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One question we get asked time and time again by aspiring photographers is "Should I go to school for photography?" I don't know if it is just in the air right now or what but in the past two weeks we have received 13 different e mails from photographers asking exactly this question or other variations therein... such as, "Where should I go to school?" "Do you think having a formal photography education is essential for success?" etc. In my opinion, this is the wrong question to ask. What we should be asking is if creating is our passion and purpose in life.... our calling. If your answer is yes to that question then anything is possible for you and I don't believe you need an advanced level of fine art education to make it happen.
"God trains the called he doesn't necessarily call the trained." Whether you are a spiritual person or not, there is a great deal of truth in this sentiment. A calling can also be considered a "purpose" a "passion" or a "deep desire or longing." You see, in my opinion, the most successful photographers are not necessarily those who completed years or schooling or studied under the most prestigious educators; although I'm sure this is helpful, their art degrees are not the keys to their success. I believe the key to their success is that they have a calling, people who felt like if they did anything other than create imagery they would be doing themselves and the world a great dis-service. When you have THAT kind of passion behind you - sacrifice becomes bearable and hard work like eating an ice cream cone. Someone who has that kind of purpose will always forge their own path.... they will ALWAYS make a way even when it seems there is not one.... they will take initiative to learn, grow and stretch themselves because they have the conviction of knowing it is what they were put on this planet to do.
I've met plenty of successful photographers who are doing incredible work who had formal fine art educations and I've met plenty of photographers with a formal education from the best photography schools out there who fulfill my print orders at the local lab and aren't shooting at all any more. It doesn't come down to the question of schooling.... it comes down to a question of purpose.
So the bottom line is this, I don't believe you need to seek out a formal photography degree. I believe you need to seek to understand your self, your passion, you calling and purpose. I found my purpose while I was getting my BA in Journalism... a degree program that I personally found frustrating.... but it lead me to discover what kinds of stories I DO love to tell and the medium by which I am passionate about telling them. So do I recommend college? YES! College is a time for huge personal growth, for stepping into your own skin and being on your own. But do I think it's necessary to major in photography and pay lots and lots of mula to go to a prestigious photography school? NO. In my opinion you should stay out of debt so that you can invest any extra money you have back into furthering your craft and building your business when the time is right.
So here is the cliff-notes just to be clear: Am I dissing advanced education for the fine arts? NO. Am I saying that it can be done without advanced schooling if you have the passion and purpose? YES! Because with passion, talent and a sense of purpose you will always make a way for yourself with or without advanced level of art schooling.
Thoughts
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Wow! I so needed to read this. I'm so glad I decided to go through your archives.
THANK YOU for inspiring through your words AND through your art.
This is what I want to start my New year thinking about: Purpose, passion and possibility!
This is so true! I'm thankful for this post- it was really inspiring to me today! Thank you!!
Well said! Thank you for sharing, Sarah!
Its nice to hear this perspective!
I totally agree!
perfectly said! you can clearly see your passion through every single image you post.
This is very well stated. Education can be important but passion is the necessary key to success.
I have Passion & Deep Desire and I am self taught and I am Very Proud of It!!! I have alot of Fantastic Photographers around the world who I am Inspired by and this Drives me to be better! You guys are definately at the top on of my List!! :-)
Thanks you guys I Love you heaps!!! x
Sarah, I have often been inspired and pushed forward by your insight wisdom and amazing images - but this was one of the most home hitting and truly inspiring post you've had yet! Thank you so much for giving what you've received to so many of us freely!
cheers
Halleluia & Amen! Whole heartedly agree: Love. It's about Love. Life is about spreading love, giving love, and investing in love. Be it family, friends, acts, or even pursuing your passions; Live, Love.
totally agree with this... i spent $50k on a degree in film/photography that i could have spent travelling, photographing & purchasing equipment. the ONE thing that my degree did for me, that is just as valuable as the passion, is knowing the technicals.... you can have passion all day long, love it, but if your exposure is crap... what was the point??? passion + technical understanding... but i think that can be obtained from cheap community college courses.
totally agree with this... i spent $50k on a degree in film/photography that i could have spent travelling, photographing & purchasing equipment. the ONE thing that my degree did for me, that is just as valuable as the passion, is knowing the technicals.... you can have passion all day long, love it, but if your exposure is crap... what was the point??? passion + technical understanding... but i think that can be obtained from cheap community college courses.
Inspiring. Wise. Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing and giving one untrained individual hope :) You rock!
Love it! Such great advice Sarah! Keep it coming! ;)
Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Well said, my friend, well said. You always inspire me :)
Great post! Thank you!
sarah, i LOVE this. thank you so much for it. it's really encouraging to hear-it can be discouraging to keep hearing people tell me that i can't be legit without a degree in photography. your words make me feel like i actually have a place in this little world of photography. thanks for being awesome. can i give you a shout out on my blog and post a link to you??
