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Career Rating and Comparison
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Degrees and Schools
Although anyone with creativity and the necessary equipment can develop the technical proficiency to become an entry-level photographer, some professions within photography require formal education. Newspapers and magazines usually require photojournalists to have a bachelor's degree in fine arts; employers of industrial or scientific photographers expect them to have a bachelor's degree in a field of study relevant to the industry.
Many colleges, universities, vocational schools and art schools provide photography courses and degree programs. To be best prepared for freelance work, incorporating business classes is important in educational planning.
Developing a portfolio, whether in school, mentoring under an accomplished photographer or self-instruction, is an essential part of being a professional photographer. Some photographers gain exposure through submitting photos to contests, magazines and advertising agencies.
Classes
Photography students spend time in the field taking photos, in the computer lab, and in class. Basic courses typically include:
- camera types, settings, lenses, filters and other equipment
- processes for taking, developing, editing and publishing photos
- techniques for creating unique angles, lighting, perspectives and effects
- use of props, sets, etc.
Additional coursework in business administration can prove useful for students who plan to be self-employed freelance photographers.
Online Classes and Programs
There are many opportunities to learn about photography online, from courses to degree programs for master of fine arts, bachelor of fine arts or associate of arts. The popularity and convenience of digital photography makes online learning much more suitable than the need for dark rooms that traditional, film-based photography requires.
Online courses that are part of an institution with accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE) are most likely to meet industry standards.
Employment Requirements
There is no minimum requirement to become a photographer, but some industries such as photojournalism or commercial photography require a bachelor's degree in fine arts. Scientific or industrial photographers are usually expected to have a bachelor's degree in their specific field. A portfolio of work is required for any job.
How to Evaluate Schools
When evaluating degree programs for photography or fine arts, consider asking these questions:
- Curricula and focus - Does the program provide a balance of technical, creative, business and analytical training? Is significant computer lab time incorporated into programs to provide hands-on practice?
- Class structure and amenities - Are classes small enough for optimal learning? Are popular classes difficult to get into? Are computer labs well-equipped for the number of students?
- Financial aid and expenses - Does the school provide substantial guidance in finding financial aid such as scholarships, grants student loans and work / study? Are students expected to purchase expensive equipment, software and manuals?
- Graduate success - Does the school provide substantial job placement assistance? Over the previous several years, how many graduates who sought employment as professional photographers found jobs?
Photographer Job Description
Photographs can be art, documents or storytellers as they capture a moment, a detail, a feeling. Photographers use technical skills and different cameras, lenses, filters, lighting, staging and image design software to produce clear details, unique angles or dramatic effects. Photographers, who frequently work self-employed as freelance, may find employment in these areas:
- photojournalism
- product photography for advertising
- stock photography (creating collections of photos to sell)
- fine arts photography (incorporating artistic techniques)
- portrait photography (families, individuals, school pictures, headshots for performers)
- wedding and event photographers
- commercial / industrial photography (buildings, machinery, landscapes etc. for documentation and publicity)
- scientific photography (documenting plants, animals, and other elements of nature; also medical and forensic)
To be successful in their work, photographers must be skilled in:
- Choosing appropriate cameras and equipment for the image needed
- Manipulating camera settings to adjust for light and focus
- Working with sets, props and lighting
- Using photographic editing and image design software
- Working with people to enhance their appearance and help them feel comfortable
- Using equipment to develop and scan images
- Placing advertising, setting appointments and scheduling exhibits
- Printing, mounting and framing
- Administrative skills such as purchasing supplies, keeping records, billing customers and managing employees
Career Profiles
To help career searchers evaluate their options, BrainTrack has asked hundreds of workers to profile their jobs with a review and ratings. See below for a summary of this career compared to all rated careers and for detailed reviews.
| Category | This Career | All Rated Careers |
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| Career Satisfaction | | |
| Opportunity for Promotion | | |
| Career Flexibility | | |
| How Cool Is The Career | | |
| How Stressful | | |
| Social Orientation | | |
| Earnings Potential | | |
| Task Variety | | |
| Job Security | | |
Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: New York University • New York, NY
Studied Photography, Visual Arts (completion in 2008)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I love working with people. I love capturing memories for people."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | I learned a lot of skills because the professors were very knowledgeable. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I work for myself, so promotions aren't an issue. | |
| Job Security | 8 | I work for myself, so I find my own clients. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | It's fairly stable, but it is dependent on the clients. |
| How Stressful | 7 | It can be extremely stressful, especially when working with children. |
| Task Variety | 5 | The tasks don't change, but you are constantly working with different people. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Many people think it's a cool job, but it's a lot of work. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Again, I work for myself so I set my own schedule. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I am constantly working with people, whether I am shooting or editing. |
Job Title: Portrait Photographer
Attended: University Of Central Missouri • Warrensburg, MO
Studied Photography (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I love going out and shooting weddings. I have so much fun capturing the bride's special day. I also love taking portraits. I ranked it as an 8 because I do enjoy it, but haven't gotten as many gigs as I would like."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | I really liked my teachers. I feel that they were very informative. I just don't think it was as great as a program as it could've been. I feel that it didn't totally prepare me for the business side of photography. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I work for myself. I am the one doing all the work, so there is no one to promote me. | |
| Job Security | 4 | It is very hard to have lots of photography jobs lined up. People aren't as willing to pay top dollar for photographs as they used to be. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | The sky could really be the limit. I make a lot of money from shooting weddings. People will pay a lot for a good wedding photographer. Regular portrait sessions only pay so-so. |
| How Stressful | 6 | I find it fairly stressful because I'm not making as much money as I want doing this. It stresses me out some that I don't always have a lot of shots booked. |
| Task Variety | 7 | The business side of things is always the same. You take time to return calls, edit pictures, and order prints. When I go take photographs, it is always different. You go to different locations, and work with different people. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Most people would kill to have a job like this. Taking pictures is fun. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | If I need a day off, I can take a day off. I make my own schedule. I am definitely able to work at home to work on advertising and editing photographs. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | I only get social interaction when someone calls to book appointments. I also get interaction when I go take photos. I'd say that 60% of the time, there is very little social interaction. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: University Of Oregon • Eugene, OR
Studied Anthropology (completion in 2002)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I don't make as much money as I'd like. I do enjoy the work when I get it though."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | UO has an excellent anthropology program. Lots of classes, and all of the professors are great. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I work by myself, so there would be no promotions. | |
| Job Security | 3 | Like all creative fields, work comes in cycles. The last two years have been majorly up and down as far as assignments. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of money in my profession. It actually seems that compensation is getting worse over the years. |
| How Stressful | 10 | It's very stressful because of the unpredictability of money coming in. The second most stressful part is trying to make deadlines. |
| Task Variety | 6 | Not a lot of variation, at least with the business aspect of it. As far as assignments go, there's a lot of variation, depending on what I'm shooting. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | I suppose people who find out that I'm a freelance photographer think it's cool. I think a lot of people would like a job in the creative industry. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | Freelancing is extremely flexible. I work at home, so that is the biggest plus. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I can definitely go awhile without seeing anyone, especially if I have no new assignments. When I'm on assignment, I meet a ton of people. |
Job Title: Wedding Photographer
Attended: UNC Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC
Studied Art History (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I have since moved to Raleigh where my business is flourishing. There are a ton of newlyweds moving here and I have been busy almost every week!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Carolina wasn't the best for arts programs, but I got by. I learned mostly by shadowing other professionals. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | Well, I am my own boss. So I guess I can theoretically promote myself any time. |
| Job Security | 4 | Work is very cyclical and depends on the economy. I am not quite sure whether I'll have as many jobs next year as I will this year. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | It provides. I just can't charge very much in an economy like this. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Very stressful at times when I have back-to-back shoots. Some clients are just never happy with the pictures they receive. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Sometimes I am shooting weddings, sometimes I am shooting birthday parties. At this point, I'll take any job, no matter what it is. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | Not the most glamorous job out there, but I do take pictures of glamorous people! |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I run at my own schedule, which is usually hectic. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | Connections are very important, and I seem to be making them everyday. Most of my business comes through references and meeting people personally. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: William & Mary • Williamsburg, VA
Studied American Studies (completion in 2000)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I really enjoy taking the photos (going to people's houses for in-home portrait sessions), but I don't enjoy the business side of it (maintaining my web site, sending out thank-you cards, etc). It's tough always feeling like I have something I could/should be doing to promote the business, when often I feel like just taking the evening off."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | The American Studies department at William & Mary is decent enough, but it's a small interdisciplinary program that was a little unfocused when I was there. But I enjoyed and appreciated the variety of classes that an interdisciplinary program allowed. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I'm the sole employee/owner of the business. While there's plenty of opportunity for the business to grow, I'm not going to get a promotion. |
| Job Security | 5 | Even without doing much marketing, I've had a lot of word of mouth referrals and each year my sales have been a little better than before. I started doing photography professionally four years ago, when the economy started doing badly - so I figure if the business grew then, it probably will keep doing ok in the future. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | Photography is not really that lucrative of a profession, unless you're in the very top echelon. There are only so many sessions a month that you can schedule - at fair rates, it just doesn't add up to that much money. |
| How Stressful | 5 | Taking portraits is great fun - not stressful at all. The business side of things is the stressful part. But they balance each other out. |
| Task Variety | 5 | After doing it for a while, it becomes relatively routine. My gear is ready and packed and I do pretty much the same thing at most people's houses. Some days I'm not taking pictures and am just working at home, while other days I'm out on the road. But that's pretty much it. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | It's definitely an appealing job that lot's of people are interested in and like to talk about. I don't worry that much about it though, so it's not something that I have a really good sense of. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | With the ability to set my own hours, my schedule is imminently flexible. I can take off any time I'd like - but often have a lot of things scheduled ahead of time. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | It's a real mix - whenever I'm taking photos I'm interacting with other people, which is nice. But there's also a lot of time alone at home in front of the computer. |
Job Title: Studio Assistant
Attended: New York University • New York City, NY
