Photographer

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Photographer

O
* NET-SOC: 27-4021.00

Creative Arts

Captures images using digital or film cameras for commercial, editorial, portrait, or artistic purposes, handling lighting, composition, post-processing, and client relations.

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$43K

Median Salary

+4%

Stable

Bachelor's Degree

Min. Education

Moderate Balance

Work-Life Balance

Photographers capture images that tell stories, preserve moments, or convey visual messages for clients, audiences, or personal artistic expression. The work is remarkably diverse - a photographer might spend one day in a corporate office taking executive portraits for an annual report, the next day documenting a wedding from ceremony through reception, and the third working in a studio perfecting product shots for an e-commerce catalog.

Success requires both technical mastery and creative vision: understanding precisely how light, composition, and camera settings interact to create the desired mood or message, while also possessing the artistic sensibility to see compelling images others might miss. Photographers must be adaptable problem-solvers who work well under pressure, since they cannot reshoot a wedding ceremony or expect perfect weather during an outdoor shoot.

The role suits creative people who are also detail-oriented, patient with both technology and people, and driven by the desire to create images that resonate visually. Their days blend technical work - adjusting lighting rigs, managing camera settings, dealing with equipment challenges - with interpersonal work, since photographing people requires the ability to put subjects at ease and communicate clearly about the vision.

What makes photography rewarding is seeing a perfectly executed image come together, receiving feedback that a photo captured something meaningful, or building a body of work that reflects your artistic perspective. Challenges include managing client expectations, dealing with unpredictable conditions, investing constantly in expensive equipment, and competing in an increasingly crowded field where technical skill alone is no longer sufficient - business acumen and marketing savvy are essential for a sustainable career.

9:00 AM

Scout location and test lighting

Arrive at an outdoor venue for an afternoon client shoot. Walk the space, assess natural light quality at different times, and identify optimal shooting angles and backgrounds.

10:30 AM

Studio equipment setup and testing

Return to studio to prepare for a product photography session. Set up lighting rigs, test camera and lens combinations, and review client specifications for the shoot.

12:00 PM

Lunch and client communication

Grab lunch while reviewing emails from clients about upcoming projects and confirming final details for this afternoon's session regarding specific product angles and styling requirements.

1:00 PM

Product photography session

Photograph a series of products, adjusting lighting, props, and angles for each item. Capture multiple variations to give the client options for their needs.

3:30 PM

Image review and culling

Download session files to computer, review images for technical quality and composition, and select the best shots to present to the client.

4:30 PM

Post-processing and editing

Apply color correction, adjust exposure and contrast, retouch images as needed, and prepare edited files in the formats clients have requested.

5:30 PM

Equipment maintenance and business tasks

Clean lenses and camera equipment, back up all image files, and handle administrative work like invoicing recent clients and updating portfolio with newly completed projects.

• Graphics & Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
  • Flickr
• Web & Social Media
  • Facebook
  • Word Press
• Databases & Data Tools
  • Microsoft Access
  • Cradoc fotoBiz
  • Hind Sight In View
  • Light Blue Software Light Blue
  • ShootQ photography studio management software
• Video Editing
  • Adobe After Effects
  • Apple Final Cut Pro
  • We Video
  • You Tube
• Accounting
  • Quick Books
  • Blinkbid
• Document Management
  • Adobe Acrobat

Salary distribution for Photographer: 10th percentile $30K, 25th $35K, median $43K, 75th $62K, 90th $95K Median $30K $35K $43K $62K $95K

Most professionals earn between $35K and $62K

Photographer salary percentile distribution Percentile Salary 10th $30K 25th $35K 50th (Median) $43K 75th $62K 90th $95K

Photographer salary by state map

Photographer salary by state State Median Salary Salary Range District of Columbia $111K $37K - $141K Massachusetts $61K $38K - $103K New York $58K $35K - $124K Oregon $56K $36K - $104K Minnesota $55K $32K - $91K New Jersey $51K $34K - $95K California $51K $36K - $131K Delaware $50K $29K - $69K Rhode Island $50K $33K - $75K Louisiana $50K $27K - $107K Connecticut $48K $37K - $87K New Hampshire $48K $21K - $73K Utah $48K $31K - $76K Hawaii $45K $31K - $71K Maryland $45K $33K - $89K Mississippi $45K $29K -…