What are Scott Kivowitz's insights on the importance of formal education in photography?

Scott sees formal photography school as optional, not mandatory.

From the clip with Natalie Franke, the big takeaway is that success as a photographer today is far more about your vision, consistency, and ability to run a business than about a degree. School can give structure, critique, and connections, but many photographers thrive through self‑directed learning, online education, and lots of shooting.

On Scott’s own site, he talks more about developing vision and strategy than about relying on formal schooling. He emphasizes:

1. Shooting a lot for yourself
2. Learning from other photographers’ work
3. Joining communities and photowalks
4. Using tools, presets, and experimentation to grow

So, formal education can help, but it is not a gatekeeper to being a successful photographer.

Would you prefer to grow through school, or are you leaning toward the self‑taught route?