Photographer
Specialties: Biophotographers, Industrial Photographers, Pet
Photographers.
What do Photographers do?
- Photographers record visual images on film or video tape to graphically
illustrate or explain an idea.
- They may also prepare the pictures for presentation.
- They generally specialize in a particular type of subject matter, such
as portraits, landscape, nature or news pictures and in types of equipment
such as 35 millimeter cameras, video or movie cameras.
Salary and Employment Outlook:
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Typical Employers:
Photographers work for commercial photographers and portrait studios and in
the portrait departments in large stores. They work for magazines, newspapers,
television stations and networks, for national news services and syndicates;
although many of these may be free-lance or under specific contracts.
Photographers are also employed by large public and private organizations, by
scientific and industrial firms, by the military and in government agencies such
as local law enforcement. Approximately 32% nationally are self-employed.
Photojournalists also work in the developing-printing industry.
Preparation:
There are several successful methods of acquiring photography skills,
including on-the-job training; coursework in art schools, public and private
vocational schools, community colleges, and universities. You can also get
training and experience in the military. Skill may be developed through a hobby
or special interest. Many employers prefer some college background in chemistry
and art, but not necessarily a formal program. Workers entering the field of
photographic science and research should have a college background which
includes chemistry, math, electronics, and mechanics. Experience is important.
The graduate of even the finest photography course should expect to serve a
period of on-the-job training to add practical experience to academic knowledge.
It takes from two years up to four years to learn the necessary skills. Many
Photographers find such non-photographic subjects as sales training, psychology,
bookkeeping, advertising, and newspaper or magazine theory and practice tie in
with their particular branch of the occupation.
Some work at other jobs like Graphic Artists and Designers , Lithographic
Workers , Photofinishers , or Broadcast Technicians before finding work as a
Photographer.
Educational Program(s):
Photographic Arts
Related Programs: Art, Journalism, Printing and Graphics