Starting in photography...?

I've always been really inerested in photography and I've been seriously thinking about it as a carreer after high school. I'm a senior in high school, and I haven't taken any classes.

What are some good things to know about getting into this buisness?
What are some great schools?
Also what's a good camera for beginners?

For formal photography education, check out your local community college and trade school instead of seeking to pay high-priced private graphic or art photography schools such as Art Center College of Design [Pasadena] or Brooks Institute of Photography [Santa Barbara]. Unfortunately, there are any number of unemployed graduates from these pricey photography schools who are still unable to find suitable employment since there are so few openings in the commercial world. A recent employment survey by the State of California shows that there is an overabundance of photographers versus a very limited number of opportunities offered by government agencies and the like.

You want to buy an "essential/basic" DSLR system which
has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning
with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with "image
stabilization" built into the camera body. "Image
stabilization" is essential for allowing you to take
telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the
go and you don't have to drag along a tripod to steady
your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have
chosen to install their "vibration reduction" devices
into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back
to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit
consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal
lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650
at samys. com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs
circles around the D40 Nikon!

Good luck!

I am really into art and taking pictures. I am just a junior in high school, but I draw sketches and paint a few things. But I love taking pictures. I don't know much about good colleges in photography, but if you are really interested in that, I would go to an art school, and take graphic arts. There's an amazing art school in Savanna, Georgia and there's great schools in New York. Just look online for some good art schools.

I think one of the best cameras to get would be the Nikon D40. That's what I am saving up for. For a new one, it the price ranges from $500.00-$700.00, but if you want one for about $300.00 you can go on eBay, but it would probably be used.

I think the school mentioned from the first person is SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design), which my brother graduated from. But as far as schools it depends on where you live. Here in Georgia SCAD and SCAD Atlanta is great and so is Georgia State's Welch and UGA's Lamar Dodd.

Good things about the business, I don't know. It depends on what type of photography you end up wanting to pursue then I could say.

The camera I started off with was a Sigma SA-7 35mm. When I went to digital my first was a Canon 20D (now the newest version is the 40D). A Rebel is fine too, just depends on your budget. But you hit the darkroom first no matter what. No legit photography program will let you jump straight into digital. I wouldn't even worry about digital right now until you have mastered the basics of film and working in the darkroom.

Let me just say, a beginner camera is not a good question to be asking. A good camera is anything you know how to use, and use well. This could be a decades old Yashica, a Leica rangefinder, or a top of the line DSLR. Asking someone else what the best camera is, you're just getting opinions. You should start shooting and discover for yourself.

Some things to know about before getting into photography is that it is a difficult business to make a living at. Usually, photographers have a main job, with photography at the side. The reason being, a) there are too many photographers out there, and b) there is no set amount of money you can make. The average sallery of a photographer is $10,000 to $20,000. This is it. Sure, there are those that make much more, but for the majority, this is not so. $10,000 is not a lot of money.

Schools you should be considering are any of those that offer art and photography degrees. You could consider a major art school, but you'll probably need a good portfolio. While going to college, you should also take a lot of classes in business management, because in all likelyhood, you'll be your own boss.

Once you get started, and discover what you want to do, you'll need top of the line, or at least resonable gear. Expect to easily spend over $10,000, or more.

Hope this helps.

I go to Academy of Art University in San Francisco CA. It is a regular college you can go to in person, accredited and all, but they actually have a photography program online, that you get your bachelors or masters degree online solely. I love it. Its expensive so have scholarships or grants, but Its a great education!

well i am not sure where you are from or what type of photography you are interested in..but here in minnesota i know that you can get a two year degree in photography..im not sure if you could really ever work for a magazine or something with that degree but it focuses a lot on people and being a portrait photographer and owning your own studio and such..and as for the camera..well i love photography i just have a sony cybershot but like one guy said its not the camera its whether you know how to use it or not..i would say though you should just start out with a smaller digital..just because its cheaper and you can start to get a feel for things and try different things out..but thats just me..my dream some day is to own a nice nikon digital..but just remember photography is not a easy career to be successful in..you have to start out and prove yourself you mostlikly wont be making money the second you graduate with your degree..i wish you the best of luck in your future!!