Use the audio bar to play this job’s narration.
Overview
Photographers take and process pictures of people, places, products and events such as weddings and birthdays.
Activities
In your daily tasks you may:
- Discuss a project with the client and agree the ‘brief’
- Find and prepare the location for the photo session
- Choose the right equipment and set up lighting
- Use software to edit and process images
- Check accurate colour match and image quality
- Choose the best images for the client to use online or in print
Organisations
You could work in a creative studio. Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors in all weathers. Many photographers are freelance [meaning they work for themselves] and you could do a mix of contract work and follow your own interests. You could extend your range into other areas of photography like product, property, aerial or corporate work. With training, you could also work as a press or police photographer.
Photography is very competitive, so you’ll need creativity and technical skills to make money. You’ll also need finance for equipment, a space to work in, and some business and admin skills. You could increase your income by selling your images independently.
Workplaces
You could start as a photographer’s assistant and work your way up. It’s usual to specialise in one kind of photography, like fashion, advertising, wildlife or photojournalism. You’ll need a portfolio of your work to show your skills, interests and experience in photography. It’ll also help you to get noticed if you post examples of your work online.
Working Hours
39 to 41 variable evenings / weekends / bank holidays as customers demand.
Salary
£17,250 – £45,000 per year.
Predicted trends +2.5% increase leading to 2,755 new jobs by 2027.
Qualifications
You could start as a photographer’s assistant and work your way up. It’s usual to specialise in one kind of photography, like fashion, advertising, wildlife or photojournalism. You’ll need a portfolio of your work to show your skills, interests and experience in photography. It’ll also help you to get noticed if you post examples of your work online. Many employers will ask for 2 or more GCSEs at Grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent as well as a Level 2 or 3 photography course completed.
You could however apply for an apprenticeship. If you have an EHCP you may be able to apply under the DfE exemption which allows the apprentice to use Entry Level 3 English and Maths qualifications. The apprentice would have to be competent enough to successfully achieve all other aspects of the apprenticeship requirements, become occupationally competent and achieve Entry Level 3 in English and Maths before the end of their apprenticeship.