How does one become a professional photographer? Is a college degree required or do you just have to be good at it?
>>2772410
To become a professional, you need equipment that is up to the task you will ask of it, you need enough skill to operate that equipment reliably, and you need someone willing to pay you for your work.
College is not required, and generally won't give you skill. It will give you practice, an environment that supports immersion in your art, and it will give you contacts, but it is not required, no.
Above all, you need people, marketing, and business skills.
Camera equipment is important. Technical ability and knowledge is important. College degree can be helpful, but not required.
But even the most extraordinary photographer, whose images are routinely on par with photography legends' photos, will fail if they can't do the people and business side of photography.
The ability to sell out and compromise any values you hold.
A tolerance for shitty weddings, shitty product photography, shitty model shoots, shitty cliche garbage of every color under the sun.
All you need is a person to hire you. Talent and credentials play a role there, among many other things. If you want to get hired a lot, then being "good" is pretty important, education history not so much.
