Mike Malament

For the last 10 years, I've been working as a self-taught professional photographer based out of Missoula, Montana. Since I started my company in 2009, RMSP has been on my radar. Over the years, I watched friends who attended the program and saw the quality of their work improve drastically. Having spent the last ten years within a niche market of whitewater action sports photography, I'm familiar with the demands and challenges involved in making a living as a photographer. However, I reached a point where I was feeling stuck and unsure how to grow and expand within my career. After reading through the comprehensive PI curriculum I was convinced that attending PI would give me the skills and vision to move forward. I made the choice to attend the PI because I didn't want to waste any more time trying to figure it out on my own. Having now completed PI I can say that it was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. To be fully immersed in photography in a supportive, positive and engaging environment for nine months was invaluable. My technical competency as a photographer has grown leaps and bounds and I have significantly more confidence in my abilities. I now am able to take on new and interesting photography work, a lot of which is outside of my niche specialty of whitewater action sports. The PI program moves at a fast and demanding pace which, in my experience is not unlike the actual job of being a photographer. Having the opportunity to learn from industry professionals and collaborate with other photographers was incredibly enlightening. Additionally, RMSP strongly emphasizes personal growth and development. The staff really pushes you to go beyond who you are as a photographer and explore who you are as a person. Coming out of PI, I'm not only running my existing company more efficiently, I'm also getting new opportunities and constantly expanding the range of my abilities.

The PI program has given me the support, tools, direction and confidence to go forward and create a profitable and meaningful career in photography. I honestly wish that I had taken the PI program ten years ago when I started my company. If you are dedicated to making it as a photographer and want the opportunity to jumpstart your career this is an experience that should not be missed!

Aly Joy Johnson

I first discovered RMSP in the Summer of 2014 as a young twenty something newly engaged to an aspiring doctor with LOTS of long term commitments. In a fortunate turn of fate I had already begun my journey in photography as a full-time wedding assistant at a local studio. As I fell in love with the art form I realized how badly I wanted to learn more and expand my opportunities. As my husband and I planned ahead for school and relocation continually sacrificing to balance both our dreams, I finally got my chance to attend Professional Intensive in Fall 2017 and boy did I have high expectations!

While the internet has many offerings for the aspiring photog, quality and currency of those resources was always something I felt skeptical of. When you're trying to build a business in an exciting but competitive industry, education is nothing to take lightly. Cue RMSP - All the tools, all the techniques already gathered for you in one place, with ALL the professionalism and all the contacts you could possibly need to grow your photo business. Hands down, I think RMSP has one of the most effective learning models for a non-traditional photography education that WILL equip you to succeed. Instructors are readily available to teach and critique work, including business plans and web design, and the level of expertise among staff is phenomenal! I'm not talking about people who just have a degree to teach photography but people who have worked in the industry anywhere from 15 -30+ years sharing their knowledge. RMSP is where I fell in love with studio and food photography; give me all the tacos and ice cream and Iím a happy girl, haha! With the guidance of fantastic commercial photography instructors, I was able to explore just how far I could take that passion to reach aspirations of a career in food & lifestyle.

Through assignments in both lighting and visual concepts I learned what my creative perspective was and polished my style both behind the camera and in post production. By the end of the program I had orchestrated two on-location shoots for my final -- they involved lifestyle models, food styling, and prop management. I realized I was capable of pulling off projects I would have felt grossly underqualified for prior to the program, and my confidence and photography technique grew exponentially. In the year following graduation, I hit the ground running as a freelance food photographer and have already worked on a retainer basis with restaurants making a substantial side hustle while I work myself into the industry full-time.

If you're worried that attending Rocky Mountain School of Photography's Professional Intensive is too big a sacrifice, please just consider the big picture; there will never be a "perfect time" to make a commitment this significant, but it is 100% possible. It may be the one commitment that leads you into your future photography successes. If photography is your passion, give yourself the chance to make it your dream job!

Michael Kaszowski

My experience with the Professional Intensive (PI) program at RMSP exceeded my expectations! From day one I felt the ‘warmth of family’ working with the directors, administrators and instructors supporting me on my journey to be a professional photographer. The curriculum is smartly designed and incrementally builds a student’s confidence and abilities over the rigorous 9-month program.

I not only learned the fundamentals of Commercial and Retail photography but I was also exposed to so many additional photographic genres like - drone, surf, dance, macro, architecture and astro photography. I soaked in every minute of my time at RMSP and took advantage of every lecture, shooting and studio opportunity presented to me. I will be forever grateful to the team at RMSP for an amazing life experience and my new career!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about my time at RMSP and Missoula, MT – michaelkaszowskiphotography@gmail.com

Laura Werling

My time at Rocky Mountain School of Photography was nothing short of transformational! A previous student described RMSP as the Hogwarts of photography education, and I couldn't agree more. The whole experience was magical and provided once in a lifetime opportunities. Our education wasn't limited to the classroom; we were constantly out experimenting and putting to practice what we learned.

The RMSP staff truly made everyone feel incredibly welcome and part of the community. RMSP offered a supportive, family environment where I felt comfortable to ask questions and get productive feedback that took my work to the next level and beyond. So much of my experience there was fun and exciting, and I made life-long friendships with my fellow students.

RMSP provided preparation for the business of photography, as well as the creative and the technical. RMSP gave me the fundamental tools to understand and start my own business. I can also say with confidence, now that I am working as a professional photographer, that I have been prepared for the actual work. Sometimes, even more prepared than my self-taught peers who have been working as professional photographers for years. The level of detail we were given the opportunity to learn is extraordinary, and not common among other photography education programs.

One of my biggest takeaways from RMSP was something Neil said on one of our first days of school; ìThe more you know, the more you know you don't know.î This could not be more true as my world has been opened to the possibilities in this career, thanks to RMSP. My education doesn't end because I graduated from RMSP, it is only just beginning, and I thank RMSP for opening the door to my future.