I’m trying to get my photography portfolio built and have a few entries already and am adding more self-shot entries weekly but my parents aren’t supportive of my chosen direction (hopeful) into visual arts. I need help!
Most art schools offer a Portfolio Review Day where faculty will look over your work and make suggestions. I know in the fall there are Review Days in which many schools get together in one place and you can get many different opinions, as well as learn about program offerings.
If your parents aren’t supportive, you should consider studying at a university with many different course offerings rather than an art school. It will give you more options and they may be more supportive if they know you will be taking academic courses as well. Good luck!
If your parents aren’t supportive, are you gonna have issues with them paying for college?
Your own high school art instructors should be able to advise on this. Speak with them.
The young people I know who went to art school are employed and parents are happy. Then again, ditto for those who went to university and majored in art, but a BA will have fewer applied art classes and more gen eds as well- in general.
The arts path is often discussed on the music forum. You might want to head over to the visual arts forum. But first read the thread at the top of the music forum about how majoring in fine arts does not lead to the poor house.
It is fine to study what you want to study as an undergrad. A bachelor’s in art will give you access to the jobs, grad schools and professional schools (including med, law, business, nursing if prereq’s are done) that any other bachelor’s degrees do.
These days, with the cost of school and the burden of loans, it is understandable that parents worry. No matter what you study or where, try to avoid large loans!
Check this out for examples of portfolios that got various AP scores
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-studio-art-2-d-design/portfolio?course=ap-studio-art-2-d-design
Several good suggestions so far. National Portfolio Days’ are helpful at a certain stage, after you’ve got a good number and variety of “pieces” to show. They were helpful to my daughter. If you draw or sketch, then bringing drawings and your sketchbook to such reviews can be helpful, too.
In your case, it could also help if you found a local college – could be a community college even – where a professor/professional might give you some attention.