Photographers

Also Called: Commercial Photographer, Photographer, Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer

Associate's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$28,510

Entry Salary

Below Average

Job outlook

What Photographers do

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

  • Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
  • Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
  • 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.
Industry Areas:

Information Technology

Training Program Areas:

OCT-Only Information Technology • Visual Communications

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Electronic Mail
  • Telephone
  • Level of Competition
  • Freedom to Make Decisions
  • Contact With Others

Tools

  • Camera lens filter
  • Camera flashes or lighting
  • Camera lens
  • Photography light reflector
  • Scanners

Technology

Data base user interface and query software
Cradoc fotoBiz
Microsoft Access
Video creation and editing software
Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
YouTube
Graphics or photo imaging software
Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Cloud
SmugMug Flickr

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Speaking
  • Service Orientation
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Active Learning

Knowledge

Business
customer service
sales and marketing
Engineering and Technology
computers and electronics
Arts and Humanities
music, dance, visual arts, drama, or sculpture
English language
Communications
multimedia

Education

  • 28% High school diploma or equivalent
  • 20% Associate's degree
  • 16% Less than high school diploma

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Retail Salespersons

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, & Illustrators

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

 Job Training Match

Photographers Currently Selected

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Secondary School Teachers

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

 Job Training Match

Self-Enrichment Teachers

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

    Tifton, GA

  • Adrian College

    Adrian, MI

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Artistic (Creator)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Self Control
  • Integrity

Values

  • Independence
  • Relationships
  • Achievement

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Hand and Finger Use

This is what Photographers across the country typically make.

$13.71 / hour
$28,510 /year

Entry Level

$19.60 / hour
$40,760 /year

Median Level

$46.03 / hour
$95,740 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Below Average

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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