Studied Photography And Imaging (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I get to do photography everyday. It's my passion--but at the same time much of the work I do has little to do with taking pictures. Most of it is studio/darkroom time and preparation."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | NYU was good, mostly because of its location. While the facilities were excellent and the professors were good, the amount of opportunities I had outside of class are what made the program really special for me. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | Hard to say, but one can advance quickly if your work gets noticed by the right people. Also, assisting with a good photographer for a while can provide lots of long term benefits and stability. |
| Job Security | 2 | There are TONS of photographers. And always new ones cropping up. I'm also subject to the whims of fashion and trends. Having a good network is essential. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | There are star photographers who do magazine covers and shoots and whatnot, but those are few. Still, they make a huge amount of money relative to other photographers. So most make a decent income but would not be considered rich. |
| How Stressful | 8 | The fact that it's almost entirely freelance makes it difficult. I'm also my own boss/worst critic so I constantly have to push myself to do the BEST work I can. Nothing less will do. |
| Task Variety | 8 | While it's always cameras/film, my work brings me all sorts of little things that must be done on different days in the course of a single job. It involves driving props, coordinating rentals (lighting/sets), talking to agencies, etc. Depending on the shoot it could be just about anything to make sure things get done on time (and within budget). |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | My friends are jealous of a lot of the opportunities I have. It's not only about being my own boss, but also meeting the sort of people that are in fashion, music, etc. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | I get to travel, wake up late, and make my own hours. What more can I say? |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I'm always working within large teams. Assistants, lighting, models/subjects, clients et. al. all day until a shoot's over. It's rarely a one man show. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: University Of Georgia • Athens, SC
Studied Photography, Studio Art, Art History (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I get to do what I love to do, but I still must work a full time design job to make a living. The job security is there in terms of the job always being there, but whether the money will follow is unsure."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | We had wonderful instructors and great resources. Our classes were diverse. However, I went through the program on the cusp of the digital age and we used film cameras solely. I would have appreciated a better understanding of the translation from film to digital. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | I work for myself, so the opportunities are limited to my own resources. If I had more time, I could produce a wider array of opportunities for myself. |
| Job Security | 5 | The work will always be needed, but the tech requirements evolve very quickly. Also, it's difficult to make a living at it. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | I make more than some do at jobs they don't love, so that's a plus. I don't know if I'll ever be wealthy from it, however. |
| How Stressful | 5 | Deadlines make the most stress; a client who is waiting for a package of corrected images. Also, having work on digital files makes me worry about the security and durability of my hardware. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Every shoot is different, and usually they are fun. But the tedium of editing makes for a lot of boring hours. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | My friends tell me it's cool. I laugh at them when I am carrying my gear. But I still secretly think it's pretty cool. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | My job is incredibly flexible, allowing me to spend time with my family. The only downside is that I must sometimes deal with client timing. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | It's wonderful for social interaction! I meet amazing people. I do spend a lot of time editing, but I get to spend that time with my family or just unwinding. |
Job Title: Artistic Photographer
Attended: The Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studied Photography (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"They have a very nice online program. I learned how to be a better photographer all around."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | This school specializes in Art degrees, so it is a very good school to go to for photography. The programs are very detailed and in depth. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I am currently self-employed. I can't really promote myself. | |
| Job Security | 5 | Being an artist is not very secure job. You have to be willing to take that risk for it. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | If you catch someone's eye you could become a very popular photographer. The earnings are pretty much limitless. |
| How Stressful | 6 | It is obviously a bit stressful that getting paid requires me to do everything myself. Other than that, it is not stressful at all. |
| Task Variety | 9 | I am always doing a different thing everyday. Some days I'll be out in the woods and others I'll be spending in my office all day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Photography has been a passion ever since I was a little kid. I love doing what I do and getting paid for it. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Working for myself, I have all the flexibility I need. This career is very free. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | If I want to get paid, I need to have social interactions with customers. Most of my time is spent talking to people to get more income. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: Naugatuck Valley • Naugatuck, CT
Studied Visual Arts (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I love photography. Getting paid for doing something that I love is just amazing. I love working with people and going to all these weddings and getting to witness beauty at its finest."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | I want to go to an arts school for a higher degree. Naugatuck Valley didn't have the best photography program. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | I can't really promote myself. But I can get higher paying jobs. |
| Job Security | 9 | I own my own business. I choose when I go to work and when I have time off. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | If I promote my business better, there is a good chance of getting higher paying jobs. Some of these jobs pay VERY well. |
| How Stressful | 6 | It can be stressful at times, especially with difficult customers. But, overall, I love what I do. |
| Task Variety | 10 | I always do different shoots in different places, so I get to travel. I also like going outside so that I'm not always stuck inside. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I get to attend concerts and other amazing events for free! It's absolutely fantastic. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Since I own my own business, I am in charge. I choose my hours. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I interact with many different people. Clients, friends of clients, kids, adults, you name it! |
Job Title: Shoot Leader/Photographer
Attended: Ithaca College • Ithaca, NY
Studied Art (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I get paid very little. I can only really be creative for three months of the year at my job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | There were lots of art theory classes that I enjoyed at the time, but in hindsight seem impractical. I would have liked some more technical education, especially more education on digital technologies rather than film. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | Promotions into another field, like Sales or Management are available. Advancing as a photographer is very difficult. |
| Job Security | 9 | The job is seasonal, so no one else wants it. Most people just need to show up on time and make a little bit of an effort to keep their job there. |
| Earnings Potential | 3 | A coworker of mine has worked here for twelve years. He makes a little more than what I made as an entry level Conversational English Teacher. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Despite not being a cool job, it is a bit stressful. Maintaining a schedule and trying to get a good picture can be difficult. On top of that there are the concerns of getting lost on the way to the shoot, coming up short on order money, and worrying about keeping the client happy. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Once the shooting begins it's usually pretty standard, but all the elements leading up to that point are different every day. Sometimes getting directions or procuring equipment can be more challenging than the shoot itself. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | I'm mostly a portrait photographer for schools and families. Generally, no one is happy to see me, and no one respects what I do. |
| Career Flexibility | 6 | Again, the job is seasonal so there's time for other kinds of work. Outside of that, flexibility needs to be earned through reliability and cooperation. Trading favors goes a long way. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I've never met so many people so quickly. Between new co-workers, new clients, and new subjects, it's hard to keep up. |
Job Title: News Photographer/Editor
Attended: Salt Lake Community College • Salt Lake, UT
Studied Communications/Broadcasting (completion in 2014)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"Work doesn't pay as well as I would like, and sometimes it's stressful trying to meet deadlines."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | When I go back and finish my associates, I would like to transfer to University of Utah. They have better programs there than the community college does. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | When I finish a bachelor's program, I can move up to technical director. |
| Job Security | 7 | Nothing is completely secure with the economy right now, but there's usually a demand for news photographers/editors. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | It provides some potential to move up within the company and opens up other opportunities with other media. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Sometimes it can be stressful meeting deadlines and working on-call. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Schedule can vary a lot sometimes depending on demand, and there are deadlines that must be met. Sometimes I'm out in the field shooting footage and the reporters, and sometimes I'm at the station editing video. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Working for a news station can be cool and glamorous at times, especially during breaking news. I also enjoy capturing wildlife photography on the side. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | I have a pager and work on-call and at various hours. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I'm constantly communicating and interacting between the public, anchors, reporters, editors, assignment desk editor, and producer to photograph and edit news packages. I also work on-call out on the field with the reporters, and communicate with the engineers to make sure there are no technical issues when shooting footage. |
Job Title: Artist
Attended: University Of Kentucky • Lexington, KY
Studied MFA In Studio Art/Photography (completion in 2004)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I enjoy the creative aspects that art allow me to pursue. But still there are times when the time constraints are overwhelming."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | The facilities were substandard. The staff seemed a bit jaded. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I'm an artist. there is only the one position. |
| Job Security | 1 | The market for fine art is thin right now. If my partner were to lose their job, we would be sunk. |
| Earnings Potential | 1 | Someday I may break even, but maybe I won't. |
| How Stressful | 3 | Sometimes aspects of the environment I work in are hard to control. I got into this art form because I find it very soothing. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Everyday can be different when shooting. The dark/wet work can get monotonous. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I'm a photographer, which is "cool." I am not a rock star though. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can take this anywhere that has water and darkness. If things are slack I can find other things to do. |
| Social Orientation | 1 | I take pictures of flowers. I shut myself in a dark little room. |
Job Title: Self Employed Portrait Photographer
Attended: New York Institute Of Photography • New York, NY
Studied Portraiture (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"Work started out great but has really slowed with the economy. I have been doing more model portfolio work than family portraiture which is my area of enjoyment."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | The program was as good as an online program, with advisor support, could be. I think I would have gotten more attending a program in person rather than doing distance learning. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I am self employed so there are no promotions. I can grow the business, however, and I do hope to accomplish this. | |
| Job Security | 5 | Seemed promising when I first opened the business. I was doing a lot of work. Things have slowed down quite a bit and I am not completely sure if it is the economy or how I am marketing. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | I know there is a lot of potential. I am just not seeing it right now. |
| How Stressful | 5 | It has stressful and non stressful moments. Portraits tend to be very controlled, and that is why I like them. Working in the field has lots of variables. When you do weddings, which I try to stay away, from it is very stressful. Lots of people to deal with and you don't want to miss a shot. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Shooting portraits in studio can get arduous. Working in the field gives lots of variation. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | It is very cool to be a photographer, especially doing shoots with models. Though the family portraits, which I really enjoy, are definitely not as cool. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I set my own hours. Working by appointment makes it extremely flexible. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I am almost always working with people unless I am doing a real estate shoot. So it is very social. |
Job Title: Owner
Attended: Loyola Marymount University • Westchester, CA
