Photographers
Career Overview
Photographers operate still cameras to take photos of people, pets, events, scenes, products and other items. They work for photo studios, advertising and marketing agencies, newspapers, magazines, museums, art galleries, large organizations and government. Photographers may be self-employed, work on contract or freelance.
Duties
In general, photographers:
- Review the details of each assignment and choose the type of camera, lighting, background and accessories
- Set up the shot at the location or studio
- Make technical adjustments to the photography equipment as needed at the photo shoot
In addition, they may:
- Research and purchase/find props for the photo shoot
- Direct the person being photographed to take a certain pose or stance
- Use delicate instruments, such as optical microscopes attached to cameras
- Adjust images using editing software
- Use technology and other artistic techniques to retouch images
- Adapt existing images and create new digitized images for multimedia/digital media
- Use scanners to transfer images to computers, tablets or smart phones
- Process exposed film
Photographers may specialize in areas, such as:
- Portrait
- Weddings
- Fashion
- Fine art
- Real estate
- Commercial
- Scientific, medical, forensic
- Nature
- Photojournalism
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
3,030% Employed Full Time
27%Depending on their area of focus, photographers may work for a studio, wedding planner, advertising or marketing agency, or for large organizations or media outlets. They may work in a camera store or department.
Photographers may work in a studio; however, they often need to work on location, depending on what is needed for the photo shoot. This includes weddings, outdoor events and family gatherings, as well as at corporate offices and art galleries. Some photographers who work in news may be required to travel to cover current events. Photographers who work in medical or science fields may need to work in a lab, hospital or other research facility. Photographers may work in an office or studio to edit images and to manage the administration side of the work, such as ordering supplies. Photographers are also responsible for reviewing the photos and using editing software to remove flaws, adjust lighting and improve other elements in the images before sending them to the client.
Photographers are often self-employed or work on contract or freelance. Some photographers take photos – especially of celebrities – and then sell them to specific media outlets. Social media sites like Instagram give photographers an opportunity to create their own brand and create a community of followers. They can earn money through the advertising allowed on their accounts or through product placement.
Many photographers work a 35- to 40-hour week, which often include working Saturdays – especially those who photograph weddings, events and news. For photographers who are self-employed or work on contract, they spend time marketing their services, confirming contracts, invoicing and running their businesses.
People in this job may experience wrist and eye strain because they spend hours on their computer editing images. Also, some photographers may be required to go on dangerous or challenging assignments, such as taking photos during protests, in areas that are in conflict, in extreme weather or remote locations or near wild animals in nature.
Career Pathways
Photographers starting their careers usually find work as a photographer's assistant at a studio, or make prints in a photo lab or other professional setting. Other employment opportunities include wedding and portrait photography.
Once they have gained experience, some photographers open their own business, specialize in a certain area or work for larger organizations.
Some photographers choose to provide images to image banks. They get paid each time their photos are used by website developers, advertising or marketing agencies. Others may concentrate on social media and building a following online. This allows them to sell originals and prints, as well as earn revenue from digital ads.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Job Titles
Education, Training and Skills
- A bachelor's degree in visual arts with specialization in photography.
- Or some employers may require completion of photography courses/programs from high school, college or specialized training schools
- Or extensive on-the-job training under the supervision of a more experienced photographer
- Experience in, or knowledge of, digital photography, editing software and the ability to use a computer is necessary
- A portfolio of work is helpful to showcase experience, expertise and skills
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Photography Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
3,030Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 25 | 0.8% |
| Kootenay | 90 | 3.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,960 | 64.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 25 | 0.8% |
| Northeast | 35 | 1.2% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 315 | 10.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 590 | 19.4% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,160Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 0 | -1.5% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 850 | 1.8% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 0 | -1.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 90 | 1.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 200 | 1.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 980 |
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 80 |
| Retail Trade | 40 |
| Educational Services | 20 |
| Manufacturing | 10 |
Insights from Industry
This career continues to be competitive. For those starting out, it may take several years before they are firmly established.
There is a growing demand for real estate photographers, especially for higher-priced homes. Also, as more organizations develop content for social media and websites, there is an increased need for photographers who can take photos in corporate settings to work within company brand guidelines.
Advances in technology have a big effect on this field of work. Photographers must be competent with computers and equipment, and still be creative. Digital cameras are the standard, although some photographers – especially those who specialize in fine art photography – use film.
Self-employed photographers must know how to market themselves, run a business and interact with customers.
Resources
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The Canadian Association of Professional Image Creatorswww.capic.org
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a photographer is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a photographer is like.
