Articles
Photography School Closings: Not a Reflection on the Photography Business
Recently, two respected photography institutions around the country closed their doors permanently. Brooks Institute of Photography in Ventura, CA and the Hallmark Institute of Photography in Turner Falls, MA issued notice that they were shutting down operations. The closing of these schools may be disheartening or even shocking, but it's not a statement on photography as an education or a career.
More and more people are looking for professional photographers, yet they are looking to fulfill different needs and in different ways. Whether it is family portraits, high school seniors, weddings, or even commercial, the need for photographers that know what they're doing remains. With the invention of the camera phone, more and more people are finding the thrill in taking photographs. Some could say it's making people appreciate the art even more. But how do they go from camera phone junkies to professional artists? They don't! And what makes professional photographers more valuable than ever is their education. PPA knows the value of being prepared, professionally and artistically, and the success so many photographers experience now is a marriage of the two: business and artistry.
Never before have photographs and photographic products sold in such great numbers and photographs retailed for such large sums of money. That's why PPA focuses so much on helping its members achieve excellence through integral knowledge of photography and honing in on business as much as on photographic skills. "I joined PPA because I was hungry to learn from the top pros. I wanted success and there was no other way to develop and achieve my goals than through education, marketing, sales, and overall business operations know-how," says Master of Photography and Certified Professional, Gregory Finney. Whether it's online training, educational videos, studio seminars, or hands-on classes, PPA strives to give its members the tools they need to be more savvy, be more prepared, and on the right track to be more profitable.
To learn more about PPA or how to take your photography business to the next level, visit PPA.com.
About the author :
Lisa Sharer is the Marketing Campaign Manager at Professional Photographers of America. As a Creative Writing graduate, she loves any chance at getting pen to paper. When she's not being creative in the workplace, she can be found skating with the Atlanta Rollergirls or volunteering with the Weloveatl Project. Or really - snuggling with the dogs.