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Photographers

THE JOB

The basic skills involved in all photography are the same: a thorough 
understanding of camera operation, lighting, composition, darkroom 
procedures, and the special properties of films and papers.  PHOTOGRAPHERS 
use combinations of cameras, films, lenses, filters, and lighting to create 
and to produce the final image or picture. Photographers may specialize in 
portrait, commercial, news, industrial, medical, or scientific photography, 
or they may generalize in a combination of two or more types of photography.

The primary differences between specialties lie in the subject matter, work 
site, type of equipment used, and the amount of training and precision 
required for design and composition of the photograph.  Wedding and Portrait 
Photographers pose their subjects and carefully arrange lighting by using 
flood lights, electronic flash units, reflectors, and screens. 

Commercial Photographers may take pictures of merchandise, architecture, 
and scenery for advertising and sales purposes.  News Photographers 
generally work at the sites of news events.  They take pictures that 
enhance stories used by news media.  Industrial Photographers include all 
Photographers working in an industrial setting.  

Scientific Photographers use specialized equipment such as electron 
microscopes for producing photographs of microscopic items and often assist 
in the preparation of specimens to be photographed.  Many Photographers are 
skilled in the use of 35- or 16-millimeter movie cameras or video camcorders.


WORKING CONDITIONS 

Most Photographers work indoors in clean, air-conditioned surroundings.  
Exceptions are News Photographers who may work indoors or out under all 
conditions of weather, lighting, and vantage points.  News assignments may 
be dangerous.  Normal or corrected vision and good color perception are 
essential.  There is often pressure to meet deadlines. 

Most News Photographers are members of the local chapter of the Newspaper 
Guild, a national organization.  Independent, industrial, scientific and 
other Photographers working in smaller studios usually have no union 
affiliation. 


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

The following information is from the California Projections of Employment 
published by the Labor Market Information Division for Photographers.

Estimated number of workers in 1993                9,260
Estimated number of workers in 2005               11,720
Projected Growth 1993-2005                           27%
Estimated openings due to separations by 2005      2,600

(These figures do not include self-employment or openings due to turnover.)

This occupation is expected to grow about as fast as the average occupation 
through 2005.  The job market for Photographers is very competitive.  About 
as many openings will arise from the need to replace Photographers who 
leave the occupation as are created by job creation.  There are, however,
more qualified Photographers than there are job openings.

Some of the less-crowded fields in photography are the scientific and 
industrial photography fields.  This is because these jobs demand very 
specialized technical knowledge in addition to photographic skill.  Aerial
photography is another field that is less crowded.

Many Photographers are self-employed.  They often contract with various 
agencies or work on individual projects.  Salaried Photographers work in 
commercial photography studios, while others work for magazines, 
newspapers, and advertising and government agencies.  It is difficult to 
find permanent full-time work.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Pay for Photographers varies greatly, depending on the job duties and type 
of employer.  The pay of newspaper Photographers ranges from $350 to 
$1,000 a week.  A company car, equipment, and merit and pay differentials 
may be provided.

The State of California offers their Photographers a salary of $2,379 to 
$2,853 per month.  For other salaried Photographers, earnings can reach 
$1,600 to over $2,200 per month.  Self-employed or free lance Photographers 
may earn very modest salaries as part-time workers, or many thousands of 
dollars each month for Photographers who own busy studios.  A very few 
Photographers earn salaries over $100,000 per year.  Earnings are affected 
by the number of hours worked, the Photographer's creativity and skills, 
marketing and business ability, location, and general economic conditions.

Civil service, industrial, and news Photographers work a standard 40-hour 
week with time and a half for overtime. Benefits include paid vacations, 
holidays, and sick leave.  Life, health, retirement and accident insurance 
policies may be fully or partially paid by employers.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

The minimum entrance requirement is graduation from high school; however, 
employers prefer experienced applicants who are college graduates.  All 
newspaper Photographers should have previous experience, and sometimes a 
college degree is required.

Prospective Photographers should take classes in photography, art, and 
chemistry.  A photographic rating in the armed forces is helpful.  Several 
four-year colleges offer courses in photography. 

Many community colleges offer two-year vocational courses leading to an 
Associate of Arts degree in photography.  Applicants with college training 
and little on-the-job experience can enhance their employability by 
completing one or more internships.  This is especially true for beginning 
photojournalists.  Most of the larger newspapers and magazines offer 
internships in the summer months.

Computers will be playing an important part in future professional 
photography.  Experience with computer programs to alter and manipulate 
photographic images will be increasingly needed.

Although there is no systematic or best method of entering this occupation, 
determination, skill, and formal preparation are important factors for 
success.


ADVANCEMENT

Civil service Photographers and union newspaper Photographers advance to 
more responsible jobs as they gain experience and pass required tests.  
Most photographic studios are small and opportunities for advancement to 
supervisory levels are limited.  Photographers can usually increase their 
earnings by developing a good reputation in a salable specialty and by 
gaining experience and mastery of their craft.  Self-employment is also a 
popular option.


FINDING THE JOB

Applicants should prepare a portfolio of their photographs and apply 
directly to photographic studios or companies that employ Photographers.  
Those interested in civil service positions should contact the 
personnel offices of government agencies for information about examinations.

College students can obtain job information and references from their 
college placement offices.  Networking is an important source of employment 
contacts in this occupation.  Applicants should also register with 
California Employment Development Department Workforce Services Offices, private 
employment agencies, unions, and professional associations.  Newspaper 
advertisements and trade publications are also sources of job leads.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Additional information regarding the field of photography can be obtained 
from:

The Newspaper Guild
501 Third St. N.W., Suite 250
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 434 7177
www.newsguild.org/tng/

National Press Photographers Association
3200 Croasdaile Drive, Suite 306
Durham, NC 27705
(800) 289-6772
www.sunsite.unc.edu/nppa/

Professional Photographers of America, Inc.
229 Peachtree Street, Suite 2200
International Tower
Atlanta, GA 30303
(800) 786-6277
www.ppa-world.org


RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Photo Finishing Occupations           No. 245
Photographic Equipment Repairers      No. 265

OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991)
Photographer, Scientific          143.062-026
Photographer, Still               143.062-030
Photojournalist                   143.062-034
Photographer                      143.457-010

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Photographers                          340230


Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
        Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
        (916) 262-2162