So you want to be a…

Professional Photographer

Professional PhotographerPhotograph persons, subjects, merchandise, or other

commercial products. May develop negatives and produce finished prints.

• Salary– Entry level

workers can start out making $29,000, while more experienced workers can make as much as $76,000.

• Education– Most occupations in this

zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

– Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

So what does a Professional Photographer

do?• Develop and print exposed film using chemicals, touchup

tools, and developing and printing equipment, or send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing.

• Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.

• Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.

• Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.

• Take pictures of individuals or families either in studio or on location.

• Employ specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro-photography, photogrammetry, and sensitometry.

Outlook for the Future

• During 2009, there were approximately 14,130 people employed in this field in CA.

• It is estimated that in 2016 there will be 15,900 employed in CA. This represents an increase of 210 new positions each year (1.40%).

Similar Occupations

• Photographic Process Workers• Film and Video Editors• Camera Operators, Television,

Video, and Motion Picture• Sound Engineering Technicians• Set and Exhibit Designers

What will I need to know?

• Classes you will need to take for this career:

• Journalism• Photo Journalism• Mathematics• English• Computers

• Knowledge you will need to gain for this career:• Customer and

Personal Service• Sales and

Marketing• Computers and

Electronics• Clerical

How do I become a Professional

Photographer?• First, you need to make it out of middle

school. • Once you’re in high school:

– Consider taking some ROP classes specifically for photography or join journalism club, yearbook, or the newspaper.

– Think about taking some photography classes at your local community college.

– Maintain good grades because you’re definitely going to need a high school diploma and will need good grades to get into a college.

• Major in photography in college.

Questions?Speak to your counselor

• Mrs. Scribner– Students whose

last names begin with A-L

• Mrs. Jantz– Students whose

last names begin with M-Z