Career Pathway: Photographer

Photographer Career

Duties and Responsibilities: Photographers take pictures of events, people, and places. They can choose where to work and subject the are interested in. They use cameras and other photo equipment to capture moments in still frames. Many photographers must travel for work.

Salary:$40,280

Education: Post secondary programs in photography can be an option. They can work in many different areas and often choose an area to specialize in.Photographers often start working as an assistant to a professional photographer. This work provides an opportunity to gain experience, build the photographer's’ portfolios, and gain exposure to prospective clients.

Demand for this profession: A High School diploma is the minimum education needed. Art schools may offer useful training in photographic design and composition. Photographers have a talent or natural ability for taking good photos, and this talent is typically cultivated over years of practice. For many artists, including photographers, developing a portfolio a collection of an artist’s work that demonstrates his or her styles and abilities is essential. A portfolio is necessary because art directors, clients, and others often want to look at one when deciding whether to hire or contract with the photographer.