What Does it Take to Be a 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.
What Do Photographers Do On a Daily Basis?
- License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies.
- Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
- Determine project goals, locations, and equipment needs by studying assignments and consulting with clients or advertising staff.
- Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
- Load and unload film.
- 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.
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Photographer Required Skills
These are the skills Photographers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Other Photographer Job Titles
- Street Photographer
- Freelance Photographer
- Studio Owner
- Apprentice Photographer
- Wild Life Photographer
Job Demand for Photographers
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. 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.
Salary for a Photographer
The average yearly salary of a Photographer ranges between $19,850 and $76,360.
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
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 education or degrees do I need to become a Photographer?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Photographers Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those who work as a Photographer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
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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