Studied Art History (completion in 1993)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 2/29/2012
"I have been a working photographer for over 20 years, appearing in magazines, books, and on television. However, I haven't published a book solely of my work nor can I count on a regular amount of work, and I feel like that is missing from my career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | The curriculum was limited as it was a small program. There were only a handful of professors and if you had ideological differences with one, it made for a difficult four years. There were a few professors who taught one class only and those were usually of a higher caliber. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | As the owner of my business, there really isn't any way of being promoted. Perhaps it's more likely that I would rise up in my career by securing more high profile jobs which would then lead to other like jobs. | |
| Job Security | 3 | There really is no security in my current job as it is a job by job basis. If I hustle, I drum up business. But there is never work I can count on. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | There are photographers who make a tremendous amount of money. They are personalities and cultivate an image for themselves. Then there are those who struggle and can't make a living at it. The starving artist. If you want to become rich at photography, it's a long shot. I have never made a lot of money at it, but I do love it. |
| How Stressful | 5 | I am only stressed out when the unexpected happens. The lighting is bad. My client is in a bad mood. My camera is malfunctioning. Leading up to the shoot I might feel a little stressed, but I try to tell myself it's excitement and not nerves, and that usually helps me focus. |
| Task Variety | 10 | It is basically different everyday. One day I will be shooting a family portrait for someone. The next I'll be shooting for an ad campaign or for a gallery show. Even when it's the same tie of photos it's always a bit different because it's different people and locations. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Being a photographer is very fulfilling and cool. I have met a variety of people from actors to other artists. It's incredibly creative and exciting. I can't imagine doing anything else. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can work when I want and schedule shoots for whenever I want. It's been great now that I am a parent. I, however, would trade in a bit of the flexibility for more steady work and income. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | It's important to be very social and network. I need to do more of this but find it difficult because of my personality. I like to hide behind my camera. I am always meeting new people and it's how I get work. It is also very important to put people at ease in my business because that is when they look best in photographs, so I do a lot of reading just to have a variety of things to talk about with them. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: Indiana University - South Bend • South Bend, IN
Studied Communications (completion in 2003)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I wish I made better money and had more work available. I am happy to be my own boss and eventually I may be financially better off."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 1 | The school had very little training in my field or opportunities for jobs afterwards. They offered no assistance after school. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | Being my own boss, the sky is the limit. I can make as much money as long as work is available. |
| Job Security | 3 | My paycheck is never stable and varies on a weekly basis. Some weeks there is no work. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | I can make as much money as the economy allows. However, I don't feel that even if I do well, I will ever be extremely wealthy. |
| How Stressful | 7 | It is stressful when it comes to competition to make a living. Beyond that, I can control stressful situations as my own boss. |
| Task Variety | 10 | The photography business is more than just photographing people. It is marketing, bookkeeping, sales, and management, too. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Everyone wants to be a photographer these days. Having my own studio and being a top photographer in my area, many people look up to me. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I work the hours I want to, for the most part, and am able to be around for my kids. I also set my own pay and rules. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I am constantly around clients. I also am constantly around peers in the field and other business owners. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: Ohio University • Athens, OH
Studied Visual Communication (completion in 2004)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I love photography because it allows me to travel and meet new people. Getting freelance jobs can be difficult at times."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | OU has an excellent study program with excellent professors. It provided me with ample opportunities to learn about all fields of visual communication. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | If I worked for a newspaper or magazine, I would have greater opportunity for 'advancement' than as a freelance photographer. However, as my work improves and my work becomes known, I can get more and higher paying gigs. |
| Job Security | 7 | I will be able to attain freelancing opportunities for as long as I would like to. I take jobs at my discretion. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | Not the highest paying career, not the worst. There are areas of commercial photography that would allow a greater income base. |
| How Stressful | 5 | Stress depends on an assignment. If I am in the field doing my own work, it is not as stressful as having to be a wedding photographer and meet the expectations of a bride and groom. |
| Task Variety | 7 | My work can change as much as I would like it to. Weddings one day, sports or travel photography the next. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I love the flexibility of photography. I love being in new places and meeting new people/telling their stories. People and places always have stories. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Have camera, will travel. I can go where I want/take what jobs I want/work on my own projects as I'd like and have time/money for. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | I am a photographer because I get to meet new people and learn about their lives, if only for one assignment. Editing hours spent at a computer are numerous and are not social opportunities. |
Job Title: Editor And Chief Photographer
Attended: Ithaca College • Ithaca, NY
Studied Cinema And Photography (completion in 1996)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"I own my own travel and lifestyle website where I am the editor of content and head photographer. I decide what and how to shoot the still shots, be it an event, attraction, restaurant or object. Having that freedom provides me options I would not have if I worked for a regular news agency or publishing company."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Ithaca College provided extensive stop down, lighting, color and depth of field studies. They asked all students to shoot with manual cameras only. I shot with a Pentax Asahi from the late 1960s and to date, it's still my favorite camera based on what I learned on it. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I am at the highest position in the company since I own it. | |
| Job Security | 8 | My website is popular and showcases some of the best photos and articles of its kind for the place it represents. People will always come to it to find quality reviews and photos of the area. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | The better and more extensive the coverage of all my subjects, the more hits I get, and the more advertising I attract. Earnings potential could be higher if I had more sites of the same kind in different places. |
| How Stressful | 8 | It can be high stress sometimes because of the responsibility of being the boss. I'm responsible for deadlines. I'm responsible for keeping the site current and up to date with openings and closings of restaurants, the beginnings and endings of events, and the photos that represent each subject. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Above average, because the process of writing and photographing is the same. But the subjects are different. I may find myself having to ride down a 7 story tall waterslide on one day, then the next day, show up at a beauty pageant and interview potential Miss Californias. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I cover famous attractions, events, restaurants and resorts, all in a Southern CA resort town. I meet celebrities and I'm constantly on the cutting edge of pop culture and travel news. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can work anywhere and anytime I want based on new internet, smart phone and other technologies that allows instant uploading in real time. This is not a 9 to 5 job, although it could be if you wanted it to be as technology allows for extreme efficiency. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I rate it as average. When I'm covering the subjects, it's very social. But when I'm writing the content or cutting photos, it's very solitary. So it's a distinct combination. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: University Of Arizona • Tucson, AZ
Studied Bachelor Of Fine Arts, Studio Art (Emphasis In Photography) (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"Being a photographer means I'm allowed to work creatively and be my own boss. It's usually fulfilling and interesting work, but the stress of being an entrepreneur in a struggling economy is challenging. Also, with the introduction of the digital camera into the amateur photography market, many amateurs are now taking jobs away from professional photographers because they are willing to work for much less money than a professional would."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | The University of Arizona will not teach you technical skills. They expect that you will learn this on your own and that you come into the program with a certain amount of technical proficiency. The Center for Creative Photography is located on campus, and many wonderful archives of famous photographers are housed there - giving the campus a good reputation when it comes to photography. The photography program will hone a student's skills in conceptualization and critique. A student will have the opportunity to experiment and to challenge the medium, and to develop a personal photographic voice. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | As a freelance photographer, I do not "get promoted" in the traditional sense. If anything, I just keep growing in my skills and making more and more networking connections. My goals are to make money, take great photos, and build a reputable name for myself. I get to decide how far I go in this business. | |
| Job Security | 4 | Right now there are many people calling themselves photographers, and there is not a lot of work to go around. Also, many companies that used to have large advertising budgets are choosing to either forgo new photography, or to simply find someone within the company to fulfill the role of a photographer. Work is out there, but it is never guaranteed month-to-month, and one has to have a lot of resources at their disposal to begin with in order to succeed. Networking and word-of-mouth are everything, but everyone in the network is often competing for the same job. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | A great photographer has great earning potential. It is more of a risky job than a dependable job, but done right one will earn more money on their own than they could earn working for someone else. One's potential is determined by their location, experience, and dedication to growing their business. We live in an image-laden culture, so the potential for work is always out there. The sky is the limit. |
| How Stressful | 5 | The stress level is average. There is no "boss" to answer to, but being an entrepreneur means taking on a lot of the business responsibility between the creative aspects of the job. Doing something you enjoy cuts down on stress, but working on a deadline can add to it. If clients are scarce, the financial difficulties can be challenging. The waves of work that provide most of the income for the year eventually hit, so in a good year you may actually have a lot of free time for holidays and vacations and may find yourself enjoying the time when work is slow. |
| Task Variety | 8 | No two photo shoots are the same. Each comes with it's own particular creative challenges. The only thing that remains constant is the day-to-day chores that go along with running a business. The technology I use is constantly evolving, so I'm always learning something new. My skills grow every time I take on a new job. Sometimes I travel to places I've never been to, and I'm always meeting new people. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | When you tell someone you're a professional photographer, they are immediately interested. People see you as a person with useful skills, and are often inquisitive about whether or not you would like to photograph their weddings/kids/special events and the like. People see photographers as the "cool" part of the art world because their work is often so instantaneous and exciting, and because photographers can play around with the process in many fascinating and new ways. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | My career flexibility is average. My ability to choose my career direction and be my own boss is tempered by sometimes having to work on odd locations and at odd hours. I also have to wait for clients to pay, which can mean a lot of waiting. Otherwise, I can normally work from home on digital processing, and choose my own hours when it comes to this aspect of the job. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | My job has a good balance of social interactions. I can network with other photographers in professional organizations. I also do a lot of charity work in the community. My clients represent a wide variety of the population, meaning I've met people and seen things I would have never otherwise interacted with. During slow times and during the digital processing stage of work, I get to spend a lot of time on my own. This means I can go back on jobs refreshed and eager to interact with others once again. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: New School University • New York City, NY
Studied Media Studies (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I have had a number of opportunities to work at weddings and for academic clients. However, I am not making as much money as I would like to make."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | There were a lot of opportunities at my school, but there was not enough structure. I also thought that some of the students were not serious about their studies. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | As long as I am a freelancer, I am the boss of myself. There's not really opportunity for advancement, just opportunities to work at different companies. | |
