Full-Time Photography Student: Pros & Cons

Hey guys I hope you guys are doing well for those in college and high school we've been back about 2 weeks and I'm already starting to feel the pressure of deadlines. Being a photography student is so much more than taking a few photographs and handing them in. Its all about research, planning and techniques. I love doing photography and love my course but there are just some drawbacks that sometimes challenge me and can make me feel very alone.

The Pros of Being a Full Time Photography Student:

We work in a professional studio every week

At home I don't have a professional studio and most people don't however at college we do and its great for being able to achieve our creative ideas no matter how wacky they might be.

Help & Advice

I'm sure being a self taught photographer can be a struggle at times as you may or may not have a professional photographer you can ask advice from. In college we do. They help us with all different kinds of things like how to promote our business when we leave college to showing us how to achieve our creative potential through planning and research. 

Need models? No worries you have a class full of friends willing to model for you!

As a photographer that has been taught everything I know I have no idea how you self taught guys get models for your projects because I've never had to do that. Being in a class full of aspiring photographers we are all going to need models at some point so we model for each other (well I try to model).

Trips To Many Different Photography Gallery's or Pop up Exhibitions

We've been on my trips but the one that springs to mind is the one that I enjoyed the most. London, we got to visit The Tate and The Photographers Gallery. I recommend all serious aspiring photographers to visit the Tate at least once as its great there and full of inspiration.

The Cons Of being A Photography Student

Not Feeling Inspired By The Theme Given

Sometimes when we are given a theme I feel very uninspired and find it hard to think of ideas that can relate to the theme. This takes us out of our comfort zone however it can be extremely stressful when everyone around you has great ideas and you have photographers block.

Peoples Reaction To Me Being A Full Time Photography Student

This is something that annoys me I know I shouldn't let it but it does. When I tell someone I am a photography student they say things along the lines of 'That must be really fun and easy to'. This annoys me for a few reasons, no photography isn't rocket science but its still challenging its not just point and shoot. Its planning, research, practice shoot, shoot again, develop negatives and print on paper using enlargers. When people make presumptions photography is the easy course the lazy people take I have to explain there's a lot to a photography course that wouldn't cross their mind.

Shooting Within Deadlines

This is something I'm not the best at. Under pressure some people thrive. Not me. It stresses me out if I've planned a shoot and something happens for example bad weather, losing light or model (Friend from college) is not there this can really mess up the schedule I have planned out for my work. Usually for me its rain because I live in England.


Comparing Myself To Others

This is something a lot of people struggle with and it sucks for example I will have just finished my shoot and its all fine and dandy until I see others work and start to feel worried. I start asking myself are my images ok? Could I have done anything more to improve them? This is super annoying however I don't really do this as much anymore.

All in all I love photography and the course I'm on and wouldn't change it for the world. I recommend anyone thinking about doing this at college go for it, try it you never know where its going to lead.