Photography is a technically demanding profession, so those concern in becoming photographers must consider the train they ‘ll need before committing to this career path. This guide on how to become a photographer provides in-depth information that can help readers decide if a photography degree can put them on the right career path .
What Does a Photographer Do?
Photography Career Basics
On the most basic flat, photographers use cameras to capture images. however, there are diverse types of photography, including scientific and antenna photography, and photographers work in many settings, ranging from photographic studios to newspaper publication companies. Some photographers work in the airfield, and others are studio-based. While some photographers work full clock time, many work half-time, and their workload may vary depending on the season .
Photography Career In-Depth
many people start their travel to becoming a photographer by working as a photographer ‘s adjunct. Some may have a certificate in photography or even fair a high school diploma. They may gain a competitive edge with more education because many employers prefer applicants who have formal train over amateurs who may not be as intimate in many of the technical and creative aspects of the career .
Photographers who work in photojournalism or as scientific or industrial photographers generally need a degree. Some photographers are besides Certified Professional Photographers through the Professional Photographers of America .
Steps to Becoming a Photographer
step 1
Choose the Right department of education
The first pace to becoming a professional photographer is to find an education program that fits your goals. There are photography programs designed to match each scholar ‘s career goals and level of educational commitment. photography programs are available from the certificate to the master ‘s level. Costs can vary from around $ 200 for documentation to tens of thousands of dollars for college programs .
How hanker does it take to become a photographer ? Photography certificate programs vary by school — they can be entry-level programs requiring anywhere from six to 10 classes or four-year programs. Associate degrees in photography normally take two years to finish and are roughly 90 citation hours. They provide a stronger photography and arts background than security programs and are more technical .
Bachelor ‘s degrees take four years, but they provide more in-depth cognition and can give job candidates a competitive edge in the market. A headmaster ‘s degree program is typically a biennial program that includes 36 citation hours. It is an advance program that can lead to management positions such as artwork director or aged photographer .
step 2
Choose a focus
There are respective photography specialties to choose from as you figure out how to be a photographer. Students normally choose to focus on one area, such as :
- Portrait photography
- Commercial photography
- Scientific and industrial photography
- Aerial photography
- Fine art photography
step 3
Internships
Internships supply students an opportunity to engage in photographic workshops and fieldwork to explore the technical, creative, and logistic aspects of photography both in a studio and on location. They may be paid or unpaid and typically run for a few months .
measure 4
Take Exams for Certificates
There are numerous certifications available for photographers, some of which the Professional Photographers Association offers. application fees are normally around a couple hundred dollars. Examples of certifications include :
- Certified Professional Photographer
- Certified Forensic Photographer
- Registered Biological Photographer
tone 5
Land an Entry-Level job
Most schools have a career center that can assist with job interview tips and help students write effective resumes and cover letters. Students should leverage this resource to find a job .
pace 6
recurrence to School for Continuing Education or an advanced Degree
Each educational flat provides more academic train and teaching, which can make you more desirable to potential employers or possible clients. You can besides benefit from non-degree continuing department of education options .
Photographer Salaries and Job Growth
state
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ( BLS ) and Projections Central, a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored web site .
Top 10 States/Territories with the Highest Job Growth
- Utah: 44.8%
- Idaho: 9.5%
- Louisiana: 9.4%
- California: 5.4%
- Washington: 3.4%
- Colorado: 3.3%
- Puerto Rico: 1.6%
- Mississippi: 1.3%
- Arizona: 1.1%
- Florida: 0.9%
Career Paths for Photographers
Fine artwork photographers take photograph as an artwork form. They make money by selling their solve and displaying it in galleries. A master ‘s degree with a finely art photography specialization can help .
Photojournalists capture bouncy events as a form of storytelling for newspapers, magazines, and early publications. Associate degrees often cover courses in photojournalism .
Those who wish to become marry photographers take photos of ceremonies, wedding parties, and receptions. You might consider getting certified as a marry photographer .
Corporations employ commercial photographers to take photos of buildings, models, landscapes, trade, and other subjects. Companies use these photos for materials like brochures, ads, or internal communication. A master ‘s degree with an advertising/photo example specialization could help .
Courses in Photography Programs
Fundamentals of photography
Color Photography I
history of photography
photojournalism
Components of a Successful Photography Career
Skills
Photographers need artistic ability — a “ good center ” for judging what would make a good photograph. Computer skills are essential since most photographers use digital cameras. The photos are transferred to computers for storehouse and edited using respective software programs .
Traits
Those working on becoming a photographer must besides be detail-oriented. The ability to be careful and thorough is all-important when taking photograph and editing them. finally, most photographers, even those who work entirely, must deal with clients. It is significant to maintain good relationships with clients and to understand their needs and wants .
| Camera flash and lighting | Camera flash attachments, focus assists, softboxes, studio strobe flashes |
|---|---|
| Camera lens | Macro lenses, telephoto lenses, zoom lenses |
| Camera lens filter | Graduated neutral density GND filters, haze filters, white balancing lens filters, wide-angle lenses |
| Photography light reflector | Board reflectors, lamp reflectors, snoots |
| Scanner | Film scanners, flatbed scanners |
| Graphic or photo-imaging software | Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop |
|---|---|
| Accounting software | Blinkbid, Intuit QuickBooks software |
| Database user software | Cradoc fotoBiz, Microsoft Access, SuccessWare, Tave Studio Manager |
| Spreadsheet software | Microsoft Excel |
| Web page creation and editing software | WordPress |
Related Career Options
Graphic Designers
Graphic designers might help create son, trade, and advertisements to sell a product. They might besides work in editorial graphic design, designing pages for a newspaper or magazine .
- Job Growth: 3%
- Median Salary: $53,380
- Education and Training: Bachelor’s degree
Film and Video Editors
Film and television editors can work in the commercial sector, on movie and television sets, for news organizations, and other areas .
- Job Growth: 29%
- Median Salary: $67,250
- Education and Training: Bachelor’s degree
Producers and Directors
Producers and directors much have a film or filming degree. They can work for production companies, film studios, and even in the commercial sector.
- Job Growth: 24%
- Median Salary: $76,400
- Education and Training: Bachelor’s degree
Michelle Honeyager
Contributing writer