| Job Security | 5 | I am a freelance photographer. There is enough work, but little security. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I get good rates for the work that I do. Since being a photographer requires a certain amount of technical prowess that most people do not possess, I can get a good chunk of money for even a small job. If I were sought after I would earn more. |
| How Stressful | 7 | There is more than average stress. Dealing with difficult clients and not getting paid on time are the biggest causes. |
| Task Variety | 5 | No matter what I do there's only a tiny variation in the tasks. I'm always taking photos, delivering to clients, and editing on Photoshop. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | It is pretty cool to do what I do. A lot of people admire photography and fancy themselves amateur photographers, but to get paid for it seems to impress a lot of folks. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can work when I want to. I try to pace myself so that I am not overworked but always have enough money. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | I tend to work alone. I see friends sometimes and get along with people at the offices when I freelance at companies, but being on the job can get lonely unless I hire an assistant. |
Job Title: Professional Photographer
Attended: Wake Tech Community College • Raleigh, NC
Studied Photography (completion in 2013)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I am satisfied so far but I expect and want to be further with my career in the next year as I take more time building the business side of things. I want to grow to a larger, more successful business in the future."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | The school has great resources and professionals already in the business to help you. They also have business classes catered towards professional photographers building their own businesses. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | There is always more to learn and ways to adapt to the changing market, and this gives me a constant flow of opportunity. There are different organizations and associations you can join to learn more. You can always take more classes on different equipment to use as well. |
| Job Security | 9 | Everyone always hires photographers for specific events like weddings, and that is not going to change. What changes is the way the photographers photograph and present the product. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I always have the opportunity to make more. I can change what my photo packages are in order to make a larger sale with each client. I can also change my overall event fee if I want to add an additional service or include another photographer to charge more for an event. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Each event or job is different. Every client has something they want done a particular way. Usually the events are in various locations which also affects the lighting, the time of day, the temperature, etc. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I make my own schedule and book my own events. I choose when I want to make myself available and when I don't want to be available. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | My job solely is based on other people. I deal with people 100% of the time. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: Georgia State University • Atlanta, GA
Studied Film And Video (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"The job is fun and interesting. However, it is rather difficult to find a steady flow of freelance jobs."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | The program wasn't bad. It was pretty much starting to take off more when I graduated. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I work for myself. There are really no 'promotions,' just finding better jobs. | |
| Job Security | 5 | It is hard to find a steady flow of clients. The pay is good enough to last between finding jobs. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | People pay a lot for pictures. The only draw back is the lack of consistent work. |
| How Stressful | 5 | The only stress that I get is the stress of finding the next job. Dealing with clients who don't know what they want is rather difficult too. |
| Task Variety | 10 | I could be taking pictures at a wedding one day, and the next day I could be doing head shots for an amateur actor. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | I like taking pictures of things. It certainly beats sitting at a desk all day. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Again, I work for myself. I mostly work at home editing photos. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I'm always talking to people. I'm always looking for contacts and jobs. |
Job Title: Real Estate Photographer
Attended: University Of Hawaii @ Hilo • Hilo, HI
Studied Marine Science (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"Unfortunately, during the rough economic times I lost several clients within the real estate industry and this has slowed the progress of my work. I only work with 4 real estate agents so work is difficult to come by."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | The UH at Hilo is a great school for Marine Science due to it's low cost, great professors, and location within Hawaii. Classes are well taught and class sizes are small enough that it is not hard to get one on one sessions with the professors. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | I can be self-promoting, but that would mean I need a better voice out to the real estate firms. I don't have a lot of capital to do a lot of commercializing. |
| Job Security | 4 | As stated earlier, I lost a few clients, so it is becoming harder to justify the expenses as a real estate photographer. Everyone is looking to cut expenses and that means clients doing the photography for themselves. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | The potential is there, but I must do a better job of marketing myself. Right now I'm at a stand still with the amount of clients I work with. |
| How Stressful | 2 | Very little stress due to the fact that most of the agents I work with deal with foreclosures and short sales. No tenants or other strangers are around while I'm doing my work. |
| Task Variety | 5 | The tasks vary because of the different houses I go to, but the post production is usually similar. I shy away from using software to make a place look too much different than it already is. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | It's always interesting to see other apartments and homes when they are up for sale. Not too much glamour and prestige, but maybe as I take on more clients it will become a little more upscale. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I do work around the real estate agents' schedules and I do editing at home. This allows me to be available at most times of the week. |
| Social Orientation | 2 | As I said earlier, I've lost a few clients trying to down size, so the social interactions aren't there. I mostly try to stay out of the hair of the other agents and make it as easy as possible without too much interference. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: University Of Wisconsin-Eau Claire • Eau Claire, WI
Studied Art (Photography Emphasis) (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I absolutely love what I do, which is more than a lot of people can say about their occupation. However, I don't make as much money as I would like to. It's also a tough job field, as everyone with a digital camera considers themselves photographers these days."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | I think the training they provided was pretty good. However, I feel that I learned the majority of my knowledge from working in the field and self-teaching. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I'm self-employed, so a promotion isn't likely. | |
| Job Security | 3 | I feel that the photography business is dwindling quickly. Most people probably won't pay to have pictures taken for much longer, as they feel they can do it themselves. |
| Earnings Potential | 3 | I guess my earnings potential is mainly up to me. I could advertise more, and try to get my name out there to increase my earnings. |
| How Stressful | 8 | My job can be incredibly stressful. When I'm unable to get a toddler to smile or when I just missed the perfect shot at a wedding, it can really stress me out. Additionally, it's stressful to know that your camera could decide to malfunction at any given moment, leaving you hanging. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Each client is different. Everybody is looking for different things in their photos. Some clients are easier to photograph than others, keeping the variation going in my job. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Many people are jealous of what I do because it sounds like such a fun job. It's very fun, but also quite costly and taxing on your body. Plus, the money isn't great. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | I pretty much set my own schedule, which is nice. I can pick up random jobs here and there because I don't have full-time hours as a photographer. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | I interact with a lot of people in my job. It's important to communicate with them so I can know what they're looking for in their images. |
Job Title: Photographer-Beginner/Professional
Attended: Kent State University • Kent, OH
Studied Education (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: (not reported)
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I am a paid photographer, but I am also a beginner with having photo sessions/shoots. I live on a military base and am trying to build up my client list so that is why my rating is not higher."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I took photography on the side and did many tutorials. I would have rather have majored and got a bachelors degree in photography. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I am my own employer. I can move up by putting more effort into getting clients. I hope to do so. | |
| Job Security | 5 | I am doing photography on the side. I am a homemaker, but do studio sessions to make extra money for us to save up. |
| Earnings Potential | 3 | I would be able to make a lot more than I do, but I take breaks from making appointments. When my husband gets out of the military I will make it more of a career (full-time) rather than just taking jobs at my convenience. |
| How Stressful | 3 | Again, I do make my own hours and appointments so that makes it not so stressful. I work with a lot of kids on shoots so my days are always fun and usually stress free. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Depending on the schedule I create for myself, my day to day tasks can change. Usually I am a mom, but other days I spend five or more hours editing photos, putting them on discs, and just playing with edits. Creating layers takes up a lot of time in Photoshop CS5, but now that I recently got Lightroom 3, I have more time in my day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I love doing this. The shoots are fun, especially my baby sessions, but I prefer the editing process even more. I use Lightroom 3 and Photoshop CS5 and I LOVE it. It takes me about 5 hours per shoot, but seeing the look on the clients' faces is priceless. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I make my own hours. I also decide when I make a session appointment. Photography as a profession gives me the the opportunity to be flexible. |
| Social Orientation | 6 | I only get to interact with my clients. But I feel that in the 30-60 minutes I have my photo shoot, I am working one on one with the person I am taking pictures of. It is not great social interaction, but it's enough. Too much would make it hard to concentrate. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: Rutgers University • Newark, NJ
Studied Philosophy And Math (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"It's a great part-time side job. It gives me great joy to take pictures and play around with Photoshop."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I don't study photography at school, but I know there is a fairly decent arts program. I personally do most of my learning online and from practice. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | I'm basing promotion as equivalent to finding more clients and having a higher pay. If you work hard at promoting yourself, it is very rewarding, like most jobs. |
| Job Security | 4 | Photography is a luxury in this day and age. Since I work freelance, it's hard to find new clients. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | Wedding photographers are known to make well into six figure salaries if they are dedicated. Like anything, you can be successful if you put in the time and effort. |
| How Stressful | 3 | So long as you aren't shooting weddings, it isn't that stressful. You have plenty of time to get the right shot, and the only thing that can be stressful is working with kids. |
| Task Variety | 9 | No shoot is the same. Every person, every group, even every change in scenery makes it a new day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | I'm sorry, but photography is neat. You get all sorts of expensive and nifty equipment to get this perfect shot with all the right angles and lighting. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | The great thing about photography is you don't have to accept a new gig (assuming you don't need the money). You can work anywhere and at any time. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | It's all about how you network in photography. Yes, some of it is editing after the fact, but how you interact with clients determines how many prints they buy. |
Job Title: Studio Photographer
Attended: Art Institute Of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA
Studied Photography And Digital Imaging (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"I enjoy shooting in the studio but nature and HDR is more of my passion. There's more control in the studio, but there's nothing like finding the perfect shot in nature."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was a very first art institute and they have top of the line everything, from equipment to instructors. Also, being around artistic creative people all the time was a plus. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | There's only one position higher than me, which is my supervisor, so there's not much room for promotion. I'm going to have to find a better job once I get more experience. |
