Self-test: Is the "Photography (Cert.)" course right for me?
Analysis of the activities of photographers
What does a photographer's day-to-day work look like?
Photographers photograph and film events, situations and objects in order to capture them and transform them into designed images. Their main areas of activity are advertising, portrait photography, fashion and product photography, industry and science, landscape and reportage.
Before they start a new job, they clarify the task and the exact requirements with their customers and develop ideas that they then work up into concrete proposals. Using sketches, descriptions and, for large orders, concept papers, they explain their options to customers and prepare a concrete offer.
For the realization, they consider what material and tools they need and put together their equipment or organize the parts they want to rent. Assistants, extras and possibly photo models must also be requested and booked at an early stage. If they are involved in the conceptual work at an early stage, they also consider the choice of a suitable location, the equipment and the presentation of the objects.
During the photo shoot, they orchestrate the entire scene, make sure the lighting is right, give the models, extras and lighting technicians instructions and constantly check whether the pictures reflect the desired mood. They then select the best images, edit them and convert them into the desired data formats to deliver them to the client.
When photographers are not taking pictures, they take care of their administration and marketing, organize details of upcoming assignments or devote themselves to customer care. Most photographers work independently, as there are few jobs available. These can be found in photo studios, graphic design and advertising agencies, photo studios and large marketing agencies.
What is usually required in job advertisements for photographers?
- Photographic training and enjoyment of photography
- Quick comprehension, flexibility and motivation
- Sociability and communication skills in dealing with customers
- Committed, independent and efficient way of working
- Precise and reliable even under deadline pressure
- Discretion and confidentiality
- Good knowledge of common image editing programs
- Knowledge of the structure, maintenance and management of image databases
- A driver's license and a car are often required
- Openness to flexible working hours (including evenings and Saturdays)
Question 1:
Would I like to work as a photographer?
Yes, if you like the actual job, you can assume that you are on the right track thematically. The next question is what type of training is right for you to acquire the relevant skills.
If you only like the job to a limited extent or only individual parts of it, you could think about what interests you the most. And then look at subsequent training courses to see if there is one that appeals to you even more:
Who is the "Photography" course suitable for?
Target group:
- People who are interested in photography professionally or as a hobby
- Career changers who want to make photography their profession
- Trained photographers and designers who would like to continue their training and development
Personal requirements:
- A sense of aesthetics and perfection
- Endurance
- Technical understanding
- Creativity
- Organizational talent
Course description:
Further important features such as the duration, costs and content of the "Photography" course are described here: {#course descriptionLink#}
Question 2:
Are you generally interested in this course?
If you have already answered "Yes" to question 1, then this course seems to fit your expectations.
If you like the course but not certain parts of the job, you could first study job advertisements to see if there are job profiles that suit you better or talk to self-employed photographers about their day-to-day work.
If you like the job description under question 1 and have marked "No" here, you can look under the following further training opportunities in related fields to see if you can find something that better matches your interests:
- Graphic designer (EFZ)
- Image processing (cert.)
- Desktop Publishing (Cert.)
- Preliminary design course for adults, part-time (cert.)
- Painting / Drawing
- Interior design (cert.)
- Techno-polygrapher (BP)
- Advertising technician (HFP)
- Designer (HF)
Admission to the photo course
- Beginner courses are open to everyone, the only requirement is that you have a camera
- In advanced courses, the most important basic photography skills are expected
- Admission to the Higher Technical College of Photography requires a completed basic education or Matura and then an admission procedure must be completed
Question 3:
Do I meet the requirements?
If you meet the requirements, you can start your training at the earliest possible date.
Do you not have a federally recognized basic qualification and would like to attend the course at a higher technical college? Then contact the school directly to find out about your options. In exceptional cases, people with an exceptional talent for design can also be accepted without a qualification.Here you will find addresses of schools.
Financing of further training
The course fees for the "Photography" course are to be paid either at the beginning of the course, by semester or monthly.
Question 4:
Are you able to pay between CHF 400 and CHF 50,000 for the course fee, depending on the provider and other general conditions?
If you have marked "Yes" and would even be able to pay the full amount upfront, many schools will give you an additional discount.
If you have marked "Partly" or "No": First ask the schools about the actual costs you would have to expect. And ask your employer about cost sharing. And then ask your school about the possibility of individual installment payments. Or try to find someone in your private social circle who will support your specific further education project with a loan. There are also banks and credit institutions that grant educational loans.
