What You Need to Know About Photographer
Photographer Job Description Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects, using digital or film cameras and equipment. May develop negatives or use computer software to produce finished images and prints. Includes scientific photographers, aerial photographers, and photojournalists.
Daily Life Of a Photographer
- Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories.
- Load and unload film.
- Set up photographic exhibitions for the purpose of displaying and selling work.
- Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
- Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
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What Every Photographer Should Know
When polled, Photographers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Wedding Photographer
- Photographer Assistant
- Digital Photographer
- Food Photographer
- Photographer
Photographer Job Outlook
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 147,300 jobs in the United States for Photographer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Photographer. The BLS estimates 10,300 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Photographer are Maryland, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Indiana, New Jersey, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Photographer
Photographers make between $19,850 and $76,360 a year.

Photographers who work in District of Columbia, Rhode Island, or Minnesota, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Photographers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $39,360 |
Alaska | $42,820 |
Arizona | $33,500 |
Arkansas | $37,520 |
California | $52,720 |
Colorado | $38,600 |
Connecticut | $44,140 |
Delaware | $34,130 |
District of Columbia | $82,840 |
Florida | $39,990 |
Georgia | $45,270 |
Hawaii | $41,640 |
Idaho | $33,240 |
Illinois | $36,290 |
Indiana | $35,460 |
Iowa | $30,180 |
Kansas | $35,540 |
Kentucky | $36,390 |
Louisiana | $32,710 |
Maine | $38,360 |
Maryland | $39,640 |
Massachusetts | $65,090 |
Minnesota | $54,150 |
Mississippi | $44,770 |
Missouri | $36,470 |
Montana | $31,670 |
Nebraska | $35,760 |
Nevada | $35,010 |
New Hampshire | $37,800 |
New Jersey | $35,840 |
New Mexico | $53,720 |
New York | $53,150 |
North Carolina | $33,630 |
North Dakota | $35,530 |
Ohio | $42,370 |
Oklahoma | $31,940 |
Oregon | $36,440 |
Pennsylvania | $34,790 |
Rhode Island | $54,800 |
South Carolina | $42,090 |
South Dakota | $30,380 |
Tennessee | $33,170 |
Texas | $34,160 |
Vermont | $48,840 |
Virginia | $37,420 |
Washington | $48,020 |
West Virginia | $32,270 |
Wisconsin | $34,750 |
Wyoming | $38,100 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Photographers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Photographers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Intuit QuickBooks
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- WordPress
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Apple macOS
- SmugMug Flickr
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
- Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects
How do I Become a Photographer?
What kind of Photographer requirements are there?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Photographers Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Photographers employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Career changers with experience as a Photographer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Jorge Royan via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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