So I just graduated high school in May. I've actually graduated a year early, so the plan was to take about a year off before starting college, since my mom didn't want me going off into the world until I'm eighteen. In the meantime I was on the epic college hunt...
I am an aspiring photographer. I've loved taking pictures for as long as I can remember: even as a little girl, my pink Barbie camera was attached to my wrist. Thanks to a gifted and talented program, I got exposed to the SLR camera in fifth grade, and my hobby turned into a passion. One of the photographs I took during that expose got featured in a calendar put out by a local bank- a pretty big accomplishment for fifth grade and my first photography instruction, I've always thought. Then in high school, I was lucky to attend a school with a wonderful arts program and extensive photography classes.
So as a sophomore, after years of having no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, I decided to go to art school for photography. Eventually I discovered the few photography institutes in the nation, which focus only on photography. I weeded through the intitutions, did internet research on each one, and almost settled on Halmark Institute of Photography. While researching them, I found some email addressess for former students. One student I contacted emailed me back with her phone number.
After talking to her, she told me that I actually sounded like I had the knowledge and the technical know-how to get into the industry right now, if I wanted.
And so, I've decided to skip school, and just dive right in. If it doesn't work out, I will re-route back in the direction of school. After all, I still haven't even turned eighteen yet. After using nothing but film in my high school classes, it was time to upgrade. I have to start out as an apprentice, and the woman I talked to, who is a professional photographer, told me that unfortunately I would never get hired using film.
Camera equipment is expensive. The cost of a entry level digital SLR plus the lens that I'd have to purchase to replace the mediocre kit lens had me considering a loan to buy my equipment. So I got onto craigslist.com to try finding something used. And then the heavens opened up and God smiled down upon me! I found a brand new Canon Rebel XT, never opened, for $500! I contacted the guy and he said he is a photographer, who uses the same exact camera, and he bought this one as a gift for his nephew, who unfortunately had no interest. He said he also had a used lens for it that he would sell me for $50! Now this camera costs around $1500 brand new, and a brand new lens (100mm zoom lens) can cost hundreds! I got everything I needed to get started for $550! What a blessing!
So I have all my resources. I've started looking online for photographers in my area to call and ask if they will have me as an intern. I actually have my first paid gig in a few weeks with a friend of mine who remembered me when the time came for her to plan her senior portraits. I think this could go well.
