What You Need to Know About 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.
A Day in the Life of a Photographer
- License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies.
- Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
- Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions.
- Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
- Develop visual aids and charts for use in lectures or to present evidence in court.
- Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry.
Featured schools near , edit
What Every Photographer Should Know
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
- Street Photographer
- Portrait Photographer
- Photographer
- Digital Photographer
- Crime Scene Photographer
Are There Job Opportunities for Photographers?
There were about 147,300 jobs for Photographer in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Do Photographers Make A Lot Of Money?
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 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
What kind of Photographer requirements are there?

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
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.
Featured Schools
![]() |
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |