| Most successful potographers start out as assistants | | | | understanding of photography. Entry level positions in |
| to experienced photographers. Assistants acquire the | | | | photojournalism or in industrial or scientific |
| technical knowledge needed to be a successful and | | | | photography generally require a college degree in |
| also learn other skills necessary to run a portrait or | | | | photography or in a field related to the industry in |
| commercial photography business. | | | | which the photographer seeks employment. |
| Portrait photographers take pictures of individuals or | | | | Freelance and portrait photographers need technical |
| groups of people and often work in their own | | | | proficiency, gained through a degree program, |
| studios. Some specialize in weddings, religious | | | | vocational training, or extensive photography |
| ceremonies, or school photographs and may work on | | | | experience. |
| location. Portrait photographers who own and | | | | Individuals interested in a career in photography |
| operate their own business have many responsibilities | | | | should try to develop contacts in the field by |
| in addition to taking pictures. They must arrange for | | | | subscribing to photographic newsletters and |
| advertising, schedule appointments, set and adjust | | | | magazines; joining camera clubs; and seeking summer |
| equipment, purchase supplies, keep records, bill | | | | or part time employment in camera stores, |
| customers, pay bills, and if they have employees, | | | | newspapers, or photo studios. |
| hire, train, and direct their workers. | | | | Photographers need good eyesight, artistic ability, and |
| Commercial and industrial photographers take pictures | | | | good hand eye coordination. They should be patient, |
| of various subjects, such as buildings, models, | | | | accurate, and detail oriented. Photographers should be |
| merchandise, artifacts, and landscapes. These | | | | able to work well with others, as they frequently |
| photographs are used in a variety of media, including | | | | deal with clients, graphic designers, and advertising |
| books, reports, advertisements, and catalogs. | | | | and publishing specialists. Photographers need to |
| Industrial photographers often take pictures of | | | | know how to use computer software programs and |
| equipment, machinery, products, workers, and | | | | applications that allow them to prepare and edit |
| company officials. The pictures are used for various | | | | images, and those who market directly to clients |
| purposes for example, analysis of engineering | | | | should be familiar with using the Internet to display |
| projects, publicity, or records of equipment | | | | their work. |
| development or deployment, such as placement of | | | | Portrait photographers need the ability to help people |
| an offshore oil rig. This photography frequently is | | | | relax in front of the camera. Commercial and fine arts |
| done on location. | | | | photographers must be imaginative and original. News |
| Scientific photographers take images of a variety of | | | | photographers must not only be good with a camera, |
| subjects to illustrate or record scientific or medical | | | | but also understand the story behind an event so |
| data or phenomena, using knowledge of scientific | | | | that their pictures match the story. They must be |
| procedures. They typically possess additional | | | | decisive in recognizing a potentially good photograph |
| knowledge in areas such as engineering, medicine, | | | | and act quickly to capture it. Photographers, who |
| biology, or chemistry. | | | | operate their own business, or freelance, need |
| News photographers also called photojournalists, | | | | business skills as well as talent. These individuals must |
| photograph newsworthy people, places, and sporting, | | | | know how to prepare a business plan; submit bids; |
| political, and community events for newspapers, | | | | write contracts; keep financial records; market their |
| journals, magazines, or television. | | | | work; hire models, if needed; get permission to shoot |
| Fine arts photographers sell their photographs as fine | | | | on locations that normally are not open to the public; |
| artwork. In addition to technical proficiency, fine arts | | | | obtain releases to use photographs of people; license |
| photographers need artistic talent and creativity. | | | | and price photographs; and secure copyright |
| Self-employed, or freelance, photographers usually | | | | protection for their work. To protect their rights and |
| specialize in one of the above fields. In addition to | | | | their work, self-employed photographers require basic |
| carrying out assignments under direct contract with | | | | knowledge of licensing and copyright laws, as well as |
| clients, they may license the use of their photographs | | | | knowledge of contracts and negotiation procedures. |
| through stock photo agencies or market their work | | | | After several years of experience, magazine and |
| directly to the public. Stock photo agencies sell | | | | news photographers may advance to photography |
| magazines and other customers the right to use | | | | or picture editor positions. Some photographers teach |
| photographs, and pay the photographer a | | | | at technical schools, film schools, or universities. |
| commission. | | | | Earnings |
| Working Conditions | | | | Median annual earnings of salaried photographers |
| Working conditions for photographers vary | | | | were $26,080 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent |
| considerably. Photographers employed in government | | | | earned between $18,380 and $37,370. The lowest 10 |
| and advertising studios usually work a 5 day, 40 hour | | | | percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 |
| week. On the other hand, news photographers often | | | | percent earned more than $54,180. Median annual |
| work long, irregular hours and must be available to | | | | earnings in the industries employing the largest |
| work on short notice. | | | | numbers of salaried photographers were $32,800 for |
| Some photographers work in uncomfortable or even | | | | newspapers and periodicals and $23,100 for other |
| dangerous surroundings, especially news | | | | professional, scientific, and technical services. |
| photographers covering accidents, natural disasters, | | | | Salaried photographers, more of whom work full |
| civil unrest, or military conflicts. Many photographers | | | | time, tend to earn more than those who are self |
| must wait long hours in all kinds of weather for an | | | | employed. Because most freelance and portrait |
| event to take place and stand or walk for long | | | | photographers purchase their own equipment, they |
| periods while carrying heavy equipment. News | | | | incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining |
| photographers often work under strict deadlines. | | | | cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial |
| Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement | | | | photographers, few fine arts photographers are |
| Employers usually seek applicants with a good eye, | | | | successful enough to support themselves solely |
| imagination, and creativity, as well as a good technical | | | | through their art. |