Photographers create permanent visual images for an exceptional range of creative, technical and documentary purposes.
A professional photographer usually works to a brief set by the client or employer.
Examples of image content include wedding, family and baby photographs, fashion, food, architecture and landscapes.
A large proportion of professional photographers are self-employed. The remainder work for a variety of employers, including creative businesses, publishers and photographic agencies, or in the education and public sectors.
Most professional photographers specialise in one area, such as:
See what becoming a specialist, such as a press photographer or medical illustrator, involves.
Exact tasks vary according to the specialism you choose, but common activities for most photographers include:
Many graduates start out as a photographer's assistant, spending a great deal of time on routine administration and helping out around the studio.
As with other creative professions, salaries vary enormously. Many photographers work freelance so their earnings are linked to what they are able to charge and how much work they can secure. For this reason, income is likely to vary from year to year.
Freelance and self-employed photographers often supplement their income with other related activities, such as giving photography lessons.
Income figures are intended as a guide only.
Hours can be long and unpredictable and may be led by demand. For example, wedding photographers will be at their busiest in the peak spring/summer wedding season and sports photographers will expect to work weekends and evenings to cover fixtures and events.
Freelance photographers may have periods of working at maximum capacity followed by times when there is little or no work.
It is possible to get into this profession without a degree, but in many instances having a degree or equivalent professional qualification is an advantage.
You could study for a degree in the following relevant subjects:
The content of photography courses varies considerably. Some have a strong emphasis on fine art and the study of photography as an artistic endeavour, whereas others have a more commercial focus and cover managing a business, professional ethics and marketing.
Digital imaging and other technological developments now form a significant part of many courses. Those that offer work placements and promote contact with industry are especially useful.
A postgraduate qualification is not necessary, although entry to the more competitive specialist areas, such as fashion, advertising and photojournalism, can be more challenging so a higher degree may be helpful.
Search for postgraduate courses in photography.
You will need to show:
It is virtually essential that you have significant work experience when applying for photography work. You will need a professional and impressive portfolio, which could be online, a traditional 'book' or on a CD or memory stick. It can contain tear sheets, if available. Whichever format you choose, your portfolio must be:
It is useful to join photographic societies, visit exhibitions and galleries, look at photographs in books and magazines and find out as much as possible about any specific fields of interest.
Volunteering, work shadowing, work experience and project work with photographers or relevant employers are also great ways of gaining experience and skills, as well as making contacts. You should take any opportunity to have your work published.
Around half the companies in the photo-imaging industry are sole trading or freelance photographers, and the majority of these companies employ five people or fewer.
In addition to employers in the fields of press and medical photography, permanent employment is offered by a variety of organisations:
In all other work, whether you specialise in advertising, aerial, architectural, corporate, documentary, editorial, fashion, fine art, food, portraiture, scientific and technical, sport, sub-aqua or wildlife photography, you are likely to work for yourself, either as a freelance, running a business or in a partnership.
Freelancers use a variety of means to generate work: some rely on their portfolio, self-promotion and a good contact network, while others use a photographic agent.
An increasingly influential market within the industry is the growing number of picture libraries and stock agencies. Further details are available from the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA).
Look for job vacancies at:
Many vacancies in this sector are never advertised, so it is essential to use speculative approaches and contacts. Useful resources for this purpose include:
Give employers the best first impression possible. Find advice on how to find a job, create a successful CV and cover letter, and prepare for interviews.
In a profession where there is so much self-employment and freelance work, it is not surprising that training is largely on the job and self-directed.
Academic courses often contain a substantial practical element and this is a useful starting point. Numerous part-time courses are run by local colleges, including GCSE, AS and A Level courses, City and Guilds, diplomas and non-assessed courses.
A searchable database of various courses is available at Creative Skillset Courses Directory.
The British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) has its own training courses, providing a variety of one-day courses and masterclasses run by experts, which cover a range of photography disciplines as well as business skills.
The BIPP also offers a tiered professional training route, leading to Licentiateship, Associateship and Fellowship qualifications. If you are interested in gaining a European photographic qualification, the BIPP acts as the link to the Federation of European Photographers (FEP). For more information see BIPP Events.
Discussions, seminars, online exhibitions and workshops are offered by the Association of Photographers (AOP).
If you're thinking of setting up your own photography business, it's a good idea to undertake business training courses - especially those that cover marketing and promotion, copyright and contracts, and basic bookkeeping and financial management.
There are many different types of photography, so there is no standard, structured career development route.
It is likely you will begin as a studio assistant or assistant photographer and you will be expected to learn by watching and to gain experience over time.
You can gain Junior Assistant or Assisting Photographer membership with the Association of Photographers (AOP), which provides access to a network of fellow assistants and professionals.
As an Assisting Photographer member, you can promote yourself on the 'Find an Assisting Photographer' search facility on the AOP website. The AOP also offers a mentoring scheme, workshops and seminars and runs competitions, which offer winners a good opportunity to improve career prospects.
You will be able to learn a great deal from the photographer(s) employing you, and will have the opportunity to develop a portfolio and to meet other photographers and stylists. You may also be able to borrow equipment or use studio space to develop your own work at weekends or during quiet times.
Even within the profession, there is contradictory advice about career development. Some suggest that becoming specialised is the best approach, whereas others warn of the dangers of operating within a niche market without the certainty that it will continue to be in demand.
If you choose to specialise, the best way forward is to develop a range of skills and maintain a flexible approach. You can move between specialist areas if you have the right portfolio.
Entering competitions, trying to get your work into galleries and, above all, networking will also help to boost your reputation and expand your client base.
Some experienced photographers become studio managers in large photographic studios. Others become agents, promoting and selling the work of other photographers. Many photographers do some part-time teaching or lecturing.
