Find Trade Colleges
What Do Photographer Do?
Occupation 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.
What Do Photographers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry.
- Load and unload film.
- Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
- Engage in research to develop new photographic procedures and materials.
- Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.
- Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Featured schools near , edit
Photographer Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Photographers say are important on the job.
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.
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
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:
- Industrial Photographer
- Crime Scene Photographer
- School Photographer
- Cameraman
- Sports Photographer
What Kind of Photographer Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 147,300 jobs for Photographer in 2016. 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.
Average Photographers Salary
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 |
What Tools & Technology do Photographers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Photographers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
- 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
Becoming a Photographer
Individuals working as a Photographer have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Photographer?
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.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.