About school

[melissa jones]

I am probaly putting this in the wrong place but please bare with me, i was thinking about attending Academy of art university for associates or bachelors in photography. But i have alot of other photographers telling me its a waste of time that its better to just spend your time with other photographers and learn it all that way. Which i know quite a bit but still learning and i would like to have a paper saying i have experience i think it will help with business, so if yall could just tell me what you think i would appreciate it. Thanks so much

[Alexander Boriqua]

I would look for small class sizes with real attention to each student..
There are smaller Photography classes you can take with photography professionals working in the field. I would steer you there. You can really focus, these classes are much smaller and more personal. They are far less regimented so you have time to talk with the other classmates and discuss different techniques and critique one another and I had often gone on shooting outings with people I had met through the classes.

I HIGHLY recommend
http://www.cavecreek-photo.com if you are in AZ

They are often easier to swallow financially. I paid about $80 for instruction for a full 8-9 hour day and used his studio. you can take classes when you want so .. pay when you have money for a class instead of binding yourself to a degree program.
You also have the benefit on focusing in on the types of photography you want to do. I have been shooting for years and years and I have still taken classes periodically with Alan. A university type class .. And I took them when I went to SVA are marginally ok and I didn't feel like I had learned a thing. Go to your local photography store. there are usually fliers there for different photographers offering classes and often the store has classes. Lastly ... Take a lot of photos but GET THEM CRITIQUED by others. Nothing beats feedback.
Im still working at being a good photographer.

[melissa jones]

Thank you so much for the advice, thats what i want to do is just learn without having to go to school.