if you don't have a bachelor's in photography

[texangal]

where did you get "Training" before starting your business
recommend places in houston
i was trying to look for certificate programs and i can't seem to find any in the houston area
thanks!

[toverman]

The School of Life! I was a newspaper photojournalist for 12 years, and have taken only one official photography "class." The rest was gleaned from others along the way. The best thing: I'm still enrolled in that school.

Good luck!

[HotHolly]

I've had interns who had a BA in photography and didnt know how to take their $$$ camera off of auto. I would think trade schools for that and business classes if you intend to open your own shop. Before you do any of that, you should see about interning with a photographer in your area. Owning a photography business seems to be 90% other stuff and 10% photography. Its kind of a shocker if you went into it to take pictures.

[dbphotos]

That's what TPF is for.

[Shelby Lane]

I have learned more from other photographers, through professional training and forums, than I ever learned in photography classes. TPPA and the local guilds are a great place to start.

[pbyd]

I received my BFA in fine art photography in 1973 and worked on my MFA in 1980,very little of which have had anything to do with running the photographic business I have had for 38 years. I would tell anyone that wants to be successful in this wonderful business to learn business first and photography second. If you are to stay in business you will have to know bookkeeping bill paying and advertising first. I tell all of the new photographs I work with to copy successful photographers and not the young guys that try to be “Rock Stars”. The money making photographers know that it is the not the “cutting edge” images that the clients want. I have seen many “cutting edge” styles come and go. In the early 1970’s it was the double exposed images that was the new cool thing, but that faded just as the Leisure Suite did. Then came other styles that also are thought as funny now. Keep shooting and talking to photographers here on the forum and feel free to contact my studio anytime with questions.

Check out Coby James' Class listed on TPF: The Business Of Photography - August 9th
this is his second class the first was great.

[LadyShutterBug]

i have no formal training. i learned everythign i know from:

-my dad
-looking at beautiful things and trying to capture them with my camera the way i see them
-reading books
-trial & error
-looking at art in general, not just photography

[toverman]

Leisure suits aren't in style anymore?

[kdloftis]

Working with other photographers, but honestly mostly by playing on my own with my gear and borrowed gear.

[Christopher Mac]

Workshops with reputable instructors paid off for me when it came to improving my skills.

I would encourage you to intern for a successful photographer or studio for a while. It's the business end of things that will kill you if they're not handled correctly. You need to learn how to serve your customers, deliver on time, and meet your obligations to your town/county/state/federal government. It takes a lot of discipline. I know from experience how bad things get if they're not handled correctly.

[Aric C. Hoek]

Best training in Houston? Gittings

It will change your life.