What Does it Take to Be a 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.
Photographer Responsibilities
- Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
- 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.
- Write photograph captions.
- Develop visual aids and charts for use in lectures or to present evidence in court.
- Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
- Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
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Photographer Required 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.
Types of Photographer Jobs
- Photographer Assistant
- Marine Photographer
- Studio Owner
- Aerial Photographer
- Underwater Photographer
What Kind of Photographer Job Opportunities Are There?
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.
Photographer Average 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.
How much do Photographers make 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 do Photographers Use?
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
- 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
How to Become a Photographer
Individuals working as a Photographer have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Photographer?
Where Photographers Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Photographers employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Are you already one of the many Photographer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
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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