Hi, a newby, a question on qualifications.

[Nick Gunn]

Hi Im new to the forum, i know a few people on here in "real life" but I will get involved where i can. I have a question for those that are in the know, What formal qualifications would you recommend doing as a photographer.I have seen there are plenty of different qualifications about but Consider that i am in my 40's, i have been into photography for a long time but never got any qualifications, any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. 

Cheers

Nick

[Tracy Willis]

Hi Nick, I would strongly advise going down the qualification route with the SWPP.

http://www.swpp.co.uk/qualify.htm

[Nick Gunn]

Thanks Tracy,Sorry i didn't make myself clear, it was more a question of knowledge qualifications, where as i understand the SWPP is more on submissions of images, is that correct

Nick

[Tracy Willis]

Ah sorry, do you mean you are looking for training?

[Nick Gunn]

I think its quite clear that i don't know what i want....lol I was thinking along the lines of Diploma, etc but if that is not the way to go I'm more than happy to use the mentor scheme of the SWPP. Then submit my images.


Nick

[Tracy Willis]

  I am new to it all so can only recommend the way I went which was plenty of training (with Damian McGillicuddy) then usng the free Mentor Me facility to get my panel assessed, which in turn gave me my qualification. I'm sure others can give you better feedback than me. 

[Bryan Elliott]

for me a panel submission out strips any diploma or dare i say it degree!, look to gain your L, then your A and if up for it your F, being told I'm up to scratch by the best in the uk id much better than getting a qualification from someone who isn't a photographer, probably never has been a photographer and who themselves probably don't even have any qualifications in photography 

[Angela Prabhu]

It depends on what you want to know

Some of the HNC's around are brilliant for practical training - There's a great one at Reid Kerr college but that may be a bit far to travel.
Formal courses may not teach you what you want to know as they are catering for a wide range of students and interests.

Calumet do one and two day courses on a wide range of subjects as do  lot of SWPP members (see the accredited speakers)
Nikon have a training academy and do one and two day courses on their range of cameras and equipment

I've never gone the route of formal training (ie scottish qual board exams) for photography because it doesn't suit me at the moment. (never say never!)

[Nick Gunn]

Thanks Bryan, I will make a start at entering the realms of the mentor me program..

Thanks Angela, i will take a look, as you say never say never, but I'm from the other side.."C" 

Nick

[John Willis]

I think you should enrol on a course in Philosophy.


By the end of the course you should be able to ask the following questions and be able to formulate a meaningful and measured solution the these and other conceptual conundrums.

What is
	Fine art
	Elegance
	Light
	Genre
	Beauty
	Charm
	Impact
	The decisive moment
	je ne sais quoi
	Gobble'd'garbage

[Nick Gunn]

  very good

[Chris Costello]

age don't come into it, qualifications and mentor me are a great way to get feedback on your images and grow as a photographer...

[Cass]

I'm in the final stages of an NVQ4 in Digital imaging with Photo Tutor Online registered with C&G - its helped having specific projects to work on and i can do it as fits my home family and business schedule - my tutor is a Fellow of the RSA and a working photographer. In addition to that using the forum making connections for training (Gary Hill is a brilliant trainer) and the mentor me scheme have been invaluable.

[Richard P Walton]

I would reccomend a national diploma for someone starting fresh in photography but as you have experience you probably wouldn't gain much from it. Uni is a waste of time so I'd look at training from the SWPP. The convention is a great place to start 

[Nick Gunn]

Thanks everyone for your comments, I think i will go with the mentor me program...here we go..

Nick