| Job Security | 7 | I've only been working at my current job for about 6 months. That's not long enough for me to feel grounded and secure completely, but it's a start. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | As an artist I'm not really expected to make much. And I don't. |
| How Stressful | 3 | Some of our clients stress me out. Photography has always been my passion, so it takes a lot to stress me out when I'm in my zone, so to speak. |
| Task Variety | 5 | We take photos, then edit them. Pretty straight forward. The only thing that varies is what we are shooting and the lighting. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | I feel like photographers can be cool and some can be uncool - it just depends on the person, really. Artistic girls enjoy my photography which is a plus. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | My job schedule is pretty by the book. I've never requested time off and been rejected, though. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | I work with the same people every day but new clients come in just about daily. We definitely meet a lot of new and important people in my area. |
Job Title: Self-Employed Photographer
Attended: Jersey City State College • Jersey City, NJ
Studied Art (completion in 1972)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"My photos have been purchased by people from all over the world. For years I have sold at art shows and in the San Francisco arts program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | At the time it was a small college. The programs offered were very general. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I am self employed. There is no higher level for promotion. | |
| Job Security | 9 | Since I work for myself it is very secure. I am my own boss and can work at whichever venue I believe will be the most profitable. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | It is only limited by what I do. My earnings are determined by how much I work. |
| How Stressful | 5 | While I get to decide when and where I work, there are still the normal stresses of running a business. This is not a problem since I do control the situations myself. |
| Task Variety | 5 | That depends on the type of venue I am selling at. On some days I do nothing but take pictures. On other days preparing the product takes up my time. Some days I sit at home and play on the computer. Everyday is different. This is one of the advantages of working for one's self. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I sell to the public and as such I am perceived to be an artist. That is cool. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can work everyday if I want to. I Decide when and where I will work. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Selling to the public is the ultimate in social interaction. You have to do the dance. You need to make friends and show that you love what you do. When I am selling I never stop talking and interacting. |
Job Title: Concert Photographer
Attended: Northeastern University • Boston, MA
Studied Digital Art (completion in 2014)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I am satisfied with the skill set it gives me, but I wish I had gone to an art institution to study photography. The skills are sufficient but not at my creative level."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 4 | Again, my school does not have the best photography program, but the teachers are very nice and informative. They show many examples of different works of art which help drive creative talent. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | Most of the work I have done thus far is freelance, and so there really is no room for promotion. However, there is a possibility that this will change over time. | |
| Job Security | I am in the process of obtaining this degree, and so job security does not apply. | |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | It depends on what area of the job you look towards. Jobs like photojournalism earn more than free-lance jobs. Overall, there is not much potential for high earnings. |
| How Stressful | 3 | There is some stress in terms of getting the right shot. However, for the most part, it is a stress-free career. |
| Task Variety | 9 | Shooting photos is different every day. Different times of day experience different types of light, and the pictures will always vary. Also, taking pictures of different subjects each time in new ways is important, and will provide variation to your portfolio. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | I believe being a photographer is a cool job to have. It is a fun discussion point when meeting new people and at parties. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | This career is very flexible because it allows you to shoot photos on your own time whenever it is convenient for you. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | Being a photographer requires a lot of social interaction, especially if you are taking portrait shots. You need to have direction for what you want the shoot to look like, and you also want to direct others to do what you want them to. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: Millersville University Of Pennsylvania • Millersville, PA
Studied Communications (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"While the money is not that great and the work is sporadic, the ability to do something I enjoy on my free time is great. Being a freelance photographer also allows me to pick what I shoot and not get stuck shooting stock photos or weddings."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | The teachers were very thorough and the equipment was great. However, they concentrated only on television, avoiding internet, radio, etc. in preparing students for the real world. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | There are no promotions when you work for yourself. But then again, you're already at the top of the ladder in your company. | |
| Job Security | 5 | It's secure and not secure at the same time. No one can fire me, as I'm a freelancer, but at the same time work is not guaranteed day-to-day. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I'm not sure this is a great question for my career. Sure, some freelancers make millions over their lifetime, so there is a high earnings potential. In all likelihood, I won't be one of those. I just hope to earn enough to keep me going. |
| How Stressful | 3 | The work itself is not stressful usually, it's more often the lack of work. When I'm doing the job, it's enjoyable, low stress. The only time it gets stressful is when there are a lot of distractions around. |
| Task Variety | 6 | They vary, but they're limited. The main difference is not in what I do day to day, but what the purpose is. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | It's not glamorous, and there's little prestige - I'm "that guy" walking around with more camera gear than anyone else. It is exciting, though, trying to get the right shot, the framing and light just right, especially when shooting on the fly, without the flash set-ups that they have in studios or set shoots. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I work where I want, when I want. I can decline jobs I don't like. It's not particularly physically or mentally intensive, so I'll be able to do it for a long time. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | Often I work alone, especially when I'm out shooting landscapes or animals in the wild, or walking around the city. Much of the social interaction is with clients or subjects, and that's not too often. |
Job Title: Freelance Art Photographer
Attended: New York Institute Of Photography • New York, NY
Studied Professional Photography (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"I have a large range of clients and I feel creatively fulfilled."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | It was a home study program, so it was rather average. I already was working - I just wanted to work on my fundamentals. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | I work for myself so everyday is an opportunity, and every new client is an opportunity. I create my art to satisfy my own creative needs and the more I shoot, the better I become. |
| Job Security | 8 | I make money off of my art so it's a passion first. I have a wide range of supporters. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I can sell a photo for 1 dollar or 100,000 dollars, depending on who likes it. My clients pay a minimum of several thousand per shoot, which always keeps my electricity on! |
| How Stressful | 7 | Clients want their pictures very quickly. I am a perfectionist, so I have to manage that while editing the photos. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Some days I'm shooting for work, others for pleasure. I am constantly networking, scouting locations, casting - everyday is different completely. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | People love getting their photo taken. Models are always trying to be your best friend so you can use them in your next project. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can shoot anything I want. I can shoot my own images and license them for news organizations. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I am always meeting people from around the world, and I get to try new and exciting things. I have to be charming and professional in order to gain a larger client base and to really sell myself to these companies and individuals. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer
Attended: Boston University • Boston, MA
Studied Art (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/5/2012
"I was allowed to focus on photography at BU, but the resources there were scarce. The program was also somewhat undeveloped when I got there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Some of my professors were great, but there was too much focus on technical expertise. I would have liked more artistic flexibility. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I work for myself and by myself, so I'm not sure where I could get promoted to. I sometimes hire outside vendors for big jobs, but there's no "upward mobility." | |
| Job Security | 9 | I'm a freelance photographer, but I'm fortunate enough to have a day job. I love photography, but I can only keep doing it because I have a fallback. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | I do this as a second job, so it's not all about the money for me. I might make more money if I did this full time. |
| How Stressful | 5 | This all depends on my client. Some jobs are very relaxed, others much less so. |
| Task Variety | 10 | This is why I like my job. Different events happen all the time. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | My job is to be behind the scenes. If people see me, I don't think I've done my job too well. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I usually only take work on weekends when I have free time. Most of my clients are fine with this arrangement. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I love getting new clients and talking to them. I wouldn't do this if I couldn't have that. |
Job Title: Freelance Photographer/ Part Time Associate At Picture People
Attended: California Institute Of The Arts • Valencia, CA
Studied Fine Arts (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"Pay is very minimal, and freelance gigs are few and far in between. Do not get to focus on my own creative work. Haven't gotten much recognition for my personal work, and to make ends meet I have to work in mall-end portraiture."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I would rate it poor, however I know pretty much all art schools are impractical. The cost to go to school by far outweighs the worth. They don't teach business, marketing, or practical skills which REALLY are necessary in truly surviving this career choice. Also, they don't provide enough connections or opportunities to get experience. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I could get promoted at Pic People but again, it's not really a career promotion. It's not going to help me become a pro photographer. Promotions otherwise are something you just have to find through connections, networking etc. It also depends on where you are working in the field. |
| Job Security | 2 | I do not have a strong client base, and am going nowhere with my art. There isn't security on when I will get another gig, however Picture People and similar businesses offer at least some stability. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | There is huge potential, depending on what kind of photography you are doing. The spectrum goes from virtually nothing to wealthy. It's hard to gauge because luck is always somewhat involved. |
| How Stressful | 7 | It's hard to say how much stress this kind of job involves. It really is self starting, and self discipline is key. So a job can have little stress if you have low standards and expectations or high stress if you are more of a perfectionist. This is due to deadlines, aesthetic expectations, and pleasing clients. |
| Task Variety | 8 | I meet a wide variety of people. Some days it's going to a wedding and taking pictures of young couples and families. Sometimes I meet with aspiring models to do an art photo shoot. It really depends. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | It's always cool to do something you love. To be able to meet new people and find new locations to do do shoots is amazingly fun and cool. The pay isn't always cool, though... |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | As a freelancer I am allowed a tremendous amount of flexibility within my own practice. Picture People is not as flexible, but it's still flexible. It's nothing like a 9-5. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Definitely MUST have social skills, because you have to interact with many people. People at weddings, children, teens - you have to be able to please all of them while still pleasing yourself. Plus, if you are trying to do fine art and photography, you absolutely must network and meet as many people as possible. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: Art Center College Of Design • Pasadena, CA
Studied Photography (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/5/2012
"Photography is a terrifically creative and exciting word, with every day presenting new possibilities. It also allows you to both fine tune your craft and interact with the wider world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | Great teachers, great equipment, great environment overall. Rigorous, high standards. Very much focused on making professionals. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | Its less about being "promoted" than it is about making more of yourself and getting your name and work out there for people to see. |
| Job Security | 6 | I scare up my own work, so job security is non-existent, but I manage to rustle up clients. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | You can either make tons, or make nothing, it depends on you. You're really your own boss. |