Time spent on classroom teaching and project tasks
Photography courses last between a few days and a year. Classes usually take place in the evenings or at weekends and often at different locations that are suitable for photography.
The HF degree program is a full-time course of study that includes many project and semester assignments, on which you also have to work outside of class.
Question 5:
Can I cope with the time and effort required for the classroom teaching and my own work?
If the workload is even very manageable for you, you could check whether there are intensive courses for this training. This would allow you to complete the same training in less time if you are able to accept a slightly higher time commitment.
If you are short on time, look for courses that extend over a longer period of time and require fewer lessons and less time for homework each week. And if that's still not enough, you should check whether you can free up more time in another way. Perhaps someone close to you can take on certain tasks for you for the limited period of your training?
Conclusion
Will I graduate?
- Photography courses do not require exams or final papers.
- The diploma semester of the higher technical college is characterized by a self-designed final project. During the course, students must independently implement their own project tasks, present the results in exhibitions and reflect on them in discussions.
Some general success factors for successfully completing an apprenticeship are:
- Regular preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
- Committed cooperation in group work, case studies etc.
- Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
- Practise exam situations by working on previous exam tasks
Question 6:
Am I confident that I can pass the project work and the diploma semester?
If you are confident that you can pass this course, you can at most consider whether you would like to achieve even better results with suitable learning and working methods or the same results with less effort.
If you have marked "Partly" or "No", we recommend that you attend an information event about this course and ask the school management for information about support options. External help from learning therapists, kinesiologists, autogenic training providers or mental training providers can also be considered.
Receive course or training documents from suitable schools immediately
Under {#CourseLink#} you will find an overview of schools that offer the "Photography" course. You can request detailed documents with just one click and usually receive them directly by e-mail. You can also use the area search to find providers in your immediate vicinity.
Conclusion:
Before you want to complete the "Photography" course, you should be convinced that you really enjoy a creative, design and technology-oriented activity. The course description should also appeal to you. If you have answered these first two questions with a clear "yes", you can continue to look into this course. If you are unsure about these questions, you should consider which other further training courses are also an option for you.
Financing further training is not always easy. Several thousand francs have to be paid over 1-2 years. In individual cases, many schools offer the option of semester or even individual monthly installments so that the entire amount does not have to be paid at once. In addition, it is helpful for part-time courses that participants continue to work during the course and thus earn money for the entire duration of the course. If this is not enough to finance the training alone, it is sometimes possible to obtain a loan from a private source. Banks and credit institutions sometimes also offer educational loans. A good argument for financing further education is the relatively quick amortization of costs through wage increases. Do the following calculation: How much would a wage increase of 10% per year amount to? How many years would you need to recoup the costs of the course? How much more will you earn over your entire working life as a result of this pay rise? In most cases, this is a six-figure sum, which confirms that training or further education is the best personal investment there is.
The time required for training or further education should not be underestimated. Going out, vacations and spontaneous wellness weekends often fall by the wayside. However, this time usually passes relatively quickly. The prospect of better job opportunities and more pay should be motivation enough to get through this time. It often helps to organize yourself into study groups. It also makes sense to stick with it right from the start and schedule fixed study times. Good learning effects can be achieved by creating summaries and mind maps. Flashcard systems help with memorization. There are many tools and ideas to make learning easier. You can obtain the guide "The personal learning strategy" free of charge if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch.
If you have doubts about whether you will pass the final exam, you can expect that every school has an interest in ensuring that as many of your students as possible pass the final exams. Talk to your head teacher or course leader and ask about support options. But with good motivation, perseverance and hard work, it is generally possible to pass these exams. If you suffer from exam anxiety, good preparation, various practical tips, therapeutic treatments or, in severe cases, even medication can help. You can obtain the guide "Overcoming exam anxiety" if you register with a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch. Here you will also findsuitable providerson the subject of test anxiety.
The benefits of further training are usually measured in terms of a higher salary, more challenging tasks or promotions. This presupposes that you make an effort to change your professional position accordingly and, if necessary, are able to assert your demands. If you have already experienced that this is not always so easy for you, you could also check whether personal job coaching could be of benefit to you in addition to further training.
Now it's up to you to decide. If in doubt, seek personal advice from a school or external counseling center. If you contact a school via Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch to enquire about course or training documents, you will receive a free educational or school consultation worth CHF 150.00 on request.
You can find a list of providers here: {#courseLink#}
We wish you all the best in your professional and private lives and a bright and exciting future!
The team of Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin