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Portrait, wedding & commercial
Photographer
Half the job is the camera, half is running a business.
Typical pay
$30k-$90k
How you get in
Self-taught or degree; portfolio is what sells
Outlook
Crowded; specialization and business skill decide who survives
Photographers shoot and edit images for clients, events or publications. Most are self-employed, which means marketing, contracts, invoicing and editing take up far more hours than shooting does.
A day in the life
- 9:00aAnswer inquiries, send contracts and invoices
- 10:30aCulling and editing last weekend's shoot
- 1:00pScout a location for Saturday
- 3:00pClient consultation call
- 4:30pGolden-hour portrait session
- 8:00pBack up cards twice before sleeping
How to get in
Self-taught into freelance
Duration
6-24 months
Cost
$1,500-$8,000 for gear
Credential
None — the portfolio is everything
- Learn manual exposure, light and your camera cold
- Second-shoot weddings or assist a working photographer
- Build a portfolio in one niche instead of shooting everything
- Register a business, get insured and set real prices
Assist an established photographer
Duration
1-3 years
Cost
$0 — paid, modestly
Credential
None — references and experience
- Get hired as an assistant carrying gear and managing light
- Learn how professional sets and client relationships actually run
- Take overflow work the lead cannot cover
- Go independent with a client base already forming
Photography degree
Duration
2-4 years
Cost
$15,000-$150,000
Credential
BFA or associate in photography
- Complete a program with darkroom, studio and lighting work
- Use school access to gear you could not otherwise afford
- Build a portfolio and a network of collaborators
- Note that clients almost never ask about the degree
What people love
- · Creative control over your work
- · Set your own schedule and rates
- · Start with the gear you already have
- · Scales into a real business
What wears people down
- · Editing hours dwarf shooting hours
- · Income is seasonal and unpredictable
- · Constant price pressure from newcomers
- · Weddings mean losing your weekends