School of photography suggestions please?

[heiyoulianglaohu]

I'm looking into a few schools currently.. Allow me to explain.

I am interested in going into a school (like Oklahoma school of photography or something like it) where I can get certified, a diploma etc. I plan to move to South Korea in the future and in order to get a work Visa I MUST have a bachlor degree in something but in the mean time I wanna get something that will allow me to work for a magazine or local news paper, something like that and I'm currently looking for a school that's semi close to Texarkana where I live. Suggestions anyone? Thanks

[PIC]

???

[PIC]

Measure twice - cut once.
There is great over saturation in creative photographer supply
with demand down due to economy.
Any school will take your money and promise great things.
That's the class action lawsuit that Brooks is now fighting.
Consider demand for the next 40 years.
FWIW - I got a BS from RIT 30 years ago and switched
from creative to technical photo while there.

EL

[SCone]

I just started the NYIP course. So far, so good. Ton's of information, some video is a little dated, but it looks good so far.

[ajl3photo]

I say just apply yourself to a university that offers a degree in journalism. That is what I am currently doing. It's nice because I know how to write, essential for any job and I can take a few photography courses on the side. Plus I'm working up to a Bachelor's degree.

[CaptainTom]

I'd also recommend a journalism degree if you want to get into PJ work. You'll undoubtedly start out in a smaller market, and your writing and reporting skills will serve you very well.
If you want to go into the commercial world, get a business degree.
Photo skills can be learned in a bunch of different ways. I know dozens of good photogs who have no formal photography education, as well as several who have MA in photog. No one will every question the field of your education if you have a fantastic portfolio.

And if you have a crappy portfolio, you could always say " well, I'm still learning. I got my degree in business! "

[nash]

Try A&M Commerce. Look into their photography offerings.

[nash]

Or try Kilgore College. Rufus Lovett, who did the book "Weekping Mary," teaches in the photography department there. It's a two-year institution. From there you could transfer to Commerce. Both are fairly close to Texarkana.

[bondarnes]

I have convinced several summer interns to switch their major from photography to business. After only a few weeks they realize that the "photography" part is easy. It's the "making a living at it" part that is hard.

In the previous century photographers learned their craft, then they went into business. Now they go into business, then try to learn the craft at the expense of their clients. It seems backwards to me, but it is a fact we must live with.

BTW, I have a BA in photojournalism from North Texas State University (now UNT). That and a dime would buy a cup of coffee back then.

[CobyPhoto]

Woop Woop! I second Don's idea completely. Have degree's in finance and accounting. Oh and a BA in Photography from RIT as well...can't tell you how much that cost me! LOL

I would get the business degree and then you at least have a plan B if photography doesn't work out for you.

CJ

[heiyoulianglaohu]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.. I guess I should have mentioned that when I go to Korea I'm going to be an English teacher.. thing is, if you're native to the English language they will give you a work Visa and you can easily get a job as an english teacher. However, you must have a bachelor degree in SOMETHING, although it really doesn't matter what.. I was thinking photo journalism.. originally I was gonna get a degree in English and then I found out I just need a degree in general.. doesn't matter what. I do plan on living here from time to time.. my girl is from South Korea and we are planning on marrying in another year or so and since her family lives there and I love the country we were thinking of moving back and forth every few years or so.. I would like to work for a magazine or newspaper as a photo journalist while I'm here and as an english teacher over seas.. seeing as how both of those are my passion in life.
So like I said, I plan to get a bachelor because I need one to get a work visa over seas but I just wanted to know if I would benefit from a course at one of these schools to get a job taking photos for a magazine or paper WHILE I'M GETTING MY BACHELOR.. I had some photos published locally by some newspapers (my best one made it on the front page of the Texarkana Gazette) and they said they would like for me to work for them but had nothing they could offer me since I really had no prior experience other than learning on my own.

[110240]

your wrong about "needing" a degree.

[heiyoulianglaohu]

Originally Posted by 110240

your wrong about "needing" a degree.

No I don't believe so.. I have done a lot of research and have been to South Korea on an offerto work in the country before.. however the only way to enter south korea (Unless you use the 90 day visitation right granted to US citizens which you cannot work on) is to get something like an arts and culture visa for studying a korean martial art (what I and a friend from england did and you can't work with that either) you can stay there for one year on this visa however you must show around 10,000 USD to get this visa which is not an E-2 Visa.. the fact of the matter is.. in south korea it is ILLEGAL to work there without an E-2 Visa and in order to get an E-2 you MUST have a minimum of a 4 year degree.. otherwise you can go there and you can find a job but you won't make as much and you will be working there illegally and also have to show something around $10,000 for every year you plan to stay with a Visa.. I just came back from there 2 months ago. I realize that in countries like Vietnam and Thailand you can get away with this but in Korea it is less tolerable. You can only illegally get part time jobs in certain cities with a private academy and most will not pay you what you will need for the extremely high price of living in the country especially in Seoul.. so no.. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about as long as I was there.

[110240]

Perhaps... you should study very hard to become an excellent English teacher, because its the children you will teach who suffer when you use teaching as an excuse to get a visa.

[CobyPhoto]

Originally Posted by 110240

Perhaps... you should study very hard to become an excellent English teacher, because its the children you will teach who suffer when you use teaching as an excuse to get a visa.

Ouch. But I have to say...I am in complete agreement with Al. If you are going to be teaching English, you should have a degree in English and Teaching. Not Photography. You have an obligation to be a qualified Teacher if you plan to teach people English, even in Korea.

CJ