Photographer essential career information:
- 2012 median pay: $28,490
- 2012, number of jobs: 56,140
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 13 percent
- Entry-level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
Photographers; what they do:
Photographers tell amazing stories through pictures. A photographer career includes using digital alchemy to make subjects, objects, or places look their best in various innovative poses, lighting scenarios, or scenes.
Due to the fact most photographers use digital cameras, people interested in a photography career need experience in a variety of digital editing software, they also need the skills to adjust lighting, colors, and other measures to improve a photograph.
Self-employed photographers must learn to effectively advertise their business, maintain a website displaying their best work, and communicate well with clients and prospective clients. They also do all of the billing, scheduling, and framing services (if offered). Some photographers hire assistants, which they then also must train.
Some photographers teach photographer classes or workshops.
Photographers commonly specialize in one or more types of areas such as: portraits, commercial or industrial photographs, aerial photographs, scientific photographs, news photographs, fine arts photographs, and university photographs,
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Photographers job titles:
- Wedding Photographer
- Portrait Photographer
- Fashion Photographer
- Commercial Photographer
- Industrial Photographer
- Scientific Photographer
- News Photographer
- Fine Arts Photographer
- Aerial Photographers
Photographers Education, Certification and License Requirements
The education requirements for photographers vary by the type of photographer; portrait photographers generally do not need anything beyond a high school diploma, but photojournalists and industrial and scientific photographers may need a bachelor degree in a field related to the subject they desire to photograph, such as a Bachelor of Biology, Bachelor of Chemistry, or Bachelor of Medicine degree.
Some colleges and universities offer a Bachelor of Arts in Photography degree program.
Photographer programs cover subjects such as:
- Photography equipment
- Photography technique
- Photography processes
- Photographic design and composition
- Business
- Marketing
- Accounting
Photographers don’t need specific licenses or certifications.
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Photographers Job Outlook
Forecast: 13 percent employment growth from 2010 to 2020 for photographer, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
The availability of high quality, affordable digital cameras has increased the number of people who own them, subsequently lowering the overall demand for professional photographers.
Self-employed photographers, however, are expected to grow by about 15 percent. The majority of people still prefer professional photographers for wedding and portrait photographs. Most companies still prefer to hire professional photographers for product advertisements.
Photographers Salary
- 2012 median annual wage: $28,490
- 2012, workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $43,930
- 2012, workers at the 25% percentile annual wage: $19,950
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Major Employers
- Photographic services
- Newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers
- Television broadcasting
- Retail trade
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools
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