Staying Ahead of the Curve: The Importance of Photography Education

November 2, 2015

By Laura Brauer

The age-old adage goes: “It’s never too late to learn.” The saying is especially true in photography, a field that’s a breeding ground for rapid advancements. Even for professionals, instruction can be vital at all stages of a photographer’s career. New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) student advisor George Delgado points to the fact that photography is both timeless and in constant flux, particularly with technology evolving at so fast a pace.

© Chris Corradino Photography 

© Chris Corradino Photography

Licensed by the New York State Department of Education, the New York Institute of Photography is largest online photography school in the world. After more than a century of training photographers, the reach and influence of this venerable institution is now global thanks to the modern-day luxury of online education. The school’s most popular program, the Complete Course in Professional Photography is widely considered to be the gold standard for a well-rounded photographic education by many in the image-making industry today.

© Chris Corradino Photography

© Chris Corradino Photography

NYIP lessons incorporate audio, video and reading assignments—accessed in an online learning center—with exams and photo projects judiciously reviewed by professional photographers. While the courses are delivered using Internet technology, all students benefit from the personal mentoring and assistance provided by licensed instructors—professional photographers themselves—via email and telephone.

Chris Corradino, a professional photographer based in New York City, is NYIP’s faculty director as well as an instructor. He’s also a graduate of the program. With his own business specializing in photojournalism, travel and editorial photography—some of his recent credits include work published by the Associated Press, National Geographic, The New Yorker, and the Wall Street Journal—Corradino knows firsthand the value of NYIP’s curriculum. “Even if you are already comfortable with the technical aspects of photography, the program covers a wide array of topics,” he says. “The teachers provide personalized evaluations full of useful information you can take into the field with you.”

© Chris Corradino Photography

© Chris Corradino Photography

While the curriculum is designed to start with the basics of any subject and build upon skills as they develop, many photographers who are already working in the field sign up for courses in order to keep ahead of the curve in their ever-changing profession. Delgado too was an NYIP student before joining the staff. He first enrolled in order to find out if he could match his lifelong enthusiasm for photography with the skills needed to pursue a career as a professional. Years later, he credits the comprehensive education he got from NYIP for the success of his New York City-based business of portrait photography.

A formally structured curriculum, such as the Complete Course in Professional Photography, is an invaluable means for gaining the in-depth knowledge and skills needed for a lucrative career in photography. In addition, an NYIP Graduation Certificate serves as an important professional credential.

See the full NYIP course listing here: https://www.nyip.edu/courses

Sponsored by NYIP