Hi all,
I’m currently entering my fourth year (final year) of undergrad as a creative photography major at the University of Florida. While I have absolutely love my professors and a lot of artwork I have made while in college, I’m still SO scared of my career prospects and how I’m going to do in the real world once I graduate.
I currently was recently hired by a tech company doing phone support work part time, and I plan to use that money plus any grants and loan money to save up.
Once I save enough to move to NYC, I will move. Hopefully my work will move to full time and my pay will be raised. I plan to pursue jobs such as being a studio assistant for an artist, tech job, anything else. I want to do a post-baccalaureate maybe, go to artist workshops and residency programs (such as Whitney ISP) and work as hard as I can on editorial work and making more films and more photo work.
Silly enough as it is, I want to be an artist full time! It’s all I wanted as a kid and even now. I entered college pre-med and failed their first-level requirement classes.
That being said, was my major decision wise? If I’m driven enough to succeed, can I make it work? I just get scared sometimes.
Lots of things in life are both scary and wonderful at the same time. Most of these things involve big choices and uncertain outcomes. There are no guarantees. It’s wonderful to be in in the position to study what you want and what makes you happy. If you are motivated and stay open to opportunities it will work out. Life is messy but it’s also an amazing adventure. Try to enjoy where your road takes you.
No advice, but my daughter is a rising college junior studying photography and she has the same fears as you. She has made it clear that she’s a “fine arts” photographer, not a commercial one. I have no idea what she’ll do, but I think both of you will be fine.
You’re young with only yourself to answer to - this is not the time to question, but to follow your passion. Nurture your art, continue to learn by doing after graduation. Haunt galleries and exhibits. Enter your work in competitions and shows. Can you volunteer part-time in a gallery now? Make those connections where you are now; it’s good practice for making connections in NYC when you get there. Also think about developing some teaching skills - teaching an adult photography class at a community center/college, or teaching photography at a high school, for example. It’s common for artists to pay their bills by teaching their art.
My daughter has been calling around to local art galleries. This afternoon, she’s going down to speak to the owner and manager of a well-regarded gallery in Portland. She’s going to ask their advice about ways she can prepare now and possibilities for the future. If she learns anything useful, I will share it here!
Also it’s worth noting that by following photography as your dream, it leads into the rest of the photography world that you may not have know exists. Some other jobs that you may not have yet considered –
- combining your talent with education and becoming a high school art teacher or college professor;
- Combining your talent with law school and going into arts-related law (GPA of 3.7+; high LSAT = a top law school and opportunities to enter arts-related law for the arts professionals and institutions; intellectual property attorney)
- Combining your talent with art history and doing provenance work for galleries and museums and for private citizens who want to verify the ownership of their work
- Combining your talent with business skills and going into arts administration
- Combining your talent with data and computer skills and going into analysis and digital services, web products and presences
- Combining your talent with marketing (another business skill) and development and going into fundraising and foundation work.
There are countless opportunities.
When activists are showing images of children suffering from poverty or oppression in their campaigns, this is the art pulling the heartstrings of society’s elite and powerful to make changes.
When photographers publish the photos of war-torn areas, it catches the attention of masses whose hearts reach out for those who need help. When an artist creates great music and movies, it entertains people around the world. This is art, making a difference in society. So yea photography is a serene profession. Any kind of art has a singficant role in our life - https://www.theartist.me/art-inspiration/definition-of-art-meaning/ - so go ahead and do iT!
The best advice I can give you is to leverage your connections to the max. Ask your family/friends/neighbors/classmates, anyone you know really if they have relevant connections. It’s a very connected world and chances are your uncle Joe’s gym teacher’s best friend knows a guy who owns a business or gallery that can get your foot in the door.