instute easy to follow etc? Ive got a work colleaguee who's doing an online computer programing course .... and his course looks quite easy to do online ...

Do they have an online student area etc...

Sorry for the long reply, I dont want to sink good money into a course that's crap, special as were paying for the wedding etc.

Thanks once more.

[Eyeayen]

You need to concentrate on your portfolio, and get it on a nice simple to navigate uncluttered no frills website. Keep changing it. Then be a complete tart and put yourself about as much as you possibly can. All the while keeping on with your portfolio. In the creative industry it's that that counts, not some piece of paper saying you did it. If your portfolio isn't up to it you'll never get anywhere however many pieces of paper you have. Since I left college in 96 ( I did graphics ) no one has once asked to see my pieces of paper, only my work.

This is becoming an over saturated market with the price of DSLR's coming down and everyone jumping on the band wagon so you need to be different and proficient in what you create, this needs to be your every spare minute otherwise you won't make it.

And you need a good portfolio - did I mention that ?

Good luck

[Dagwood]

I just wanted to wish you all the best in your ambition to improve, study, and become a pro. I also wanted to ask if you have considered joining or already belong to a good camera club? My photography has improved significantly since joining one and the exposure to the work of far better photographers than I will ever be plus their constructive criticism and advice is,for me , far more useful than any correspondence course would be. At the end of the day,as already said, a good portfolio of work is what will get you somewhere.Best wishes
Dagwood

[karenoliver]

The OU do an online photography course but I've no idea what its like.

Karen

[bugzy]

hi
I am looking at enrolling with The Open College Of Arts (OCA).
They have A degree course but it also breaks down into 3 levels so you can do parts of the degree if you like that still gives you a qualification and gives you a working goal...something to get your teeth into.
You can take each part as and when it suits you but in a set order level 1 then 2 and finally level 3 so it can take some years to reach the degree end.
They have a web site its www.oca-uk.co.uk

Have a look I am going to enroll on the level one which is A certificate of Higher Education in Photography.

I have taken snap shots all my life and at 43 years old i have decided to try and improve my skills and work towards part time work in the field of photography.
Good luck and go for it.

[karenoliver]

That's interesting, Bugzy because I've been looking to do a degree but the cost of accomodation has put me off. Had a look around the site but it seems you can't use a grant to pay for it. Some of the tutors seem okay and as long as you can work independently you should be okay. I'd research it first though and see what others have had to say about it.

Karen

[bugzy]

hi Karen
I have spoken to one person who is studying art with OCA and I have looked around for quite a long time for a course to suit me, this seems to tick all the boxes and I have rang OCA and Bucks Uni that they work with so I am hoping it will be the one for me.
Referance funding I have not looked into it as I am Serving in the Army at the moment and they ( the Army ) off set the cost by how much I have yet to find out. The course's are between £600 and £700 approx.. on going further there is an increase in price.
I want to get into photography alot more than I have in the past I love the use of Photoshop etc and just need a goal to work to.
I seem to loose the flare or I have put it on the back boiler and come back to it again after other commitments, but now I have time to study but only distance learning due to my Role in the Army.
So fingers crossed its for me.
Thanks for your reply
Bugzy
ps just had a look at some of your work it really is good and the power station/water cooling towers have great compositions to them...I need abit of what you guys have.. cheers again

[karenoliver]

Hi Richard,
My brother-in-law is in the army, did tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and presently is in Sierra leon. I keep going on about how he should take a camera and do some shots. Being in the army could be an advantage if you go the reportage route for your work, photograph everyday events and things that happen. Even photographing training or exercise drills if they will let you. You never know with a degree in photography you could end up changing role and being the forces photographer.
Thanks for your comments on my work :-)

Karen