FabSwingers.com mobile

Join us FREE, we're FREE to use

Web's largest swingers site since 2006.

Already registered?
Login here

Back to forum list
Back to Wales

Photography

Jump to newest
 

By *elsh_lass74 OP   Woman
over a year ago

South Wales

I know some will say Fab isn't the place for this type of thread, but as we are from all walks of life I thought I would give it a go!

My eldest is about to finish in education and is interested in photography. I've searched online for apprenticeships and come up with nothing in South Wales.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of anything to do with photography, jobs, trainees etc etc.

Message me privately if you don't want the information on the thread.

Thanks in advance

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A most valid question, one that got me thinking. As a qualified profession this used to be one where there was either further education or "on the job training". It's still available as a City & Guilds course. But has the statistic that everyone now takes pix . . with their phone . . killed off that "step onto the ladder"?

You're correct, nothing really Wales based, just postal courses or short training course, where you pay through the nose for a useless certificate.

Wonder how this will impact upon the future?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

Hi WL

I'm just a keen amateur, but here's some thoughts.

Firstly, regardless of the employment possibilities, please do encourage him with photography. It's a lovely thing to get into and I find it rewarding and actually very calming!

The other poster is right in that it's a tricky game now everyone is a photographer. I don't think employment is easy, but if your son wants to put a positive spin on it, his attitude should be "in a world deluged with crap photos, it's even more important the good guys stand out.

I've heard varying reports about the effictiveness of doing courses. What I would say is there is plenty of great photography forums online. I've had superb advice from. experts on them. You might look at one specific to the make of camera he has - I'm a Pentax shooter, so I go on a forum for those cameras.

There's also more general ones like Photography Talk. Flickr and 500pix are photo sharing/storage sites, but have loads of communities on them. I'm sure if he or you posts for advice, some old guys will gladly pass on their thoughts.

If you are looking at courses,it might be worth considering whether a more practical course is better than an "artistic" degree ones. FE colleges certainly do them - why not have a cut to them.

There's also lots of evening classes around if he wants to dip his toe in. I did one in Cardifd a few years back and there was a young schoolgirl in it. She enjoyed it.

Carving a career could be tricky, but I think being proactive will help. There are photogalleries in Cardiff and elsewhere too - maybe ask if you can get some experience there.

Also - Cardiff has a month long international photography festival called Diffusion. It's only every other year, so won't be back for a while. Why not try to get involved there? He'd meet some real experts and they probably plan it for a long time in advance.

There's also the Photomarathon event in Cardiff. Didn't happen this year as they had a year off I believe, but it's a nice event apparently and it's possible the organisers will want help.

Lots of guys and gals start out by taking photos in a club or music venue etc. Can be a good way to get a feel for doing it as a job and it's good discipline as its a hard environment to shoot in.

If he enjoys it, it's worth getting known on a site like Flickr. It's easy to build up a following of you post and tag decent photos.

Bit of a ramble, but hope that helps.

D

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *elsh_lass74 OP   Woman
over a year ago

South Wales

Many thanks Lost Sock. Some wonderful advice there, which I will past on, to my daughter!! xx

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

Oh bollocks - I am sorry. I thought I saw it say "he". To busy rambling

I'm not sexist - some of the best photographers are women e.g. Diane Arbus.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *elsh_lass74 OP   Woman
over a year ago

South Wales


"Oh bollocks - I am sorry. I thought I saw it say "he". To busy rambling

I'm not sexist - some of the best photographers are women e.g. Diane Arbus.

"

Not a problem babe and thank you once again x

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *thwalescplCouple
over a year ago

brecon

I remember seeing a documentary about photographers, specifically the outdoorsy, climber, andventurer type ones, and one guy said he'd started out doing the usual, weddings etc, but found there was a lot of competition, and then when he started to combine his other hobby of climbing and taking pics, very soon he was getting paid big bucks to go on expeditions as the official photographer.

His point was that, if you can find a niche, something different from the "standard", you can soon carve out a decent career.

I have noticed recently that a lot of photos are being taken from drones, maybe that's one angle to look into?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ubicinchMan
over a year ago

Gwynedd

Aberystwyth Uni may be worth looking into. I know my friend did a BA or MA course in photography; they may offer something for a school leaver as well.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *elsh_lass74 OP   Woman
over a year ago

South Wales

Thanks all for the information, on here and in messages. Very much appreciated xx

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *ubicinchMan
over a year ago

Gwynedd

When in my youth (a long time ago) my art school did everything, fashion design, graphics, photography.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I had a professional studio and did weddings portraits etc.

but its a waste of time now as people copy your photos(illegally) so no reprints.

the best way is event photography, rugby football in fact most sports.

also school proms and presentations.

you have to have help with organising and taking names etc. but a lot of money can be made.

other than that specialise in close up product photography.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I run my own photography business part time in a unique market but even there it is so difficult to make any money.

As the poster above said - people will copy your work illegally, under cut you and even work for free for 'exposure'. I'd highly recommend advising your daughter against a full time career in photography, its a great hobby to have but she will need to spend thousands of pounds on the equipment and will likely never see a return.

Sorry to put a downer on things, I wish I was told the same a few years ago. Credit cards, consumer goods and camera phones have killed off the photography market.

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


". . . Sorry to put a downer on things, I wish I was told the same a few years ago. Credit cards, consumer goods and camera phones have killed off the photography market. "

Not so much killed off pro photography as it's everywhere in our digital world BUT, as others have clearly stated, the means of getting into this trade have virtually withered away.

So the answer is : what then goes with digital photography? Image editing!

So anybody wanting a career in photography these days had best be genuinely trained in image editing and, as an "IT skill", it may be easier to find the courses and qualifications too.

Learn first what comes afterwards and then maybe one day make the career out of both?

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *inkymalestripperMan
over a year ago

cardiff

Hi Newport University has one of the best documentary photography degrees in the UK. I was thinking about doing it myself once. Here's the link x

http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1354-ba-hons-documentary-photography

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 

By *elsh_lass74 OP   Woman
over a year ago

South Wales

Thank you

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
 
 

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


". . . Sorry to put a downer on things, I wish I was told the same a few years ago. Credit cards, consumer goods and camera phones have killed off the photography market.

Not so much killed off pro photography as it's everywhere in our digital world BUT, as others have clearly stated, the means of getting into this trade have virtually withered away.

So the answer is : what then goes with digital photography? Image editing!

So anybody wanting a career in photography these days had best be genuinely trained in image editing and, as an "IT skill", it may be easier to find the courses and qualifications too.

Learn first what comes afterwards and then maybe one day make the career out of both?"

yes i was trained in adobe photoshop and it was a good way of making new images. but its more a graphic design skill.graphic designers will take the raw image then work their magic on it

but graphic designers need to be very competent in english A level standard and also be able to use illistrator and other software to be employed .

Reply privatelyReply in forumReply +quote
Post new Message to Thread
back to top