Lets get back on track. Getting a masters in Photography didn't seem like a great idea. In fact it’s a joke in my mind. After poking around I found out that the two of the biggest schools in Chicago offer a three-year masters program for about 30k. Now I wouldn't go and get another bachelors because my education at Purdue University has treated me well. I use my Bachelors of Science (technical graphics) degree every day with digital photography. My sales experience as well as working with some of the biggest photographers in the Chicago land area has given me the professional background I don't have to pay 30k for.

You might say..."well I don't have that background and want to be a photographer". Hey, that's fine, but to go out and get a degree in photography then on to get a masters in Photography and end up spending a possible 50k or more on an education that you may or may not succeed in is a risk that one shouldn't take. To be a success in photography or any creative business for that matter takes passion for the craft, drive and a thirst to learn. If you have those things over time you’ll pick up a direction and fine tune your skills. You just have to keep shooting.

Now, I have thought about further education often. After assessing the experience I have and what my future goals as a photographer and business professional the following are an option that seems to make more sense. 1. Would be to get a masters in business. One thing I could use more experience in is running a business. I run Hqprints.net and my photography business on my own. Some refinement and a bit of education would be helpful in my mind. Or I would 2. Get a masters in teaching or education. I also enjoy teaching currently on the high school level and in the past on the college level. But to get anywhere in education you have to have a masters. I do this to offset the long winter and cold season that often slows Landscape and Architecture photography to a stand still. I prefer not to travel in the off-season here in Chicago, leaving my family and the city I love. So teaching at After School Matters is not only a way I can give back to the youth of Chicago’s community, but a way I can earn extra money and still remain in Chicago over the winter.

At this point I don’t have the time or want to invest the money in education. But I will in time. I do however invest about once a year in some sort of photography workshop where I can spend time around other professionals and continue to hear new perspectives on what can be a lonely profession. Another good thing to do is to be apart of a local photography organization. One that I’m a part of is ASMP. ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) provides a Varity of services for professional photographers. In future posts on Photoblogic I’ll write more on a photography workshop I attended this spring and ASMP.