You may have moments of doubt when you have to take a class for your degree that you don't think is up your alley, but even those you are least interested in can turn out to be your favorites. You will come to realize that the Architecture class you thought you had no interest in actually taught you a great deal about distortion corrections and how to frame your compositions to account for post production work. You may have no real passion for shooting buildings only to find that you love pulling out structural details to create abstract patterns (see below). Fashion may make you cringe, but the Fashion Photography class you dread will help you with posing and teach you how to show off a product. Each class will bring something new to your skillset to make you better in your final genre(s), and you just might find your passion where you least expect it.
Being a student is a full-time job on top of many other responsibilities, but if you have the opportunity to find an internship or a mentor in an area you are at all interested in, now is the time. Taking advantage of every spare minute to help give yourself direction in the industry will help you focus and get a solid portfolio started. I discovered early on that I had a passion for shooting weddings. Because of my enrollment in the program, I was able to apply and subsequently get a student internship shooting with a national wedding photography company. This is not something I ever thought I would do, but the position came up in a search when I was curious about the types of jobs available and it seemed fun. Three years later, I've shot over 30 weddings and have loved every second. The various Portfolio classes have left me with a physical and digital portfolio I am proud of. Try a search of your own for photography opportunities near you and see if something catches your eye - you will never know how you feel about a particular genre until you try it out!
As you get deeper into your classes and opportunities come your way, my best advice to you is to say "YES!" to every chance that pops up. You may find your niche through a class, an internship, or a random opportunity that comes to you through a friend of a friend of a friend... you never know! Best of luck on your journey, and happy shooting!
-Friday Ambassador
Thank you for that advice. I know the type of photography I enjoy but I also know that there is not much of a demand for it in my area so I am trying to find other avenues that will be more in demand in the area I live so this information is helpful to me in finding these areas.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck! I hope that you find, like I did, that you enjoy more than just one genre. Living in Chicago, I have to deal with the fact that wedding season ends around November once the cold starts setting in and doesn't pick back up until May. Luckily, I found that I love shooting family and child portraits so that gives me work when people are putting together their holiday cards or having family in for the holidays. Seeking out photo opportunities while you're a student will give you an idea of what you will and will not want to pursue later.
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