Job market information
Finding out about photo imaging
The photo imaging industry is part of the creative industries, which is represented by Creative Skillset. This includes: advertising; animation; computer games; corporate and commercial production; fashion and textiles; film; interactive media; photo imaging; publishing; radio; and television.
The photo imaging industry includes: image producers (including laboratories and minilabs); photo retail; picture libraries and agencies; manufacturers; and support services (such as equipment hire and repair).
Key facts:
- Around 44,000 people work in the industry.
- Just under half of the workforce is based in the South of England.
- There are nearly 14,000 companies in the industry, of which:
- 58% are photography
- 35% are retail, laboratories or image production companies
- 5% are picture libraries and agencies
- 3% are manufacturers or support services companies
- Almost half of companies are sole traders or freelance photographers.
- 93% of companies employ 5 people or less.
- More than two fifths have a degree and over a fifth have a technical qualification, including a quarter of all photographers.
Jobs in the industry can be divided into:
- Photography – Advertising and Editorial Photographer, General Practice (Social)
- Photographer, Press Photographer or Photojournalist, Fashion Photographer, Scientific
- Photographer, Corporate Photographer, Forensic Photographer, Medical Photographer, Assistant Photographer, Staff Photographer
- Photographic Laboratories and Image Producers – Minilab Operator, Print Finishing Technician, Digital Imaging Specialist
- Photo Retail – Photo Retail Manager, Minilab Operator Photo Retail
- Picture Libraries – Picture Researcher, Picture Library Manager
- Manufacturers – Field Service Technician, Marketing Executive
- Equipment Support Services – Product Repair Engineer, Technical Support Engineer, Product Returns Management Technician.
Entry and progression
Many Photographers start out by assisting an established photographer and learn on the job (see the Job Profile for Assistant Photographer). There is no set route into Photographic Laboratories/Image Producers, although gaining experience in a photo retail environment can be beneficial. On the job training on equipment (e.g. inkjet and large format printers) will usually be provided in‐house at the laboratory or with the supplier.
Picture libraries and picture agencies often specify the need for prior experience in the industry, so it is common for new entrants often undertake unpaid work.
There are entry‐level jobs in the photo retail sector (such as Sales Assistants), where applicants can work their way to a supervisory position, or management, or train as a Minilab Operator. This in turn can lead to work as a Digital Imaging Specialist.
To work in manufacturing, such as a Field Service Technician, applicants need four or five good GCSE or Standard Grade passes, preferably in science‐based subjects. Apprenticeships in electronic/electrical engineering or information technology can be a good way in the industry for Field Service Technicians.
There are a range of industry endorsed courses (both at undergraduate and post‐graduate), training schemes and a Diploma available.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
44,000 |
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| Number of UK employers: |
14,000 |
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| Gender: |
only a third of the overall workforce is female. |
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| Industry: |
The industry has a relatively low proportion of people from minority ethnic groups. |
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| Age: |
The average age of the workforce is 42 years |
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| Job Market: |
The industry is predominantly made up of small companies and freelancers. |
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| Disability: |
A higher than average proportion of the workforce consider themselves to be disabled, almost twice that of the economy as a whole. |
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| Education: |
43% of the workforce has a degree in, for example, media and communication, and crafts, creative arts and design. |
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| 21% of the workforce has a technical qualification. |
| 22% of the workforce does not hold any qualification. |
Employment trends and future prospects
The rapid pace of technological change means that businesses and individuals in the industry must develop strong market awareness and demonstrate flexibility to adapt rapidly to new business opportunities. Wider internet access and the opportunity for image sharing across a number of platforms, makes an understanding of intellectual property rights and how to protect them increasingly important.
Job vacancies are generally not hard‐to‐fill as there is no shortage of people wanting to work in most areas of the industry.
Skill requirements and shortages
The photo imaging industry increasingly requires a workforce with a wide ranging skill set, combining technical proficiency with creativity, visual awareness and business acumen.
For freelancers in particular, an absolute drive to succeed is essential, along with the understanding that first and foremost, they are running a business.
Occupational trends
Across the industry, the most significant specialist skills gaps are:
- the use of digital technology
- knowledge of digital workflow
- management of digital assets.
The most significant non‐specialist skills gaps have been identified as: a lack of expertise in the areas of marketing, finance and general management.
With such a large proportion of the sector made up of freelancers/sole traders, micro businesses and small, medium enterprises, basic business skills are essential, such as managing the different stages of growth of a business and being aware of how best to exploit opportunities as they arise.
National and regional data
The total workforce comprises around 44,000 people. The largest photo imaging workforce is located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
- South West
In the East Midlands, there are nearly 2,700 people working in the industry. Nottingham is home to Boots and PA Photos, the photo library of the Press Association.
There are over 2,500 people working in photo imaging in the East of England. Larger employers in the region include two big manufacturers, Fujifilm UK in Bedford and Kodak in Hemel Hempstead. There are a number of schools photography companies in the region employing 8‐15 people as well as franchised retail outlets and privately owned camera shops.
The largest proportion of those who work in photo imaging are based in London; nearly 10,500 people. London has the highest concentration of fashion, advertising and editorial photographers as well as numerous specialist image producers and retouching/digital bureaux. A large majority of picture libraries and four Creative Skillset Approved Training Providers for Photo imaging are based in London.
There are nearly 1,200 people working in the industry in the North East.
In the North West around 5,000 people work in the industry and over half of these are photographers. Most of the businesses are very small, with almost 90% employing just 1‐5 people. Redeye (the North West Photography Network) is based in Manchester. Venture Portraits has its Head Office and fulfilment centre in Cheshire.
There are over 6,800 people working in the industry in the South East covering all parts of the industry from individual photographers to larger manufacturing outlets.
Nearly 5,000 people work in the industry in the South West and over half of these are photographers. Larger employers in the region include Harrier LLC (Truprint) in Newton Abbot and Tempest in St Ives. Transmedia, an Approved training provider, have a training facility in Bristol to complement their main base in Greenwich.
In the West Midlands, the photo imaging industry is the second largest industry comprising a large number of laboratories and retail outlets with a workforce of nearly 2,700. Rhubarb Rhubarb, a photographic training and development agency based in Birmingham, is internationally acclaimed for its exhibitions and the career development opportunities it offers to professional photographers.
Around 2,500 people work in Yorkshire and the Humber in the photo imaging industry. Symbiosis, an Approved training provider, has a training facility in Leeds to complement their main base in Leamington Spa.
In Wales, the photo imaging industry employs around 1,200 people. Most of the businesses are very small, with the majority employing just 1‐5 people, reflecting the high number of freelancers and sole traders in the industry.
In Northern Ireland, the photo imaging industry employs around 600 people.
In Scotland, the photo imaging industry employs around 2,800 people in 750 companies across four broad sub‐sectors: Photographers, Image producers and photo retailers, Picture libraries and agencies, and Manufacturing and support services.
Salary levels
The average income received by the photo imaging workforce is £20,450, which is low compared with the average income of the creative industries workforce as a whole, £32,200.
Men earn more than women (£22,492 compared with £16,252) and, on average, income increases with age within the industry, and does not drop in the 50 years and over age group as it does in the rest of the creative industries.
Among photographers, incidents of unpaid work are high – around 75% of photographers have undertaken unpaid work during their careers.
BECTU 
, the industry trade union, can advise on rates for freelancers working in the industry.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Skillet AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
