Photographers

Photographers use their technical expertise and creativity to produce and preserve images of people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects.

Duties

Photographers typically do the following:

• Market or advertise services to attract clients
• Analyze and plan the composition of photographs
• Use various photographic techniques and lighting equipment
• Capture subjects in professional-quality photographs
• Enhance the subject’s appearance with natural or artificial light
• Use photo-enhancing software
• Maintain a digital portfolio to demonstrate their work
• Archive and manage imagery

Many photographers use digital cameras, although some also may use traditional film cameras. Digital cameras capture images electronically, so the photographer can edit the image on a computer. Once the raw image has been transferred to a computer, photographers use image processing software to crop or modify the image and enhance it through color correction and other specialized effects.

Photographers who work for commercial clients often present photographs in a digital format to the client. Wedding and portrait photographers also may provide framing services and present the photographs they capture in albums.

Many photographers are self-employed. Photographers who own and operate their own business have additional responsibilities. They must advertise, schedule appointments, set up and adjust equipment, buy supplies, keep records, charge customers, pay bills, and—if they have employees—hire, train, and direct their workers.

In addition, some photographers teach photography classes or conduct workshops in schools or in their own studios.

The following are examples of types of photographers:

Aerial photographers capture images from overhead. They may travel in planes or helicopters or use drones to take photographs of buildings, landscapes, scenery, or events.

Commercial and industrial photographers take pictures of subjects such as buildings, models, merchandise, artifacts, and landscapes. They usually go on location to take pictures for magazine covers, engineering projects, or other purposes.

Fine arts photographers sell their photographs as artwork. In addition to their knowledge of techniques such as lighting and the use of lenses, fine arts photographers use their artistic talent to express emotions and ideas through the images they capture.

News photographers, also called photojournalists, photograph people, places, and events for newspapers, television, and other media outlets. In addition to taking still photos, photojournalists often work with digital video.

Portrait photographers take pictures of individuals or groups of people and may work in studios. Photographers who specialize in weddings, religious ceremonies, or school photographs usually work on location.

Photographers held about 151,200 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of photographers were as follows:

Many photographers are self-employed. Work settings for photographers vary. Photographers may work indoors or outdoors.

They may work in studios, and travel may be required. For example, a portrait photographer might travel to take photographs at a client’s location, such as a school or a home.

News photographers may travel locally or internationally and must be prepared to work in uncomfortable or even dangerous surroundings. For example, a news photographer may be sent to a war zone to capture images. News photographers may need to be available on short notice to cover developing events.

Aerial photographers work in planes or helicopters to capture a scene, event, or location from an overhead perspective.

Photographers might need to stand or walk for long periods. They also may need to carry heavy equipment.

Work Schedules

Part-time work is common, and work schedules may vary, including evenings and weekends. Hours often are flexible so that photographers can meet with current and potential clients or visit the sites where they will work. For certain types of photographers, workloads may fluctuate with the season. For example, wedding photographers are typically busiest in the summer and fall.

Photographers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation. Many photographers take classes or earn a certificate or degree in photography or a related field to improve their skills.

The median hourly wage for photographers was $20.44 in May 2024.

Employment of photographers is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.

Despite limited employment growth, about 12,700 openings for photographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.