What Do Photographer Do?
Example of Photographer Job 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
- Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories.
- Review sets of photographs to select the best work.
- Write photograph captions.
- Perform general office duties, such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
- Photograph legal evidence at crime scenes, in hospitals, or in forensic laboratories.
- Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
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Photographer Needed Skills
Photographers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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:
- Commercial Photographer
- Wedding Photographer
- Scientific Photographer
- Photo-Optics Technician
- Photo Editor
Is There Going to be Demand 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. There will be an estimated 10,300 positions for Photographer per year.
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
The salary for Photographers ranges between about $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 |
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
Becoming a Photographer
What education or degrees do I need to become a Photographer?
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.
Similar 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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