Sarah, i LOVE this. thank you so much. it really makes me feel better....it's kind of discouraging hearing people say that you're not legit cause you don't have a degree. i mean, not that i'm trying to be legit..but i at least want to feel like i fit in somewhere in the world of photography. you inspire me. thank you so much!! do you mind if i give you a shout out on my blog and post a link to you??
I couldn't have said it better. you guys are amazing! I
I couldn't have said it better. You guys are amazing!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this blog post. This has been on my mind literally everyday, and I sometimes beat myself over even considering not going to school for photography. Thank you for you encouraging blog posts, after reading them you give me this motivation to keep going!
-Sandra
WOW.
such TRUTH!
loved this :)
Amen, Sarah. I have been creating images for almost 20 years and will tell you that almost every photography class or seminar I have been to had huge gaping holes in them leaving me more frustrated and bored. However, I found two photography mentors that fed me deeply. It was worth every penny I spent to learn from their depth of soul and wealth of knowledge. They took a risk and used their platforms to point their students to God. God became our teacher through them. And because of them, my hearing got better, my seeing became visionary, and God's presence was infused into my photography. My suggestion is to find those who are practicing the presence of God in such a way that their photographs have the power to move people to deeper living and are awe-inspiring, and then hang around them as much as possible. Learn from them and be encouraged by them. Godly mentors are life-changing and life-giving.
Thanks for your post! You are definitely on the right track and someday you will be that mentor many talk about!
Amen, Sarah. I have been creating images for almost 20 years and will tell you that almost every photography class or seminar I have been to had huge gaping holes in them leaving me more frustrated and bored. However, I found two photography mentors that fed me deeply. It was worth every penny I spent to learn from their depth of soul and wealth of knowledge. They took a risk and used their platforms to point their students to God. God became our teacher through them. And because of them, my hearing got better, my seeing became visionary, and God's presence was infused into my photography. My suggestion is to find those who are practicing the presence of God in such a way that their photographs have the power to move people to deeper living and are awe-inspiring, and then hang around them as much as possible. Learn from them and be encouraged by them. Godly mentors are life-changing and life-giving.
Thanks for your post! You are definitely on the right track and someday you will be that mentor many talk about!
such TRUTH!
very well said.
Amen, Sarah. I have been creating images for almost 20 years and will tell you that almost every photography class or seminar I have been to had huge gaping holes in them leaving me more frustrated and bored. However, I found two photography mentors that fed me deeply. It was worth every penny I spent to learn from their depth of soul and wealth of knowledge. They took a risk and used their platforms to point their students to God. God became our teacher through them. And because of them, my hearing got better, my seeing became visionary, and God's presence was infused into my photography. My suggestion is to find those who are practicing the presence of God in such a way that their photographs have the power to move people to deeper living and are awe-inspiring, and then hang around them as much as possible. Learn from them and be encouraged by them. Godly mentors are life-changing and life-giving.
Thanks for your post! You are definitely on the right track and someday you will be that mentor many talk about!
Thank you so much for this post. I'm new to photography and completely did a 180 on my career choice and this post is so helpful. I have many people who are supporting me as a photographer and then I have people telling me I need to go to school for photography to be any good. I have so much passion for this and know I can make it without a formal degree, but it's been hard dealing with the nay-sayers. This post was the perfect thing for me to read and I can't thank you enough for it!
I completely agree, too! LOVE this post!!!!
Sarah,
Thank you so much for this post. I am currently making the transition from art school to state school because of so many reasons you stated in your post: I don't want debt and I have the passion to do it on my own.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for this post. I've been struggling with ideas like this for a while and I have the EXACT same thoughts as you, but others around seem to feel that it is necessary for me to go to school to develop it.
Thank you for solidifying my decision.
I completely agree. I finish my degree in 2 weeks with no intention of making a career in the advertising field. But will my journalism, marketing, web design, graphic design, law, and persuasion classes help our business? Immensely. Education should be a lifelong pursuit, but career should be a calling...a path that you find instead of decide.
Also, I have met people with BFA's in Photography who don't even know what focal length and max f/ stops their lenses are. Minor details I guess...
This is so well said!!
This blog post was right on time for me. As I was reading through it, I realized something. When I started out, I was soooo passionate about photography and really put my heart into it. I loved every moment. Over time, I became so worried about the technical aspect and nailing each shot juuuust perfectly and beating myself up over my images that I've lost the passion I once had. Don't get me wrong, a technically sound image is SUPER important. But I've lost something a long the way, and that was my heart.
So this weekend, I plan on going out there, trusting my eye but letting my heart take the lead. Thank you for reminding me that my images need to reflect me and not necessarily some preconceived notion of how an image is "supposed" to be.
P.S. I'm like you and have a journalism degree. I focused on writing in college, and I eventually realized that telling stories with images was my heart's true desire.
Amen!
every.single.day that i read your blog i think, yes.yes.totally.yes. you express so well many of the thoughts i think and philosophize about constantly. i can't wait to meet you!
Agreed.