Can anyone offer me a bit of career advice?

Without knowing any more than this, I would say go to Savannah as long as you can find a decent place to live that’s within your means. You can get by on a lot less than you think you can. Don’t commit to school until you see how much you can handle, though. This is a great opportunity to be on your own, find out what you can do, and think about things.

Wow, a retail manager – that is a worthy goal. In my husband’s company a good (and I mean exceptional) retail manager has made the company so valuable, they have been sold several times and are still a cash cow for the investors. You have got it made if you can bring it off.

Recently, at a company meeting, the retail managers who have been the best managers based on their sales records all received all expense paid trips to Hawaii for their family.

Take the job and moonlight as an intern at a commercial photographer. Learn everything you can about lighting and digital photo editing and crank out the work to build a portfolio! Good luck!

@Cruiser has a good idea. Use your photography skills on the side to pick up extra cash and experience that’ll be a foundation for work in your field once you’re ready to move on from retail.

The job is important. But going to a city you hate is a horrible idea. Do you hate all large cities? Hopefully not; Savannah is certainly not a small town. That’s something you need to come to terms with because that is where the career for which you are credentialed will take you. Home and careers are big pieces of the happiness pie. I hope you can find a place to find satisfaction in both.

Why not start your own Photography biz. ?

Weddings, portraits, pets, sports teams, apply at a local newspaper for a job maybe?

Go around and take random photos in your town and then offer them for sale to the newspaper.

Get creative!

Don’t waste your schooling, talent and passion…go for it!

Thanks so much for the quick feedback. I really do like that Idea of maybe interning or assisting a more experienced photographer while I work and even the bit about starting my own business. You need money to start a photography business though, for lights and a studio. I have a lot of experience with digital photography. I know how to use lights, how to edit photos, etc. I think I really just don’t feel confident enough to put myself out there.

@perspicacious I don’t hate all large cities, I guess if I had to pick a large city to live in it would be Philadelphia because I am familiar with it. I do really hate New York though, I guess I’m just not a fan of the noise, the people, etc. but I do appreciate the culture and variety found in large cities.

To add to what Coloma said, perhaps creating some stock photography would give you some needed cash and help you build your professional network. Sites like istockphoto.com could be a good place to start.

I’m not a photographer, and I’m sure to some extent some photographers feel these sites devalue their work. But it seems like a great way to a) meet other photographers (they aren’t just buy/sell sites, they have communities that build up around them) b) get some first hand experience in what sells and what doesn’t c) expand your portfolio and d) have some fun, all while making a bit of cash.

You can also do it anywhere you like, New York photographers don’t make any more than Savannah based photographers when it’s all going online.

Good luck with it, I hope you find a great opportunity.

@nayeight It’s great you have a passion that can and should make you successful. As @Cruiser and @Jeruba said: Take whatever job you can get, develop your photographic skills, especially in digital, and learn all you can about the Internet, as that’s where a lot of the future will be for employment/business. You’re young, without too many responsibilities, so use that to your advantage and develop a photographic business on a part-time basis. (Free software is available so you may watermark your photographs against theft.)

You might also start a blog showcasing your works in a photographic blog of, say, where you live. The idea is to get your name out there.

Cover weddings, not so much to make money, but to build a reputation. (Cover your costs, though!) One line of photographic work can easily transfer with a slight change in mindset and creativity.

A book I can recommend is by John Dillon at http://artofthesong.org/ It’s called “The 20–20 Creativity Solution” and is very encouraging. The cost is about $US15.00 and well-worth your consideration. There’s a free newsletter you can sign up for and their weekly radio show is excellent too. The radio shows are also archived on site for later listening. It’s all online.

I hope this helps. Go for it!

Were you trying to get into SCAD? I was accepted there. Wait and submit your application + a good portfolio next semester. As for Savannah, I love it. One of my favorite towns ever. Since it is in fact a college town, it will be easy to find a roommate that you can afford with a steady job at Pier One. Savannah is also an art-friendly town, if you are interested in photography, there will be internships and galleries around.