| How Stressful | 6 | It can definitely be stressful when you're working a on a deadline, but certainly less so than a lot of cubicle jobs. Not terribly stressful. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Every day is totally different as every shoot is new. Thats the joy of photography! |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Super cool. Being a photographer definitely has a mystique to it. People think it's an exciting job that's artistic and involves hob-nobbing with celebs and people of interest. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can schedule my own shoots, so it's definitely not a nine to five job. And I shoot in a lot of exciting places, which sure beats sitting in a cubicle. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | Meet tons of interesting people as a photographer. Managers, brands, other media people, lots of models. It's fun. |
Job Title: Co-Owner, Photographer
Attended: New York Institute Of Photography • New York, NY
Studied Photography (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"I love what I do! Using my creativity to create memories for people is the best job you could ask for!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Very clear instruction for assignments. Teaches every aspect of photography, and allows for experimentation in areas that I wouldn't have otherwise explored. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | I already own the business, so advancement isn't really possible within the company. I didn't say no opportunities because things can always change, and I could end up merging with another, bigger company. |
| Job Security | 10 | I live in a rural area, where there is not much competition. I do primarily wedding photography, and that is one thing people are always going to want to have done professionally. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | With wedding photography people are always going to pay for the best that they can get with money they have to work with. By doing more and more weddings and networking, the potential is limitless! |
| How Stressful | 7 | For the most part, it is not too stressful now that everything is digital and you can see a rough idea of what your image is going to look like. Weddings do have a degree of stress to them since you are solely responsible for pictures that cannot be redone. |
| Task Variety | 8 | The actual photo shoots are different every time a new client comes in! When it's time for photo editing the pictures change, but the different elements to the process are pretty much the same. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | I think it is a very cool job in the fact that not everyone can do it. Also, it can be very glamourous to shoot weddings and fashion. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | I work out of my home which does provide some flexibility. At the same time, weddings and such are scheduled and clients expect things on a certain timeline. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | When I am conducting photo shoots and consultations there is a lot of interaction with the clients. When it comes to photo editing it is a solo endeavor with little to no social interaction. |
Job Title: Photojournalist
Attended: Queens College • New York City, NY
Studied Media Studies (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"I take pictures of subjects that involve my favorite things, such as cars, neighborhood changes, and other on-the-street-style things"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | It's flexible when a specific focus is desired, like filmmaking or sound mixing. It also provides much hands-on experience. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | Photojournalists don't really get promoted much. Only a change in one's assignment or expanded responsibilities beyond photography are given. |
| Job Security | 5 | Photojournalists live and die by their pictures, especially in a digital media environment where everyone has a camera on their cellphone and can transmit it instantaneously through websites like Twitter. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | Photojournalists don't make much money, considering you're only as good as your pictures are. |
| How Stressful | 3 | I let the subject do all the work and just snap pictures! |
| Task Variety | 7 | The task is still the same: go somewhere and take pictures. The subject is what's different. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | The pictures are sexy. The photojournalist who took it, not so much - unless one is shooting supermodels on the beach. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Photojournalists go where things are happening, wherever that need be. We're constantly one the move. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | There isn't much talking going around when one's concentrated on taking pictures. We're always looking around for things to shoot. |
Job Title: Fine Art Photographer
Attended: Pratt Institute • Brooklyn, NY
Studied Photography (completion in 2008)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"Upon graduation, I assisted for top photographers which has given me lots of on set experience. Also, I have exhibited in many galleries."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Professors could have invested more in their students. There was a great diversity among students and types of art which is useful for inspiration. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | Having a great portfolio helped create more opportunities. The social media promoting also helps a lot, expanding the client base outside of my local area. |
| Job Security | 6 | I have a set handful of clients who provide work every month. However, it is tiresome to get new clients and expand the business when there are so many photographers out there. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | For editorial jobs, the pay isn't much, but it helps get your name out there. The corporate, less art driven, work pays more but is more boring. |
| How Stressful | 8 | On shoots, you only have a short amount of time to take the photographs. They need to be approved by many people, including the art director and client. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Every week is pretty much a different job. On some weeks, I am devoted to shooting a wedding, the next I am focused on paperwork and invoicing. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | People always think photographers are cool since it's an artistic job. Most people envy that I get to travel and am not glued to a corporate desk. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | Since I am a sole proprietor in the business, I am very flexible. However, you really need to make the correct choices in terms of clients because they expect you to bend over backwards just because they sent you on a job. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | I am surrounded by editors, art directors, clients, and art lovers. At every job there is a team helping me along the way. |
Job Title: Free-Lance Photographer
Attended: Morehead State University • Morehead, KY
Studied Communications - Advertising/Public Relations (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"I love photography, but work as a free-lance photographer can be unpredictable. When I have a good assignment, it's a dream job. When I don't have work, or have boring assignments, it can be very tedious."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | The photojournalism class that was required for my major was very hands-on and experience-oriented. I also took a photography class from the art department that taught me even more than the photojournalism class. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | Since I work on my own, I suppose I can consider myself promoted each time I get an increase in pay. Technically, though, I suppose a promotion would be difficult to achieve. | |
| Job Security | 5 | People will always want photos, so that's a plus. Being a military spouse, however, requires lots of moving and doesn't always allow for long-term commitments or time to establish good relationships with clients. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | I know I'll never become rich as a photographer. However, I do hope to increase my income as I gain more experience. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Trying to photograph people, particularly kids, can be stressful because the are unpredictable. Also, trying to shoot a scenic shot can be stressful when the lighting just isn't right. |
| Task Variety | 9 | Every day is different, and every assignment is different. One day you could be out in the middle of the desert on your own trying to capture a sunset, and another day you could be trying to get all 6 people in a family to smile at the same time. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | This is one of the most enjoyable jobs I could have. I love what I do, and it makes me very happy to capture that perfect moment or smile for people to treasure forever. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | One of the best things about being free-lance is the ability to set my own schedule. Of course there are constraints, such a having to shoot an event at a certain time, or scheduling outdoor shoots when the light is best for the subject. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | I like shooting nature, scenery, and architecture, so the actual photography work doesn't require my socialization. Relationships with clients is very important, though. |
Job Title: Videographer/Photographer
Attended: University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studied Film Production / Philosophy (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"It's difficult finding new work, but I have a few established clients. The main problem is all the amateurs lowballing clients."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | Amazing school, wished they would have taught me how to find work, and find higher paying publishing work. Right now, I have to settle for lower paying work than I should given my skill set. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I work for myself so promotion isn't an issue. However, getting more money from clients is tough, and so is finding new work. | |
| Job Security | 3 | There are too many amateurs claiming they are "photographers" and low-balling all work. Its tough to compete in that environment. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | Projects are hard to find, and are low paying at best. I didn't get into the business to make a mint, but I like what I make now. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Stressful since it requires extreme focus. Also, you have to deal with clients from hell and clients who don't appreciate the time involved in good photography. |
| Task Variety | 8 | It's always different work. Sometimes strange, but almost always exciting! I recommend this for anyone stuck in a cycle of repetition. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | It's great working with celebrities and big businesses. It's hard finding the work, but it's well worth it. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | I am able to schedule my work and my free time. I love the flexibility, as it allows me to live my life as I choose. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | To be successful, you have to be a social butterfly. Without constant networking, you miss out on so much work. |
Job Title: Photographer (Also Work Part Time As A Photo Technician)
Attended: Trident Technical College • Charleston, SC
Studied Photography (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"I love photography! A lot of people don't get the opportunity to work in a field they love, and even with its ups and downs, I wouldn't trade it for the world."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | It's okay - all the information you need is there, and they teach from the ground up (I started with nothing but a 35mm, developing myself, and moved up to digital). Some of the teachers aren't very good, though. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I don't really know how to answer this one - I work for myself. I already am the boss. Unless you count raising prices, there aren't really promotions. | |
| Job Security | 3 | Sometimes there is no work. Sometimes there's too much work. I don't really ever worry about 'losing' my job in the traditional sense, since I know I'll get something soon, but it's scary enough that I keep a part time job for the lean times. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | Earnings depend on both how much you charge and how many clients you can handle (and find). When business is booming, and the clients are lining up, you can bring in a few hundred dollars for a day to a day and a half of work. The potential is definitely there, you just have to find it and use it. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Besides the fact that getting work is never guaranteed, there's always the chance that they won't like their photos, that something will happen to them, that the weather won't hold and you'll have to reschedule, that a part will malfunction, etc. It can be unpredictable, and you sometimes have difficult clients. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Especially working with children, you never know what to expect going in! I have had them be perfect angels that loved the camera, shy ones you have to coax, and some you just have to do the best you can with. Yes, I work with a camera and computer every day, but it's never the same thing twice. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Photography is wonderful! From taking the photo to giving it to your client in its final form, it is the best. Giving someone a memory they will have forever is always something to feel good about. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I make my own schedule, which is wonderful when you have children. I'm as flexible as possible for my clients- jumping through hoops for them is about the only way to get them these days - but if I want to take my son on a trip, or we have appointments, I just don't schedule anyone for that time. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Being a photographer is all about networking. You have to talk to the right people, put yourself out there, and advertise yourself constantly. If I see someone in a store with young children, I don't hesitate to give them my card. You never know who might decide to use you! |
Job Title: Modeling Photographer
Attended: Chapman University • Orange, CA
Studied Photography (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"My career is exceptional. However, I do not enjoy traveling as much as I have to."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Chapman University has excellent art and media programs. This was the perfect school for me. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | Photography gives me many options. I feel that I have many opportunities. |
| Job Security | 5 | My job security is moderate. I am not sure whether or not I would be fired or laid off. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | The earning potential in photography is a variable. I am happy with it nonetheless. |
