How to become a photographer

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What photographers do

• Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
• Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
• Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
• Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
• Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
• Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.

Skills that matter most

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
• Active Learning
• Monitoring
• Writing
• Learning Strategies

Is photographer a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 12% below the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• District of Columbia $110,970
• New York $60,050
• Massachusetts $57,990
• Oregon $53,630
• Utah $52,140

Photographers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.