Careers in Photography

There are many opportunities for you to build a career in photography: you can become a wildlife photographer or a wedding photographer; you can work for a magazine; or you can start your own photography business!

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Careers in Photography, Digital Photography Courses, The Learning Group

What is it like to work as a photographer?

Imagine being at the soccer world cup final and capturing the perfect shot of the winning goal. What about snapping a picture in the Kruger National Park that ends up on National Geographic’s cover? Or what if you were hired to do a fashion shoot for a world-famous designer?

Photographers often lead interesting and exciting professional lives, with new projects and challenges always on the horizon. There is, however, more to photography than just taking pictures. Here are some behind-the-scenes things you’ll need to do if you really want to work in this profession:

  • Work long and irregular hours.
  • Always be professional and business-minded.
  • Interact with clients.
  • Market your photographs and photographic services.
  • Work with computers and digital editing software.
  • Select, edit, and prepare photos for clients (presentation is especially important in wedding photography).
  • Work in a very demanding and competitive industry.
  • Frequently work outdoors and on location.
  • Do a lot of travelling.
  • Be able to direct, work with, and communicate with different kinds of models and subjects.

Good photographers are dedicated and passionate about their profession. Despite all the hard work they usually put into their jobs, most (if not all) photographers will tell you that it’s completely worth it!

What kind of job opportunities are there in photography?

Careers in Photography, Digital Photography Courses, The Learning Group

Careers in Photography, Digital Photography Courses, The Learning Group

Careers in Photography, Digital Photography Courses, The Learning Group

 There are countless ways to make money with your digital camera. Here is a list of some of the jobs you might be able to get as a photographer:

  • Commercial or retail photographer
  • Wildlife photographer
  • Stock photographer
  • Studio photographer
  • Creative agency photographer
  • Magazine photographer
  • Wedding photographer
  • Photographic studio technician or assistant
  • Fashion photographer
  • Sport photographer
  • Photo editor

And what about being a fine-arts photographer? As a fine-arts photographer, you will probably work in a very informal capacity, producing occasional work for galleries, businesses or art buyers.

“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Careers in Photography, Digital Photography Courses, The Learning Group

Photographers can get full-time or contract employment in places such as publishing companies, magazines, news agencies, or creative agencies. A lot of photographers choose to work on a freelance basis, however. Though this is much more risky in terms of income stability, freelance photography gives you much more professional freedom and room for creativity.

What skills do I need if I want to become a photographer?

Photographers are:

  • Creative
  • Energetic
  • Attentive to details
  • Able to look at ordinary things in interesting ways
  • Great at communicating
  • Confident
  • Quick on their feet

Professional photographers are also highly skilled individuals and have a great deal of technical knowledge. Things like composition, light-reading, shutter-speed, and image formatting are all aspects of professional photography. It is especially for this reason that obtaining formal training is important for working in this profession.

How can I prepare for a career in photography?

To start your photography career, you will need to develop the right skill set. The Learning Group offers the following course to help you develop this skill set:

Though building a career as a professional photographer takes a lot of time and hard work, this course is a great place to start. At The Learning Group, we aim to help you improve your future prospects.

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