| How Stressful | 1 | Being a photographer is not stressful at all. I enjoy every moment of it. |
| Task Variety | 8 | I am doing new things everyday. Photography is a varied career with a multitude of tasks. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | All of my friends think that I have the coolest and most enjoyable career ever. I feel the same way! |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | My career is very flexible. I work at my own pace. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Photography is obviously completely social. I meet new people almost everyday. |
Job Title: Photographer/Editor
Attended: Cerritos College • Cerritos, CA
Studied Photography (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"I love what I do and it is very rewarding. I get to meet new people almost daily."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | I learned a lot there, but it was not the best school I could have gone to. I think that the instructors didn't provide as much information as they should have. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | I'm my own boss so the sky is the limit for me. I can take myself as high as I want. It's just all up to how hard I hustle. |
| Job Security | 8 | I think my job is pretty secure because I really try to set myself apart from other photographers. But on the other hand, photography is subjective and people could start to view my work as nothing special, and I could be out of work. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | My earning potential is almost unlimited. |
| How Stressful | 3 | My job is not very stressful on a daily basis because I have a pretty solid system in place. However, on some occasions, such as a really big wedding or, God forbid, a piece of equipment malfunctions, it can get pretty stressful. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Like I said before, I meet new and different people almost daily. Not only that, but I try new things and ideas with every shoot. I try really hard not to box myself in. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | You're the first person people call on for awesome events. You get to meet all kinds of people and you never know who your next client will be. And here in Los Angeles, California, everyone wants to be friends with the photographer. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | My job is extremely flexible because I pretty much make my own hours. I don't keep myself In a small box like a lot of photographers so I get a lot of variety in my work. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | You meet new people every shoot. And a great photographer is not only technically on point but can also interact and communicate very well with people. |
Job Title: Student Photographer At RU
Attended: Roosevelt University • Schaumberg, IL
Studied Photography (completion in 2014)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"I am satisfied with my choice to become a freelance photographer. I love taking pictures and showing my work on various sites, and from them I can get recognized."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | I love the programs I am in. My professor is actually the founder of the Gage Gallery here at my school. We get class time to go out and photograph on the street, which is helpful for this career. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | You really don't get promoted. It's all about showing your work and getting recognized. | |
| Job Security | 5 | It's hard to say how much job security there is. There are many stories of people getting known by one photograph. I think it's all about who comes across your photos and where you post them. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | It all depends on who comes across your pictures. You can make a lot or a little, it's just the luck of the draw. |
| How Stressful | 9 | It is stressful because a good picture takes time. You have to wait for the right moment and then keep clicking until you get the one that will make you go far. |
| Task Variety | 10 | It all depends, but if you freelance, you can go wherever, whenever you want. Day to day tasks are done at your own leisure. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | There is a cool side to specific types of photography. For example, street photography is very 'cool.' |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | This is probably the best part of being a photographer. You work whenever and wherever. |
| Social Orientation | 7 |
Job Title: Studio Associate
Attended: North Central Michigan College • Petoskey, MI
Studied Visual Arts (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/5/2012
"Honestly, I hoped to be working for a private studio or to own my own studio at this point, instead of working for a chain of studios. It's a job, but it isn't the most satisfying job creatively speaking."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | The teacher for the photography classes was an amateur hobby photographer. He wasn't really that knowledgeable in the full range of shooting and editing shots. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | Promotions aren't very readily available in our chain. I'd like to move up, but there usually aren't any openings, or when there are, they're filled immediately by someone from another branch of the chain wanting to move. |
| Job Security | 7 | I feel like I have decent job security because our hours are based on sales and I have one of the top sales figures when it comes to package commissions. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | As far as the hourly wage goes, my pay is lacking. But we do get decent incentives for commission based pay. |
| How Stressful | 6 | We deal with a lot of moms and hyper children. That's who our chain caters to. It can be extremely stressful, and the days are LONG. |
| Task Variety | 1 | Same stuff, different day. Nothing ever really changes at the studio. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | It isn't that "cool" to work for a photography studio chain. I don't even tell my friends because the last time I told someone what I did, I got laughed at. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | There isn't much flexibility - we work pretty set hours. There aren't any other locations beyond the studio itself. There are no options to work on location or to work from home. You have to be at the studio. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Our business thrives on interacting with people. Messing with kids to make them laugh, talking to the parents, trying to upsell them on photo packages, etc. |
Job Title: Head Photographer
Attended: Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studied English - Creative Writing (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"I am still in school working on my Bachelor's degree. I am a head photographer in a local company in Tallahassee while I am in school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | The department is big but pumps out a lot of great writers. FSU also has a tremendous amount of employment opportunities in writing. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | I am in a managerial role so there is not really a place to promote me to. I could get a raise, though. |
| Job Security | 10 | The company treats me well. I oversee a group of photographers and teach them. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | Pay is good. Raises are very frequent. |
| How Stressful | 1 | I oversee people, but it is easy. Not a lot of pressure. |
| Task Variety | 5 | I do the same things pretty much everyday. Sometimes the tasks change because of different situations. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I work for a nightclub photography company. Very cool, and I meet a lot of DJ's that are big now. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I work mostly at night. I can also make my own schedule. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I work in a specific place that is made for social interaction. I love it. |
Job Title: Professional Photographer
Attended: Johnson State College • Johnson, VT
Studied Studio Arts (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"Still trying to get my work out there. I have a couple local businesses that display my work, but would love to gain a larger clientele."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Being a liberal arts school, the art degree offered was not very focused. One had to take courses in all studio arts instead of having a focus area. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | We have a rather strong arts community in this area, with several opportunities throughout the year to attend festivals, etc. Also, the internet has made it much easier to try and promote yourself on a larger scale. |
| Job Security | 6 | I feel rather confident that my work will continue to sell on the local level. However, I am not the main provider of my family, so we are not dependent on my income. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | Like I stated previously, my income is not what supports our family - it supplements it nicely, though. If I had to live off of the sale of my art alone, it would probably be much more stressful. |
| How Stressful | 3 | I know for some types of photographers there may be much more stress involved... I'm thinking along the lines of wedding photographers, where if your client isn't happy you're in pretty big trouble. Putting up shows is a little stressful, but the actual creation of the art couldn't be more stress-free. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Certain aspects are of course repetitive, but overall I would say as a career it is quite varied. I go to different locations continually, and each poses new challenges and advantages/disadvantages. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Well, it may not be the most glamorous, but being able to do something you love and get paid for it is always cool in my book. And selling something that you've created to someone who finds it just as beautiful as you do is as exciting as it gets. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I'm a stay-at-home mom, so flexibility is very important to me. Being a photographer has really allowed me to set my own schedule and work around my family's needs. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | I tend to work alone when shooting. There's much more social interaction, however, when it comes to getting your work displayed/sold. |
Job Title: Lead Photographer
Attended: UCSB • Santa Barbara, CA
Studied Art (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"I work for a start-up media production company, where I enjoy working. However, we don't get as much business as some larger companies do."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 4 | The school has some good photography classes, but they don't go in depth enough with techniques. The classes are mostly theory based rather than practice based. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I am already a founder of the company. There are no promotions available. |
| Job Security | 6 | I am a founder of the company, so I will not get fired. However, the company does not do very much business, so I may have to take on other income sources. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | There is lots of potential for growth. You can earn a lot if you are a well-booked photographer. |
| How Stressful | 5 | It can be stressful to edit all of the material in time. Overall, there is not a whole lot of pressure, so it is not stressful. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Every shoot is different. Day to day tasks are rarely the same. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | I enjoy what I do and get to photograph a lot of events. It is very exciting at times. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | It is a very flexible career. I make my own hours and work when I want, unless the client's demands are very strict. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | I get to interact with lots of people at events and in portrait settings. You can really connect with people that you are photographing. |
Job Title: Photographer
Attended: San Diego City College • San Diego, CA
Studied Photography (completion in 2003)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"I love the creative aspect of what I do as well as the technical aspect of operating a camera and lighting equipment. I also love working with people to try to create and capture a vision."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Fairly adequate technical training, but lacking in modern techniques, such as digital photography software, that I feel are now commonplace and expected of photographers working commercially. Not enough focus on photography as a business. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | There aren't really opportunities for promotion unless you work for a corporate photography company. You can consider getting higher paying, more prestigious clients as your abilities improve as a type of promotion. |
| Job Security | 7 | I feel confident that if your work is good, you can make a decent living in photography. It can be unstable, especially at certain times of the year, which makes learning to manage your money an essential part of staying financially stable, more so if it is your only source of income. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | I think if one's work is high quality enough, photography can be very financially rewarding. It is a very versatile skill and can be applied in a number of industries and scenarios. If someone is able to corner a market in their area, then earning potential is very good. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Working as a photographer can be extremely stressful at times. What's nice is that you can tailor your workload and the type of work you do to suit your personal tolerance for stress. In order to make better money in photography, you are usually exposing yourself to higher stress shooting scenarios, like large weddings. |
| Task Variety | 5 | The nature of my tasks as a photographer are somewhat fixed and somewhat dynamic. I am constantly challenged to shoot in different ways and my subject matter is always changing. On the other hand, typically in post production, tasks reoccur commonly which can sometimes be wearing. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | It can be a very cool job and make you feel very important in a variety of ways. It can also sometimes feel like it's not worth the amount of effort you sometimes have to put in. However, if you have a love for creating images, it is almost always a very exciting job. I think it is a very cool job because of the variety and amount of situations you have exposure to that you normally wouldn't. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Photography is extremely flexible in terms of what you want to specialize in shooting and how much you want to shoot, i.e. hours working. Photography can take you to amazing locations. I am extremely satisfied with my schedule most of the time and I love that I can work from home or at a coffee shop and am not bound to an office. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | Being a photographer involves the ability to communicate well with others, sometimes from other countries or cultures or with conflicting views on the aesthetics of an image. It teaches you a lot about yourself and others and builds great communication skills. It is a very socially interactive profession. |
