Focal Point (Photography school)
 

Hey everyone,

I was just wondering if anyone could share their experiences taking some of the courses offered at Focal Point. I've tried searching but they are mostly just recommended and no ones really said anything about it.

I'm looking to either take the Intermediate class or the portrait class. I've taken their phone interview before and they've told me that I should be ok to go into the intermediate class right away and just have to brush up on the actual numbers and stuff.

Is it worth the money to take one of their courses or should I just continue to shoot and use that money towards glass?

continue to shoot and use that money towards glass

/

I think photography schools are scam... I don't mean all photo schools are bad, but for those serious stuff, you have a university career dedicated for that. Anything other than an actual university is waste of time IMO.

I can summarize what they will likely teach you in intermediate/portrait class:
Use of aperture and shutter speed to create different/more dramatic pictures, most popular frame composition, and lighting angle and how you should setup your flashes.

Those are things you can learn by hitting some books in Chapters for an afternoon. Cost almost nothing.

Only course/shop I'd attend is a lecture by expert photographers to get inspiration from their work and experience.

My recommendation is check out a lot of others' work and try to imitate them first. You will learn a great amount of skill knowledge by doing that. Once you have enough skills, you can start developing your own style.

I think it's worth it. It's only about $400 for a 10 week course, so it amounts to about $10/hour. There's nothing like hands on experience with someone who is knowledgeable, IMHO.
If you take the portrait class, I recommend Katie Huisman (she's a great instructor) or Alex Waterhouse-Hayward, who is a bit of a loon & very opinionated, but he's also one of the top editorial photographers in the city. Katie tends to go for multiple light set-ups or just window light in the studio, whereas Alex as almost exclusively a one light shooter.
For the intermediate class, get Jim Balderston. He is not only the nicest guy you'll ever meet, but he is also an amazing instructor - really knows his stuff. He's one of the top B&W and colour printers in Canada, so he will pick apart your prints.

Feel free to ask more questions about any other instructor there as I know most of them - I am a graduate of the full time professional photography program there.

I respectfully disagree. Taking a course will give you practical experience in a short amount of time. Just reading books or watching YouTube videos isn't enough. We spent days with various big names at their studios gaining hands-on experience, networking and making connections. Something you can never get from reading a book. If you cold call these people wanting to assist them, and your only experience is from reading a book and playing around in a home studio, they will not hire you, unless you demonstrate you actually know your stuff. Yes, there are successful photographers out there who have never taken a photography course, but they are more the exception than the rule. You have no idea how many people I meet whose 'knowledge' of photography is just regurgitated info they have read on some internet forum, but no practical knowledge whatsoever - and they wonder why no one calls them back.

^

In my defence, I want to say that I don't have any actual exp. with photo schools in GVR so I won't comment, but from my own personal experience with 2 of the very big (supposedly excellent) schools in San Francisco (one of them is close by, not in the city), I find them teaching knowledge on a very basic level for intermediate level courses. Those are knowledge you could find in book. Plus the instructor made me feel that they were instructor rather than teacher. They have a prepared speech on what to tell you, very business-oriented. For networking, I think photog club, events or other sort of gathering could have a better opportunity. But again, I'm speaking from a hobbist point, maybe for full time professional is different but I don't see much as I made some good and talented friends through lectures and photo clubs.

I think it really comes down to personal opinion. We can argue all day for whether photo school is worth it, but there are too many variables in between. Sth that worked for me, might not work for you/op/other, but same can be said to anyone else.

My objective suggestion to OP, go check the school, talk to the staff/instructors about what you think your limitations are and where you want to improve, have them recommend courses for you. Better yet, see if they offer a free drop-in course to experience it before hand. If you think you would be learning from them, go take the course.

Thanks guys for the comments. It's good to hear from both sides of the spectrum pretty much. I'm still undecided but I'm leaning more towards taking the course and seeing how it is. I'll do as you suggested Hehe and drop by first and see how the place is.

Senna, I won't be able to take the class with Jim Balderston as I'll be going to school full time in the morning. I'd have to take the one with Kathryn Mussallem. Or would do the Creative lighting class with Katie Huisman.

Thanks again!