[lipslikepearl]

^ please excuse the grammar of my title. ;; I was going to write "An Art Portfolio" but I changed "art" into "photography".


Anyways,

I've just graduated from highschool but I still haven't picked my college! No worries since I'm taking an year off to reflect/travel/work/etc. and also find out which school is truly right for me and my choices instead of rushing like many other high school seniors.

For college, I've decided that I wanted to do something with digital photography, where I take pictures on DSLRs and edit my work on Adobe or what not. I thought becoming a photography major would be a great idea. Can anybody tell me how to make a portfolio for photography??? I'm not familiar with traditional printing and dark rooms, so I was hoping if I can just digitally print out (literally from CVS) my work? Which colleges in NYC are excellent for the photography major? I was considering SVA but, is it really the best for photography? FIT recommended traditionally printed photographies and I've heard that it takes you 3 years to actually touch a camera for Parsons. How's Pratt? I'm also considering ICP (International Center for Photography) but the museum/school is really confusing no matter how many times I've visited their website. Please let me know, thanks!!!

Should I take a different route other than photography such as graphic designing, and then aim for photography as a minor?

[catsinheat]

i COULD be wrong, but i believe that in order to get into parsons/pratt, you still have to have a traditional art portfolio. that means figure studies, still-life, sketches of bicycles, etc. so unless you have artistic talent, it might be a little difficult.

[xx_swit_c_xx]

Yeah no school will take you if JUST your photography is awesome. They need to see a variety of all/any mediums.... even if you're sure you're doing photography, add other things like paintings, graphic work, 3/d sculpture, drawings, etc.

When I applied to get in the visual arts department for GRAPHIC DESIGN, although I knew I wanted to do graphics only -- I still turned in like photography, fine art (painting/drawing/sculptures)..plus a website i made that I did MOSTLY in high school =) So you don't have to have like masterpieces of everything.. but they wanna see that you're well rounded in the art field as well.... a little of everything is BETTER than a lot of ONE thing~ for portfolio reviews.

And yes, if you wanna take photos and use Adobe prodicts 24/7, like me hehe -- do photography or graphic design... i'm graphic design but i took a mandatory photography class. i hated it haha (i hate the whole darkroom process^^).. but yeah, i still do a lot of digital photography outside my graphic design work =) as a side hobby.. i know some photography majors and they don't (that major that is) go into detail on the adobe software. besides photoshop. but it's good to know all the other amazing adobe suite software as well... so i mean, if you're gonna do one or the other, it's up to you. if you loveeeee the darkroom and developing then do photography. but don't minor. cuz that will take you forever to graduate... after the first year or so... ALL the classes are DIFFERENT for photography majors and graphic design majors.... they go separate ways so just be aware of that. as a photography major you may not be able to be AS good on the computer... but you can always learn outside of class or ask friends =]

And I'm just adding the person above me, yes the well known "bicycle drawing" is pretty standard although a lot of people don't do that anymore.. that was kinda 5 years ago hehe... don't feel like u need to do that.. noone does it anymore =) just collect the top 5-8 pieces you have from high school junior/senior year.. not the crappy sophomore hehe unless it's like reallly good... yeahh, just try to get a little of everything...

[catsinheat]

And I'm just adding the person above me, yes the well known "bicycle drawing" is pretty standard although a lot of people don't do that anymore.. that was kinda 5 years ago hehe... don't feel like u need to do that.. noone does it anymore =) just collect the top 5-8 pieces you have from high school junior/senior year.. not the crappy sophomore hehe unless it's like reallly good... yeahh, just try to get a little of everything...

it's not "kinda 5 years ago". pratt still requires a drawing of either a bicycle or a pair of shoes. RISD is notorious for their observational art requirements, specifically the bicycle drawing. both are considered top-tier art/design schools in the country.

[junkiluv]

hi! i'm also applying for pratt, parson, and fit too but for interior design but i was researching the whole site for all three colleges and they recommend sketches and own drawings to see how you are with color, lighting, details, and the basic art techniques. You can definitely add in your own photographs into your portfolio but i recommend a few drawings of just natural things, it doesn't have to be straight photography but something that the teachers will know your artistic ability and to see how much you really want to go to those schools

hope this helps

[:0486]

im planning the same things you're doing

so far, i've gotten my photography portfolio started and am gonna continoulsy work on that this summer with photoshoots
honestly, thats how i develop my portfolio and then im gonna bring it to national portfoilio day but im also gonna do sketches, drawings,etc. to show how versatile i am

but the thing regarding you dont even get to touch your camera, i mean that shouldnt restrict you though. even if you dont get to acutally photograph, go do it on your own.

[Kasumi]

I just commented on someone else topic, if you have a portfolio go to national portfolio day!

http://portfolioday.net/