Do you need to have a certificate or degree to be hired as a photographer?
I am very interested in photography but I am not sure how to proceed. I want to learn more about photography, how to take good photos, how to pose, lighting, camera’s – digital and film, etc., and I have been looking into schools. On the one hand there are school that only offer classes and no certificate or diploma and are not accredited. On the other hand there are schools like the Art Institute that offer training in all aspects and offer degree programs. Would I only need a portfolio type thing to show my work and therefore I can attend just classes without gaining a degree, or should I have the paper that says I completed schooling? Does this make sense? Please help. Thanks. 
To answer Ace Ventura’s questions:
I am planning on going to classes, as I said before. I just wasn’t sure if I should go somewhere to get a degree or just take classes with at a privately owned, non-accredited school.
It depends on who is doing the hiring. Some art directors feel more comfortable knowing that you are an Art Institute grad, while others will only care about a killer portfolio and references from past clients. Which is a bit of a catch 22 – how do you get the first clients that will give you the references for the following clients? A degree always helps. In general, get the best training you can find, do a fantastic job for your clients and always be working on your portfolio.
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