Photographer

While an eye for detail is necessary for a career in photography, many positions also require photographers to hold at least a Bachelor's degree in photography. Colleges and universities also offer graduate degree programs in photography geared toward students looking to advance their skills or teach at the college level.
Education Requirements
While some photographers lead successful careers with only experience and skill, many pursue formal career training through undergraduate degree programs. This is especially true for those in specialities such as industrial photography, photojournalism or scientific photography. Even photographers specializing in freelance and portrait photography often gain technical expertise through college degree programs.
Undergraduate Programs
Undergraduate degree programs in photography and related fields may be available at art schools, colleges and universities. Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography programs generally focus on hands-on instruction in the technical and creative aspects of the visual art. Courses may include photography techniques, studio lighting, colour theory, graphic design, digital photography and artwork critique.
Upper-division courses may include studio classes in which students use advanced techniques including lighting and digital photography. These courses typically allow students to experiment with their photographic skills. Many photography degree programs culminate in a senior project. These projects help students to build their portfolios and transition to a career as a professional photographer.
Graduate Programs
Photographers interested in further developing their skills and advancing their careers may consider earning a master's degree. While some colleges and universities offer Master of Fine Arts in Photography programs, which typically takes 2-3 years to complete. Studio courses and independent study are the backbones of such degree programs. Students utilize their advanced knowledge of photography to complete various projects while pushing the boundaries of their creative abilities.
Students generally develop their own curricula according to areas of interest and complete visual and written thesis projects based on their graduate studies. Thesis projects may be displayed in university exhibitions. Completion of a master's degree program in photography may qualify graduates for teaching positions at community colleges and some 4-year colleges.

Wildlife photographers provide publications with images of animals, plants and environments from across the globe, although some self-publish as independent artists. In addition to understanding photographic techniques and methods, they must also comprehend the subjects of their images.
Photographers often work on a freelance basis, there are no strict educational standards in the field since clients purchase rights to the photographs themselves. Although post-secondary education in the field may be preferred, possessing hands-on skills with a camera, being able to develop and edit pictures, and possessing raw vision and talent may easily substitute for formal education.
Required Education: No mandatory; certificate, associate's degree or Bachelor's degree in photography may be preferred.

Hi Saloni,
Photographers gain their technical and artistic skills in a variety of ways. Some teach themselves, while others take classes or earn a college degree in photography.
Photography courses are offered at many technical and community colleges, and photographers can build their skills one class at a time without completing a degree. Students can take a course in the fundamentals of photography, including lighting and working with the settings on digital and film cameras. Courses in different types of photography, like wildlife photography, portrait photography, and landscape photography are also typically offered.
Many colleges offer undergraduate and graduate programs in photography, typically leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or PhD. Student in photography BFA programs learn about art history and theory, the history of photography, art theory, and photography theory. They will also spend a large amount of time in studio courses where they can practice the skills they are learning. While photography students work in darkrooms learning how to develop prints, they also learn how to use powerful photo editing software to produce digital images.
Some colleges offer degree programs in photojournalism and documentary photography. These programs can lead to bachelors or masters degrees and include coursework in both journalism and photography. Students learn about journalism ethics, news writing and reporting, news editing, and news videography in addition to learning about photography skills like lighting and editing.
Because so many photographers are self-employed, it can be important for them to learn business knowledge in addition to the skills of their craft. To run a successful business they will need to know how to legally set up a business, handle taxes, set costs for their services, and market themselves.
Photographers with strong technical and artistic skills as well as good business skills can build a successful business for themselves. Clients hire photographers based on the strength of their portfolios, so as photographers gain experience, they should be able to attract bigger clients, whether its higher-paying wedding and personal photography work, corporate clients, or regional and national magazines and newspapers.
All the best.