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Career

Photographers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipModerate pressure

What they 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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Artistic: Creating, designing and expressing ideas through art, writing, music or performance.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $44,660 Median per year · $21.47/hr Most earn $30,820–$91,810

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing.
  • Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
  • Send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing.
  • Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry.
  • Develop and print exposed film, using chemicals, touch-up tools, and developing and printing equipment.
  • Mount, frame, laminate, or lacquer finished photographs.

Job outlook

United States
1% fewer jobs by 2035, little or no change · about 10,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Self-employed (their own business)66.7%
  • Photographic services17.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Most photographers don't start working as a photographer right out of school. People usually spend about 1 to 2 years getting training and hands-on experience, often through a certificate program or apprenticeship and some work as an assistant, before they take on the job themselves.

  1. High school diploma with photography, art, or computer classes

    4 years

    Building a basic eye for composition and getting comfortable with computers and image editing gives you a head start on training programs.

  2. Photography certificate or apprenticeship

    about 1 year

    Structured training in lighting, camera settings, and editing software, often with real client work, prepares you for entry-level jobs.

  3. Photography Assistant

    1-2 years

    Assisting working photographers with lighting, equipment, and shoots teaches you the business and lets you build a portfolio and professional contacts.

  4. Photographer

    Ongoing

    With a strong portfolio and experience, you can work independently or for a studio, company, or news organization, in areas such as portraits, commercial, product, or photojournalism.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Photographer

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on bigger projects and clients, often lead shoots, and may supervise assistants or manage a studio's creative work.

  2. Art Director

    4-6 years of experience first

    You shift from taking photos to guiding the visual look of projects for a team; this role usually requires a bachelor's degree and experience in visual work.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take art, photography, or digital media classesThese teach composition, lighting, and visual thinking, which are the foundation of good photography.
  • Join the yearbook, newspaper, or school media teamShooting real events on deadline builds skills and gives you published work for your portfolio.
  • Learn free editing softwarePracticing basic editing in programs like Lightroom or GIMP helps you understand the post-shoot work photographers do.
  • Volunteer to photograph school or community eventsRegular shoots help you practice working with people and different lighting conditions, and give you material to show.
  • Get a part-time job at a camera store or retail shopWorking around cameras and equipment teaches you about gear and helps you meet people in the photo world.

In college

  • Take photography courses, or a major or minor in photography or visual artsFormal instruction in lighting, studio work, and photo history gives you the technical and creative base employers look for.
  • Pursue an internship with a studio, news outlet, or companyInterning shows you how professional shoots run and often leads to assistant work or references.
  • Work as a photographer for the student paper, yearbook, or campus officeCampus jobs give you paid, deadline-driven experience and steady portfolio material.
  • Join a photography club or student art groupPeers and critiques help you improve faster and can lead to collaborations and job tips.
  • Take short workshops or certificate-level courses in specialtiesFocused training in areas like product, portrait, or photojournalism helps you pick a direction and shows initiative.

Tips for getting started

  • Start a portfolio now, even with school events, friends, or local businesses, and keep updating it with your best work.
  • Learn editing software such as Lightroom or Photoshop, since most photography jobs expect you to edit your own images.
  • Ask to assist local photographers or studios; the experience and connections often lead to paid work.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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