Say cheese to your career!

KOCHI: Photography is a new age career that is highly rewarding. All you need to become a good photographer is a keen eye and an intelligent mind. And to add technical expertise you need to do some course — a degree diploma or certificate course  —  of varying duration.The boom in print and media coupled with the development of digital photography presents a wide array of opportunities for skilled photographers. Photographers are required on a variety of fields. Career options are aplenty if you specialise. Press photographers and photo journalists are professionals who work on a regular basis providing photographs related to news and events to media organisations. Depending on the firm you are working, the character of your job and working hours differ. If you are working for a daily you will be required to be keen and spontaneous. Working for a magazine gives you space to make preparations and improvise. Fashion photographers work for shows, fashion houses, designers and models. This is an area where you should be more creative and aware of the latest trends in the glamour industry.  Wedding photography is a different specialisation. Wildlife photography is capturing animals in their natural best and it is a profession that requires high level of efficiency and patience. Nature photography is another area of specialisation. Industrial photographers capture machines and industrial layouts and scientific photographers provide pictures for scientific publications. Forensic photography and art photography are other options. If you want to work independent without getting attached to a particular firm, you can always do freelancing. Utkal University, Orissa, and Pune University,  offer three-year degree courses in photography. The major institutes that offer photography courses include Sri Aurobindo Institute Of Mass Communication, New Delhi, Academy for Photographic Excellence [APEx], New Delhi, Ambitions 4 Photography Academy, Chennai, Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida, Bangalore School of Arts and Photography, Centre for Research in Art of Film and Television (CRAFT), New Delhi, Delhi School of Photography, St Xavier’s Institute of Communication, Mumbai, Fergusson College, Pune, Indian Institute for Development in Education and Advanced Studies, Navrangpura (Gujarat), International School of Photography, New Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.Remuneration depends upon your specialisation and the organisation you are working for.  As a beginner, you can work as an assistant photographer and later work independently. Once established you will be paid handsomely.