Getting your foot in the door?

[mpphoto12]

so im looking at colleges for photojournalism. I was wondering about a few famous journalists that have different types of degrees such as visual communication, photojournalism, phyclogy, and even business... believe it or not. They have somehow got their foor in the door and became photographers for major sources with these degrees. Does anyone want to share their opinions on how to go through college and hopefully come out with a degree that could have a future in journalism/photojournalism? which degrees would you major in? how to get started after college etc.. any pros out there would be grwatly appreciated if they could share some of their backrounds and schools they went to. Thanks

[Rodger]

Hey mpphoto12, I'm going into senior year in high school so I've got pretty much the same questions as you.


About a month ago I asked the head of Penn State's photo courses, Curt Chandler, the same thing. He gave me a list of good colleges and majors to look into.


Among the majors he recommended were: Photography, Photojournalism, Photography + journalism. I think Commercial Photography would be a good one too. Business is always a good course to take also because as a freelance photographer/photojournalist, you market yourself. I can't imagine you could go terribly wrong with Visual Communication classes either. I honestly can see how psychology might help because it would help you to better understand your subject.


Among the colleges he recommended were: Rochester Institute of Technology ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4105)in Rochester, New York;Ohio University ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=2008) in Athens, Ohio; Point Park University ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=2400) in Pittsburgh, PA; Syracuse University ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=1269) in Syracuse, New York; Western Kentucky University ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=3942)in Bowling Green, Kentucky; and finally Penn State University Park ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4136) (Main Campus I believe) in Pittsburgh, PA.


He knows the directors of the courses at almost every university he suggested and spoke very highly of them.


Personally, I think I'm going to do a double major in Studio Photography and Photojournalism or Commercial Photography. Add in some business classes and I think I'll have a solid lineup of classes to base my future off of.


Hope I helped narrow your college search some. Im interested in hearing what courses some of the full time professionals here took too.


-Rodger

[mpphoto12]

Rodger,


thanks for your imput. My friend is leaving this week to WKU for photojournalism and i have looked into that school as well. I appreciate your ideas and also look foward to getting help from ome pros. I am only a junior this year so i have a whole year to figure it out.

[RadicalTenth]

and finally Penn State University Park ("http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/CollegeDetail.jsp?collegeId=4136) (Main Campus I believe) in Pittsburgh, PA.





Just like to point out, living in Pittsburgh myself, that it is actually in State College, PA, smack dab in the middle of the state.

[mattsartin]

glad to see Western Kentucky on that list, i'm planning on going there next fall

[mpphoto12]

Really? are you a junior like me? My friend is going there next week and gt into the photojournalism program. He said the students there produce tremendous work.

[peety3]

Personally, I think I'm going to do a double major in Studio Photography and Photojournalism or Commercial Photography. Add in some business classes and I think I'll have a solid lineup of classes to base my future off of.





In my humble opinion, that's an odd combination of majors that might not fly too well - double majors are usually two tangential or independent disciplines as far as I know. I'd either pick one photography track (or one that's broader and encompasses both sub-tracks mentioned above) AND do a business major, or circle back for a business degree after you finish the photography degree.


I'd suspect the best way to get your foot in the door is to start somewhere, hone skills, get noticed by someone higher up, and climb the ladder. Hoping/expecting/planning/seeking anything faster is not likely to happen, unless/until you're in the right place at the right time and do the right thing(s) with your shot(s).

[mattsartin]

Really? are you a junior like me? My friend is going there next week and gt into the photojournalism program. He said the students there produce tremendous work.
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i'm actually in college right now finishing up my general studies requirements, but from whast i've heard its an excellent school for any type of arts degree

[mpphoto12]

As for minoring in photojournalism? any thoughts? is it harder to get a job related to photo if you minor in photography and major in something colmpletely different?

[Rodger]

I'd suspect the best way to get your foot in the door is to start somewhere, hone skills, get noticed by someone higher up, and climb the ladder. Hoping/expecting/planning/seeking anything faster is not likely to happen, unless/until you're in the right place at the right time and do the right thing(s) with your shot(s).


I agree with this 100%. Ask your local newspaper (like the community paper) if they could use another shooter. Say you'll do it for just the experience. The biggest thing you can do is network. Go to friends' sporting events and talk to the coaches. do whatever haha.



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RadicalTenth, thankyou for correcting me! Sorry about that.


peety3 that's an interesting comment and I will definitely be talking to a school counselor about that. Although I should have specified, I didn't mean to say "studio photography". I mainly meant "not photo-j" haha. Thanks for your input!


Who knows, I've got a heart for Kenya ("http://www.410bridge.org/video.php)and might end up taking a year off before college and going there. Or doing community college to get the standard credits down. Or there's a program called "Winter in Westminster" that puts up in the heart of the snowboard scene in Utah. 40+ days of riding in one semester. Dream job is a snowboard photographer, so who knows at this point? Certainly not me haha.


mpphoto12, from my [very limited] knowledge, I think if you want to do something photo related, major in it. Wanna be a photojournalist? Major in photo-j, and minor in something else rather than visa versa. Again, that's how my brain figures it.


-Rodger
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[Ehcalum]

I highly suggest that you do not offer to shoot for free, shoot for portfolio and to network. One is you will be putting professionals out of gig and you will be labeled as the guy who works for cheap/free. Lose-lose.





Alot of times getting your foot in the door is sheer luck.

[peety3]

I understand your heart for another place, but I think the suggestion to shoot for a newspaper makes more career sense, as it gives you assignments AND gets your work published. That brings eyeballs to your work, and in this electronic age puts your name in archives as the photographer on a particular image.

[nimo956]

You should be aware that newspapers all over the country are in the midst of a crisis. They have essentially been giving all of their content away for free online, and have been relying solely on advertising and print subscription revenue, both of which have tanked since the recession. Newspapers are losing money left and right; the Boston Globe was almost shut down by the New York Times. As a result, there are literally no jobs for grads with no work experience, let alone for people with actual experience. I'm more familiar with the writing side of things, as I was an English major, but I would keep other options in mind. Nothing is worse than graduating from college and not being able to find a job, or having to work for next to nothing freelancing at a local paper.