New York Institute of Photography

[David A. Goldfarb]

The two best credentials I've ever seen are, "PhD (thesis pending)", and "MA (failed)". These were both following signatures of course, not diplomas on a wall.

"MA (failed)" is pretty odd.

"PhD (thesis pending)" isn't so unusual in some form or another. Usually it's written "PhD (ABD)" for "all but dissertation," meaning they've finished all their courses and exams except for the dissertation defense. Alternately, some universities grant another degree at that stage, like an M.Phil. to avoid the seeming awkwardness of saying that you didn't finish your degree, but essentially it means the same thing.

 

[removed account4]

years ago there was a guy who was appointed/hired to be in charge of
the water supply near to where i was living ... after there was the first of many n-b-o's
(nasty bacteria outbreaks) and everyone had to do the bottled water-thing a little research was
done to the gentleman's credentials ... turns out he created his own degrees --
i think he is still scrubbing out the standpipe with a toothbrush ...

i always liked getting a degree from the school of mines, and getting a golden shovel
stamped on my class ring ...

 

[Daniel_OB]

Gene
Unbelievable!!! If all you want is a fancy certificate why not print one out on your printer. How about a Phd in Photography from the U. of Agfa?

It is good as idea, but I would not like to do something like that. I contacted my Academy for a copy of original and might be a translation, but simple forget it.
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The whole point is that even the best portfolio ever made, no matter from who, will get hard time to draw fashionable people to pay hundreds of dollars for portrait photographs. I already have some customers that will pay, but majority will be completely satisfied with wall-mart. What I think that "people" will pay is something they can impress with a friend but not themself owning a nice phjotograph. They even do not know what they have on wall.

here is just one (the most recent) dificult to beleive example:
I guy got wedding. I offered him resonable price for B&W photographs. He got digital guy for "low" price.

Around a month after wedding, he came to me with a question. "Daniel I have a picture from my wedding but it is only ink which I do not like. I would like that you reproduce it and make me a real and nice photograph that will last..."
I made him reproduction 16x20 and he paid $266 (framed) and was very happy. For whole wedding I offered him 15 photographs (it is he asked for) for $700 but it was expensive to him. So this is philosophy I have to fight.

www.Leica-R.com

 

[Early Riser]

A degree is pretty meaningless in photography or art unless you plan to teach.

 

[Roger Hicks]

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The whole point is that even the best portfolio ever made, no matter from who, will get hard time to draw fashionable people to pay hundreds of dollars for portrait photographs.

Dear Daniel,

Reputations are not built on diplomas. Most of the highest paid photographers have no diplomas. Just good work; which brings in more people; which establishes a reputation.

What do you think will happen if you have a piece of paper on your wall? Why should anyone care? And when is this piece of paper going to make the slightest difference to whether a 'fashionable person' decides to hire you or not? Are they going to come to your studio to read it?

Play up your overseas diploma, if you like. The exotic will usually attract more 'fashionable people' than the familiar.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Daniel_OB]

Early Riser

I think I have to accept your comment and find another way to go.

www.Leica-R.com

 

[Daniel_OB]

Roger
You right 101%, no comment. But people, at least in area where I live (Canada) are very strange. We have saying like this: when Canadian come into strore he flip it turn it and say "this is fine but I will think...". When American come into the same store he see it and buy and say "go home and think how I can use it". Ams are just buying good things. There is some very specific condition here that I would not like to talk about.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Roger
You right 101%, no comment. But people, at least in area where I live (Canada) are very strange. We have saying like this: when Canadian come into strore he flip it turn it and say "this is fine but I will think...". When American come into the same store he see it and buy and say "go home and think how I can use it". Ams are just buying good things. There is some very specific condition here that I would not like to talk about.

Dear Daniel,

I'm glad you said that and not I!

But my American wife agrees 100%...

Cheers

Roger