No.
I served as a receptionist/apprentice under a master photographer from Cleveland name Richard LaVelle.
I spent 6 months living and traveling with him.
After doing my time... I went to Detroit for a short while to get more experience and then on to Chicago where I served as a regional photographer for that branch.
My next step was pretty muddled.... but eventually I had the sports photographer from Notre Dame show me how to set up my equipment and work my camera.
Here I am.