Hi Kris,
I have no personal experience with the "art scene", other than being an observer, or with the educational segment, other than having spent a rather disgruntled 13yrs shoved into a desk in a classroom
However, I have known many people who went the "MFA route", and none of them have landed where they thought they wanted to go. I was 18 when I started with photography seriously, and I thought to myself "I want to be a photographer". So I landed a job working at Samy's in Pasadena(back when they were on Walnut by Parsons), and that experience selling film, paper and accessories taught me a heckuva lot. I was interacting with Art Center students every day, along with many professors. Lots of PCC students too(of which I was one myself shortly after my 18mos at Samys), but all the "students" seemed to share one trait: they had no money. I was considering an application to Art Center, as I had read great things about it and all, but I didn't know what I know now, 13yrs later. The MFA route, unless you absolutely want to teach, is pretty much a dead duck. With the internet, you can get exposure through other means, and with c*vid still shitting on in-person interactions like gallery showings(at least here in LA for the time being), what is the purpose of an MFA for you? I spent much of my 20s working as an assistant, then digital tech, on jobs here in LA, so I got to speak with lots of photographers who had MFA's, some who just had loads of grit and knew how to work, etc. The best ones, IMO, were self-taught realists who didn't bring frills to set. They were fun, down to earth people who cut their teeth assisting or in some other role before jumping to handling the camera.
I ask these things, because after reading your bio, I believe all men have a purpose that give them a drive necessary to get out of bed in the morning. Sadly, many never realize that, because they listen to the world, not themselves. Will an MFA help you pay your bills, or will it put you into a financial hole that will take years and loads of stress to relieve yourself from? Is an MFA going to give you extra skills to make better photographs, or is it more of a dick-measuring contest with other "artists" who look down their nose at people without a piece of paper framed on the wall?
There are plenty of terrific photographers who have a "day job" but also have time(and funding) to express themselves through their photography, without resorting to credit lines, IOU's and living in roach-filled apartments they'll never own.
You're a little older than me it looks like, but having a job outside of my passion allows me to really explore that passion, without feeling a need to produce for others. YMMV of course. The last thing I want to see others plagued with, is debt.
Lastly, consider your life goals as a whole outside of photography: Do you want(or already have?) a family? Do you want to own a home, or are you ok with living off tinned beans and food stamps while you get your MFA and until it's paid off? Some might say that's mean and untrue, but I can count on more than two hands people I know who went the "higher education route" instead of learning a valuable trade that is actually needed by others in real life. They're all broke, most are living with parents, have no real purpose, or are on UBI. A small example of the opposite: a friend of mine from high school, like myself, barely scratched through. He went to work with his dad, who had a 1-man plumbing business. Well, fast forward to today, he's now the president of the company, a licensed plumber with multiple certifications, and has 9 crews of 2 men/crew out making him money 6 days/week. He still goes out to larger jobs, but more as a foreman. Most of his employees are older than him, but they rely on him to bring the work in. He has time to dedicate to his wife and son(with a second on the way), and he just gave all his employees a 15% raise once he paid off his house in 2021(5yrs after signing the mortgage). He's 33, and here in LA. It's called hard work, and cash money talks. Putting up with other peoples sh*t, literally, can pay really well. His hobby is woodworking, but he has found great enjoyment in training young people in plumbing too. Win/win. He's now getting into social media since he found out he can get get gifted tools to "review" haha.
Ansel Adams shot a lot of commercial work, but that gets glossed over by many when speaking about him. But that's how he kept his lights on, belly full, and gas in his tank during many of his years before getting noticed later in life.
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