What Is a Master of Fine Arts Called? Understanding the MFA Degree in Fine Art Photography

When someone finishes a Master of Fine Arts program focused on photography, what do you call them? It’s not as simple as saying they’re a "photographer." The title carries weight, history, and a specific kind of credibility in the art world. If you’ve seen an artist’s bio that says "MFA," or heard someone refer to themselves as an "MFA graduate," you might wonder-what does that actually mean? And why does it matter?

What Exactly Is an MFA?

An MFA, or Master of Fine Arts, is a graduate degree designed for artists who want to deepen their practice, refine their vision, and engage with art at a professional level. Unlike an MA (Master of Arts), which leans toward art history or theory, the MFA is a practice-based degree. That means the core of the program is making art-not just studying it.

In fine art photography, students spend years developing a cohesive body of work. They don’t just learn how to use a camera. They learn how to ask difficult questions through images: What does identity look like in the digital age? How does memory shape place? How do power structures show up in the everyday? Their thesis exhibition becomes their calling card.

Most MFA programs last two to three years. They require studio time, critiques with faculty and peers, writing about your own work, and often teaching undergraduate classes. It’s intense. And it’s not for everyone-but for those who commit, it changes how they see their own art.

What Do You Call Someone With an MFA?

There’s no official title like "Dr." for PhD holders. But in professional art circles, there are clear conventions. Someone who has earned an MFA is often called:

• A fine art photographer (the most common and accurate term)
• An MFA holder (used in bios, grant applications, or academic contexts)
• A graduate artist (less common, but still used)
• A practicing artist with an MFA (used when distinguishing from self-taught artists)

You’ll rarely hear someone say "I’m a Master of Fine Arts." That’s not how it works. You don’t become "a Master." You become an artist who earned a degree called Master of Fine Arts.

In galleries, museums, and university job listings, you’ll often see phrases like:

• "MFA, University of British Columbia, 2024"
• "Holds an MFA in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design"
• "Recipient of an MFA in Visual Arts"

This isn’t just padding on a CV. It signals that the artist has gone through a rigorous, peer-reviewed process. It says: this person has been trained, challenged, and evaluated by established artists and scholars.

Why Does It Matter in Fine Art Photography?

Fine art photography isn’t about snapping pretty pictures. It’s about conceptual depth, technical mastery, and cultural context. An MFA program forces you to defend your choices. Why this subject? Why this medium? Why now?

Take the work of artists like Andreas Gursky is a German photographer known for large-scale, highly detailed images of global landscapes and architecture, often associated with the Düsseldorf School of Photography and the influence of MFA-trained artists or Cindy Sherman is an American artist who uses self-portraiture to explore identity and gender roles; she holds an MFA from State University of New York at Buffalo and is a defining figure in contemporary fine art photography. Neither was just a photographer. They were thinkers who used the camera as a tool for critical inquiry. Their MFA degrees were part of the foundation that allowed them to enter major museums and influence generations.

For emerging artists today, an MFA still opens doors. Galleries are more likely to consider work from someone with an MFA. University teaching positions almost always require one. Residencies and grants often list it as a prerequisite. It’s not a guarantee of success-but it’s a credential that says you’ve been serious about your craft long enough to be taken seriously.

MFA vs. Self-Taught: Is the Degree Necessary?

No, it’s not required to make powerful, meaningful photographs. Many of the most respected photographers never attended graduate school. But the art world operates with systems of validation-and the MFA is one of the strongest.

Think of it like architecture. You can build a house with YouTube tutorials. But if you want to design a public building, you need a license. Similarly, you can take stunning photos without an MFA. But if you want your work shown in a museum, taught in a university, or collected by a major institution, the MFA gives you access to a gate that’s otherwise hard to open.

Also, the program itself isn’t just about the degree. It’s about the network. You’ll work alongside other artists, get feedback from curators, and sometimes meet collectors or gallery owners who visit for thesis shows. These connections often lead to exhibitions, publications, and opportunities you wouldn’t find on your own.

What’s the Difference Between Fine Art Photography and Commercial Photography?

This is where confusion often arises. A commercial photographer shoots for clients: ads, products, weddings, real estate. Their goal is to meet someone else’s vision. Fine art photography is the opposite. It’s driven by personal inquiry. The artist decides the subject, the style, the meaning.

An MFA in fine art photography trains you to think like an artist, not a service provider. You learn how to create work that challenges viewers, not just pleases them. You study the history of the medium-from daguerreotypes to digital manipulation-and you learn how your work fits into that lineage.

Some MFA graduates end up doing both. They teach fine art photography at universities while also taking on commercial commissions to pay the bills. But the core of their practice-the work they’re most proud of-is almost always rooted in their fine art practice.

Who Gets an MFA in Fine Art Photography?

It’s not just for people who went to art school as undergrads. Many MFA students come from unrelated fields-engineering, journalism, psychology-and decide to pivot into art later in life. What they share is a deep commitment to visual storytelling.

In Vancouver, where I live, the Emily Carr University of Art + Design and the University of British Columbia both have strong MFA programs in photography. Students here work on projects about climate change, Indigenous sovereignty, urban isolation, and digital identity. The work is local but speaks globally.

There’s no typical MFA student. But there is a common trait: they don’t just want to make pictures. They want to make meaning.

What Happens After You Earn the MFA?

Graduating with an MFA doesn’t mean you’re "done." It means you’re just getting started.

• Many apply for artist residencies-places like Banff Centre or Yaddo-where they can focus on new work without distractions.
• Others submit to juried exhibitions like the Vancouver Biennale or the Toronto Image Works Festival.
• Some teach at colleges, often starting as adjunct instructors.
• A few get gallery representation and begin selling work to collectors.

The path isn’t linear. Some MFA holders never show in galleries. Others become writers, curators, or arts administrators. But whatever they do, they carry the discipline, critical thinking, and visual language they developed during their degree.

It’s not about the title. It’s about the transformation.

Is the MFA Worth It Today?

Costs vary. In Canada, tuition for domestic students ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 per year. International students pay much more. Add living expenses, materials, printing, and travel for exhibitions-and you’re looking at $40,000 to $80,000 over two years.

Is it worth it? For some, yes. For others, no. But if you’re asking this question, you’re probably already serious about your art. And if you’re ready to commit to years of deep work, critique, and growth, then the MFA might be the most important investment you’ll ever make in your practice.

It’s not a magic wand. But it’s one of the few tools in the art world that says: "I’ve done the work. I’ve been tested. I’m ready."