How is brooks institute of photography?

What can i do with a certificate in photography? hallmark institute vs. brooks institute of photography ?

• i am about to receive an associates degree in photography and i have been researching photography schools this past year and i find that most schools are offering a certificate of completion rather than an actual degree in photography (the hallmark institute of photography and the center for digital arts in particular). i am wondering, is it harder to find a job with a certificate than if you had an actual degree? i find that most graphic arts/photography jobs require at least a bachelors degree before they even consider you. would it be better to attend a school like brooks institute of photography rather than the hallmark institute of photography if this is the case? thanks to anyone who can give some insight, especially from those individuals who have attended any of the schools i have mentioned.

• Answer:

  Well, to begin with a college degree no matter what's it's major, is more universally accepted as a form of higher education than certificates are, which tend to be more specialized than a degree. I'd say, if you only sought to work in a specific area of photography, having a certificate may be the better option. But, if you wish for your career - and education - to progress seamlessly into whatever you wish it to, having a degree is the better choice. You can always add on to a degree, you can't add anything to a certificate. As far as whether it is better to attend a more prestigious school, that would depend on a lot of things. I've heard of people with $90,000 bachelor of arts degrees in commercial photography (from Brooks) working as line chefs, or the sears portrait studio. A friend of mine got her degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design and she's in business for herself as a wedding photographer and a web designer. It all depends on what you choose to do with your degree and how you go about doing it. Some people don't need a degree at all. I feel sorry for people who lean, and rely too heavily upon their degrees in order to live their lives and dreams. If you're passionate, you'll figure it out.