April 20, 2007
by Eneida Alcalde
Local Education Columnist
Thinking of pursuing a career in photography? Many of Seattle's local colleges offer top-notch programs taught by professional photographers, allowing you to gain valuable hands-on experience and expertise in this field. If you enjoy a lively music scene and a good cup of coffee on a rainy day, Seattle might be your dream come true.
Photography Degrees
Seattle colleges, universities, and art schools offer associate's and bachelor's degrees in photography that can take anywhere from one to four years to complete. Photography school is a great place to begin your career in advertising, publishing, or the entertainment industry. You could be an editor, director, cameraman, or post-production photographer. Seattle's local colleges will prepare you with coursework that covers:
- Cover equipment
- Processes
- Techniques
Bachelor's degree programs often include business courses for the aspiring freelancer, and art schools offer useful training in design and composition. Plus, you can opt to take courses that cover computer software programs and applications, so that you can expertly prepare and edit images.
To be a successful photographer, you'll need good eyesight, artistic ability and good hand-eye coordination. You should also be:
- Accurate
- Patient
- Detail-oriented
- Personable
Photography Careers
According to the Bureau of Labor of Statistics, more than half of the 129,000 photographers employed in 2004 were self-employed. Many photographers pursue individual projects through contracts with advertising agencies, magazine publishers, or other businesses. This type of freelance consulting work allows you to create your own schedule and, as a result, gives you greater flexibility.
During your high-quality education at one of Seattle's local colleges, you'll enjoy taking pictures of the city's landmarks, like the Space Needle, Smith Tower, Pike Place Market, and the city's largest skyscraper, the Columbia Center. You can also take advantage of fresh fish found daily in the city's famous fish markets while taking beautiful pictures of the local scenery and advancing your photography career.
Sources
About the Author
Eneida P. Alcalde works in Washington, DC and has written several grants, educational manuals, and promotional material for development organizations. Eneida holds a B.A. in international politics and Spanish from The Pennsylvania State University.
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