What were the requirements to being a photographer 15 years ago?

Question

Hi I am curious about photography's history and I'm just wondering what were the requirements to become a photographer 15 years ago? I know that nowadays you need to take a special course, have creativity, etc. But, what about 15 years back? Anyone would like to share their personal experience on what it was like to becoming a photographer 15 years ago?

Answer 1

They were the same as today. To take good pictures, and to have a voice, unique. No lessons or courses are needed to become a photographer. Education is a plus in the sense that it helps you understand things better rin general and have a sense of what is going on around you more acute. If you want to become a photojournalist it is obviously better to study journalism, if you want to become a fashion photographer it is better to know fashion, and to have a sense of fashion. Photography is one thing, the field you want to evolve as a photographer is another. Self taught is great but has limits. Photography is about creating, but when you want to be able to live with photography you also need to learn about selling... 15 years ago, and today, it is the exact same way. Hope this helps a little. JF

Answer 2

Today as well as 15 years ago, you could be a self taught photographer. As long as you learn the fundamentals such as light, aperture, composition and basic editing skills which are now online-- you are a photographer.

If you are saying pre computer editing and smartphone days, then to be a photographer, you would need an understanding about how to develop photos and using a dark room to turn film into photos. When that is done, you would need to know how large you want the images.