Job Title: Wedding Photographer
Attended: University Of Washington • Seattle, WA
Studied Visual Art (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"I have a difficult time making ends meet. It is at this point mainly a sales gig drumming up new clients in an over-saturated market."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 2 | My program focused on expression and message and did little to prepare me for a commercial future. I think my program failed at teaching me how to make a living. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | Who is there to promote me? Like everyone else in this business, I have to own my own company. There is no one to promote me. | |
| Job Security | 2 | As I said, it is difficult getting enough customers. I end up taking random gigs and doing a lot of stock photography work. |
| Earnings Potential | 2 | Everyone wants a deal. No one wants to pay full price anymore. |
| How Stressful | 9 | Dealing with brides and mothers of the bride is stressful. It is stressful not having financial security. |
| Task Variety | 4 | I switch a little bit. I edit, I scout locations, I take outdoor photos, photos of the dress, photos the wedding party. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Saying I am a professional photographer does get people interested. I think most people assume I am a high school drop out with an artistic flare. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | I have full control over my schedule. I am able to choose the clients I want to take and when to do my editing. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I interact on the surface with all my clients. I do not develop long term relationships. |
Job Title: Self-Employed Photographer
Attended: Parsons School Of Design • New York City, NY
Studied Photography (BFA) (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/7/2012
"It can be hard to work freelance in terms of financial planning and whatnot, but doing something I enjoy is important to me. I still have time to do my personal artwork along with the work I'm doing as well."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | The focus at Parsons is very much on fine art, which is not the route that everyone wants to go down. I also feel like there isn't enough focus on the business aspect of the art industry. It would be helpful to have classes about how to manage money or careers you can pursue with a photography degree other than just being a photographer. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | When it comes to photography, I understand "promotion" to mean becoming more recognized or important. I think the chances are pretty up in the air, but I don't think it's impossible. Success in the art world really depends on one's own definition, whether that means getting high paying magazine cover jobs or getting work on gallery or museum walls. I feel like I have the ability to work my way up in importance, but there is an element of luck or chance involved. |
| Job Security | 5 | Freelance work is always volatile, but I feel like there will always be some opportunities through networking. I am also comfortable with the idea that I might need to assist other photographers or work/intern at a gallery or studio while working on getting freelance jobs, so I feel like there are job opportunities that I would take that others might not. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | The potential to earn depends a lot on the type of work you end up producing and the success level you achieve. Very famous artists sell prints for thousands and thousands of dollars or are hired for huge fees, but it takes awhile to reach that level, and not everyone does. With supplemental commercial work, a photographer has the ability to be comfortable, even if not wealthy. |
| How Stressful | 9 | I find freelance work stressful because of the lack of a steady paycheck. Talent can be hard to work with, but the more I get to direct what I'm doing, the more I enjoy it. People expect a lot from photographers as well, which can cause a decent amount of stress. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Each individual job is different, but a lot of the pre- and post-production work can be similar, like renting equipment or spaces or retouching images once they have been shot. There is a lot of variability in the specific assignments or jobs though, both in the type of people I'm shooting and the types of images I make. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Once again, photography can be a very glamorous and prestigious career once a certain level of success is reached. As an art star, you can be a celebrity yourself, or you can be a go-to photographer to shoot high fashion campaigns or celebrity portraits. I think a lot of people find art to be a cool career because it is expressive and personal and self directed, even if I'm not shooting celebrity portraits or magazine covers. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | Freelancing is very flexible. Especially when you reach a certain level of success, you have a lot of opportunities to decide when and where you want to do jobs, which jobs to take or turn down, and where you want to live. It's harder earlier on, when there are fewer jobs offered and money is tighter, but the opportunity is there. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | I shoot mainly portraits, so I constantly interact with other people. In addition to the person I am photographing, I work with printers and art/creative directors and art buyers. A lot of interaction is over email and the phone, but it is interaction nonetheless. |
Job Title: Artist
Attended: Georgia Perimeter College • Clarkston, GA
Studied General Studies (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/6/2012
"I get good pictures, but I want to explore more of the beauty of every day things without leaning on travel. I am now focusing on microspy pictures and birds."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | General Studies allowed me to generate my own major so that I could specialize. I also took other courses that artists would usually take, and this gave me an edge. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | |
| Job Security | 3 | There are many free lance photographers and the jobs are usually not salaried. However, I am not tied to one company. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | The end product is not wearable or edible. Yet, advertising is a great business. |
| How Stressful | 2 | This is not a medical field, so no one dies. Relaxation helps you create the best product. |
| Task Variety | 5 | There are different daily tasks, but they are all closely related. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | Visual arts always has a "coolness" to it. You don't have to roll in blood and dirt everyday. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Because most of the jobs are pay as you go, I have the ability to work form home. This allows me to have a great family life. |
| Social Orientation | 6 | I work with animals, so there is not much social interaction. Other people are involved in the editing process, though. |
Job Title: Photography Workshop Teacher/ Adjunct Professor /Fine Artist Photographer, At Times Wedding Photographer/Stock Photographer
Attended: Savannah College Of Art And Design • Savannah, GA
Studied Photography (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 3/5/2012
"After incurring massive debt and immense stress completing a graduate degree, and finishing at the top of my class... with magnificent skills and presence, I have found it difficult to procure a position in academia. Beyond creating my own courses, I have yet to work full time at a college or university."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | SCAD had really awesome facilities... top of the line computers, printers, and a darkroom lab. It did lack a certain guidance, and frankly was more competitive rather than collaborative, pitting its student against one another, rather than helping them create lasting connections. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 8 | Opportunities for photographers are a bit different. Teaching brings its own rewards and a bit more consistency and cohesiveness when building a family. Wedding work can be lucrative, though one must be business savvy, consistent, and creative. |
| Job Security | 3 | My current situation does bring its stresses... for one, photo students right out the door are a dime a dozen... and often jobs do not nearly compensate a new photographer enough to pay off their student loans, or other debts. Much of my income depends on other people's desire to have a private course. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I believe we create our own path, and I see opportunity in abundance. Being a successful photographer on any level - whether a teacher, commercial artist, or fine artist - one must believe in their ability to succeed. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Teaching can be stressful if it is not your bag. Teaching photography can also get rather formulaic, if you don't vary your information from class to class. Commercial photography can be very stressful, from deadlines on stock work to the fear of a missed opportunity at a wedding. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Depending on the work I am doing, my schedule changes. With my regular students, I must continue to update lesson plans, handle and maintain billing, and continue to work on advertising. With my fine art or commercial work, I regularly post my work on new sites, apply to a variety of job sites, and attend social events to distribute business cards. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Commercial photography can be very cool... when I have focused my efforts there, there are many opportunities for networking, parties, and travel. Also, being a photography teacher allows for a dynamic knowledge base. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | My own workshops create flexibility, though I am dependent on private students' schedules. University adjunct positions offer little flexibility. I rarely work as a commercial photographer anymore. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | I am listed on linked in, facebook, and a number of photography and art websites. My disks are sent out weekly, by email or CD. I distribute fliers, word of mouth, and answer Craig's list ads. |
Job Title: Staff Photographer
Attended: California Institute Of The Arts • Santa Clarita, CA
Studied Photography BFA (completion in 2013)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/7/2012
"It's a good job considering I'm still working on my degree. However, the position is at a summer camp shooting for their brochures and website, so it's not too exciting."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Cal Arts is a great school for any artist. They have excellent professors, classes, and resources. Their Darkroom is amazing; considering film is my preferred medium, I really enjoy that aspect. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I'm the only photographer on staff. There is no room to move up or down in the ranks. |
| Job Security | 2 | My position at the institution will be secure. However, it is possible that they might not always need me as a photographer. |
| Earnings Potential | 1 | Since there is no room to move up or down, I can't really earn much. It pays just above minimum wage to begin with. |
| How Stressful | 6 | A lot of parents don't realize that they had to sign a photo consent form as part of the registration. Therefore, I get a lot of parents wondering why I'm photographing their kids, and that can be hectic. |
| Task Variety | 1 | My job is the same every day. I follow around the camp as they do their activities and I get good pictures that make for a nice brochure. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | It's a summer camp. Definitely not cool or glamorous. However, it's cool that I get to be with my camera all day. |
| Career Flexibility | 1 | I work 8 weeks a year for 45 hours a week. The company runs only part of the year and offers only full time positions for that part of the year. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | There's a lot of people on staff. Since most of the people are my age, it is a good place to meet friends. Also, throughout the day there is lots of time to socialize between work. |
Job Title: Photographer/Small Business Owner
Attended: Anthem College Online • Peoria, AZ
Studied Graphic Design And Animation (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/27/2012
"I love my photography business, but occasionally it gets very slow. There are times when I wish business was more steady, but I enjoy every second that I get to use my skills."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | The classes taught me a lot, but so much of it was review from what I had already done in my vocational school. The fact that it's an online school made it harder to contact teachers for advice prior to turning in artwork. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | I am the owner of my small business. There is no way to be promoted when I own my business myself. | |
| Job Security | 7 | Photography is a constantly needed business. I specialize in local rock bands, which is something that will always be around. There is a lot of competition in my area, however, and that makes it hard to compete to stay in business. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | If I can build my clientele to a large enough scale, and start producing more graphic work, my earning potential is limitless. The industry is only expanding, so there's no way to go down, unless I decide to stop. |
| How Stressful | 7 | It can be stressful getting the photos edited in time for the clients. I do a lot of graphic work to my photos with Photoshop and Lightroom, and that takes a lot of work to do. |
| Task Variety | 5 | I'm always doing photos. And they tend to get similar when I'm doing bands on stage. However, photoshop allows me to put new spins on average photos, and that makes it a little different each time. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Do I really need to explain? I work for local rock bands. I get to go to concerts, meet band members, and see things no one else does when it comes to the music industry. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I am my own boss. I choose what jobs to take, how often to take them, and how far I'm willing to travel. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I photograph people. I do concerts, where there are thousands of fans at all times. I meet at least 20 new people every time I do a photo shoot. |
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