What state colleges are good for art?

Art colleges? Please help!?

• What are some good art colleges? anyone know of any? I'm 17 and am interested in photography [classic right?] I wanted to know if anyone knew of any good art colleges that might have advanced type of photography classes? or if it's even needed? I live in the state of Colorado, and i already take tons of pictures, and have a growing client list. I already have an in progress studio, I have lights that i got fro Christmas, a big backdrop and backdrop stand. and a camera that takes high resolution pictures. So is photography something you think needs college courses? or just experience? Interested to know your answers [:

• Answer:

  Are you actually earning money shooting photos? I mean a net profit, not a few bucks in the pocket. Are you paying for insurance (liability to others and property for your stuff/studio), business license, taxes, et cetera? If not, you need to factor in what these will cost and figure out if you can make ends meet. You will need additional profit to reserve for equipment repair/replacement, upgrades, computer purchases and software. You have to keep the gear up to date. Fact of the business. I would recommend that you stay home, go to the local community college and take photo and business courses. You can build a business while you go to school if you are already doing a decent job of it now. Portraits can pay the bills for now, and you can expand your business as you learn lighting techniques and become more experienced overall. Word of warning: don't do any weddings until you've worked with a seasoned wedding photographer for a while. They are very difficult to do well, and you can get sued for poor results (another reason to buy that insurance!) If you want to go to school full time or the business isn't really as full fledged as you thought, consider going to your State U. or the above mentioned community college. Art schools are incredibly expensive, and there is not necessarily a whole lot of return on the investment. It will take years to earn back the costs. If you choose I can recommend these schools: Academy of Art, San Francisco - technically oriented, you will know how to shoot anything when they're done, cost $$$$$ Art Institute of San Francisco - not to be confused with the diploma mills "Art Institutes" of where ever, this one is on Chestnut Street. Ansel Adams and Minor White started the photo dept. at this school. Art oriented, and I gotta tell ya, not in a good way. I've met many photographers from there that took really great photos, but had no idea how they did it and consequently could not repeat the techniques. Art by accident. Technical training is not stressed at all. Cost:$$$$$ Brooks- changed hands a few years ago, now more profit oriented, but still one good education. Stresses technical knowledge. Really, really stresses technical knowledge. Cost: $$$$$ Others you may want to check out: Otis (Los Angeles), Art Institute of Chicago (fine school), NYU. A successful photography business is about more than just technical/aesthetic training. You need to know people in the community, have business sense, and spend time developing it. The technical facts are the technical facts: none of us escape them. What you do with them is how you differentiate yourself. You can learn them anywhere. If you can get/keep the gig going at home, opt for the less expensive education and keep your business growing. Go to SCORE at the Small Business Association for a mentor on the business end. They can totally help you. Good luck