In junior high school he was fond of art and music, but when he was fifteen he had to quit school to help support the family. He went to work as an apprentice in a photo studio, a job that laid a solid foundation for his later work as a professional. Ch'en worked hard, and was promoted to technician at age eighteen.
初中畢業之後，為了家計，他進入台北襄陽路的「台灣攝影公司」當學徒，在那兒他領受了嚴格的技術訓練，為日後的職業維繫與敬業規範，種下良好的根基。