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Photographer
Hours
variable
Starting salary
£12,000 + per year
If you are artistic and love taking photographs, this could be a perfect career for you. As a photographer you would use cameras to take still photographs. You would use your technical skills and artistic ideas to take images of people and products. You will also take pictures of places or events.
A photographer is usually a creative person. You’ll also need to be able to make people feel relaxed.
Most professional photographers take a college or university course to improve their technical skills.
WorkDesc
The work
You would normally specialise in photography for one area or use, such as:
- general or social – weddings and portraits
- advertising and editorial – advertisements, magazines and photo libraries
- press and photojournalism – newspapers and other news publications
- fashion – photographing models and clothing for magazines and catalogues
- corporate (industrial/commercial) – company promotional material
- scientific or medical – recording scientific research, or medical conditions and treatments
With most types of photography, your day-to-day work would include:
- discussing the project with the client, or receiving instructions from them (known as a brief)
- choosing and getting locations ready for the photography session (the shoot)
- selecting the right cameras, film and accessories
- setting up lighting and equipment
- composing and taking shots
- checking image quality
- retouching images - by hand or with digital software such as Photoshop
- processing and printing photos
- marketing and running your business if you are self-employed
In some cases you might employ an assistant to help a shoot run smoothly. Assistants set up equipment, prepare sets and props, look after clients, keep records and help with printing and administration.
HoursDesc
Hours
Hours of work can vary and may often include evenings and weekends. As a self-employed photographer, you would need to be flexible about when you worked. Part time work may be possible.
Your working environment could also vary. You would often work in photographic studios, or you could work in various indoor or outdoor locations, depending on the job (assignment).
Some jobs involve climbing ladders or working at heights, and you may sometimes need to lift and carry heavy equipment.
You would spend a lot of time travelling to assignments, which could be in your local area, around the UK or possibly abroad.
IncomeDesc
Income
Starting salaries for assistant photographers can be around £12,000 a year.
Full time photographers can earn between £18,000 and £50,000 a year.
Freelance photographers are normally paid a fee for each job, or an hourly or daily rate. Rates can vary widely depending on experience and reputation, the type of assignment and the budget available.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
Most professional photographers take a college or university course to develop their technical skills. Experience and personal contacts in the industry are also important for building a successful career.
Colleges and universities offer a wide variety of full and part time photography courses at all levels, from beginner to advanced. Qualifications range from City & Guilds courses to foundation degrees, BTEC HNDs or degrees. To do a higher level course, you will usually need to have A levels or an equivalent, such as an art foundation course or a City & Guilds diploma.
Courses that offer industry contacts and work placements are especially useful. Some HNDs and degrees include the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) Licentiateship qualification, which is highly respected by employers. You should check course content and entry requirements carefully.
Finding work as an assistant photographer is a good way of gaining experience, building your portfolio and learning on the job. You will need a keen interest in photography and good basic technical skills for this.
To find work as an assistant, you could contact professional photographers and studios direct, or look for jobs on websites such as Photoassist.
To become a press photographer, you will usually need a photojournalism qualification approved by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). See the NCTJ website for more details.
Follow the Creative Skillset link below for real life stories of how people started out in the industry, the types of training they had and how they see their career progressing.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
In most areas of photography there are no formal training schemes. Instead, you would develop your skills and experience on the job, perhaps starting as a studio assistant or a photographer's assistant.
You may be able to work towards City & Guilds Diplomas in Photo Imaging at levels 2, 3 and 4. To gain one of these qualifications, you must have a placement, or a full time or part time job while studying. (These qualifications replace the previous NVQs in Photo Imaging)
You may get the chance to work towards City & Guilds NVQs in Photo Imaging at levels 2, 3 and 4 (new versions will be available from September 2010, course code 7511).
As a professional photographer, you may find it helpful to join professional associations such as the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) and the Association of Photographers (AOP). Both of these offer training and networking opportunities. See their websites for more information.
BIPP also runs a mentoring service for new photographers. To join, you will need to submit your portfolio for their approval.
Some areas of photography require specialist training, particularly press photography and medical photography.
You will need to keep up to date with new technology and skills throughout your career. BIPP and AOP offer a range of short courses to help you increase your skills. See their websites for more details.
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
To become a photographer, you will need to have:
- creativity and a good eye for shape, form and colour
- practical and technical photography skills
- excellent communication and ‘people' skills
- the ability to make people feel relaxed
- patience and concentration
- reliability, and good organisation and time-management skills
- computer skills, for using digital imaging programmes like Photoshop
- good business sense and the ability to market yourself (if self-employed)
- motivation and determination
MoreInformationDesc
More information
Creative Skillset 
Focus Point
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
www.creativeskillset.org
Creative Skillset Careers
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)
Tel: 0845 850 2502(Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
www.creativeskillset.org/careers
British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP)
1 Prebendal Court
Oxford Road
Aylesbury
Buckinghamshire
HP19 8EY
Tel: 01296 718530
www.bipp.com
Association of Photographers
81 Leonard Street
London
EC2A 4QS
Tel: 020 7739 6669
www.the-aop.org
National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)
The New Granary
Station Road
Saffron Walden
Essex
CB11 3PL
Tel: 01799 544014
www.nctj.com
Institute of Medical Illustrators
29 Arboretum Street Nottingham NG1 4JA
www.imi.org.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
Around half of all photographers are freelance or run their own business or studio. Many employers choose to use freelance photographers if and when they need them.
Another option is to be an in-house (staff) photographer for an employer such as a commercial photographic studio, advertising or PR agency, newspaper or magazine, large company, hospital or the police.
Competition is extremely strong and you may need to do other types of work to earn a living when starting out.
Some jobs are advertised on the Association of Photographers (AOP) website, and in photography, advertising and design trade magazines.
You could find freelance work through word of mouth, by getting in touch with magazine picture editors or photo libraries, and by listing your details in professional photography directories.
You may find the following useful for jobs, contacts and further reading (links open in new window):
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
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.
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.
Career paths
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