A relocation to Melbourne from interstate provided the perfect opportunity for me to make a long held dream of becoming a professional photographer a reality. But having only studied some photography at high school back in the good old days of film, I really felt daunted by the digital SLR world, and I had absolutely no clue of how to turn my passion for taking photos into a career.
I was looking for a course that would not only cover the fundamentals of photography and continually challenge me to develop my technical and creative skills, but that would also provide the inside edge on how to approach photography in a professional capacity. I wanted to learn in an environment that would build my confidence and get me thinking like a professional by offering practical experience, critical assessment and constructive feedback on areas for improvement. Most importantly, I didn't want a course padded out by superfluous, mind numbing theory. And I wanted all of this in a package that would enable me to balance study with full time work (because lets face it, the bills still need to be paid while one is making ones dreams come true!).
After researching the various photography courses on offer, the career course at Photo Image Campus met all my pre-requisites. The moment I walked into the College's gallery, completely in awe of past student's work, I knew I was making the right choice. The small personalised classes mean each student has the opportunity to showcase their work each week and receive valuable feedback along the way while the location shoots consolidate our learning in an atmosphere of support, guidance, fun and friendship.
Heading into my final year of the course I feel inspired and enthusiastic about what lies ahead, my dream is fast becoming my reality!
Alison McWhirter January 2010
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2011 January - Alison chats about the final stages for her career course and real life practical experiences.
Here is a sneak peek at some of the pages from Alison's final folio which is due to be completed by March 2011
