Grindin' Gears.

[C0FFINCASE]

I disagree. Sure there's plenty amateur photographers can learn by taking said classes and spending x amount of dollars
but that doesn't mean they're incapable of shooting at the level of someone who has money to burn on such studies.

You can't be a lawyer without a law degree, you can't be a true pro-grade photographer in the industrial sense. You can have a little photo shop in a mall and take school photos but you aren't going to get a job shooting at Vanity Fair. That is due to that fact you have no certification of the fact you've learned and mastered techniques and skills that a degree and time in the industry assure. Classical training is important, many people can draw but if they don't learn all of the techniques, approaches, and understandings of art then you don't get to be a professional industry artists(ie work at Marvel or whatever).

[Stormie]

From what I've seen it's becoming less of an issue, and much like employers (at least the five I've run across), customers look for experience on the field rather than how many degrees are on the wall.
I'm not saying education isn't worth it, because it definitely is, but without a nice portfolio behind you, you're still going to have it rough.

[C0FFINCASE]

From what I've seen it's becoming less of an issue, and much like employers (at least the five I've run across), customers look for experience on the field rather than how many degrees are on the wall.
I'm not saying education isn't worth it, because it definitely is, but without a nice portfolio behind you, you're still going to have it rough.

The field experience you can get is limited by you education. With a degree your a professional, without one your just some person with a camera.
I'm no different. I'm just some asshole with a guitar who plays loud, Pat Metheny is a musician.