Getting a photography job
Don’t fancy being self-employed, but still want to work as a photographer? In the final part of our series, we look at how you can earn a salary as a photographer
Even though most photography work is self-employed or freelance, there are still some opportunities for full or part-time employment.
You’ll need to do plenty of searching on job sites such as www.indeed.co.uk, or trade bodies such as the Association of Photographers (AOP), to find photography jobs, and you’ll also need to be flexible in what positions you’ll consider. None of the jobs we’ll be discussing comes up very frequently, and competition for positions is often very fierce, but if you keep your mind open to all of the options, then it’s perfectly possible to get a job as a photographer, or in a photographic business, which could be the perfect starting point to a career in photography.
With so few positions available, and a lot of competition for places, it can take some time to get a job in a photographic business, so don’t be surprised if it takes you six months or more to find a suitable position, and you may need to relocate for some of the more senior roles.
Assisting a photographer
Working alongside an established photographer as an assistant has long been one of the most common ways to gain experience and a foothold in the photography business. This isn’t as common as it once was, but there are still opportunities to work as an assistant, especially in bigger cities and studios.
Assisting comes in many shapes and forms, from the bottom rung of the ladder, where you will start by simply carrying kit, making tea and running errands, to the more lucrative and experienced assistant who will be running shoots, helping with the lighting and even offering ideas and feedback on the creative process.
Competition for all assistant places can be competitive, and many people are willing to work for next to nothing, so don’t expect to make a good living when you are starting out. But established assistants – especially those who are able to provide the right range of skills and expertise to
complement the business – can still make a reasonable living.
Working as an assistant for a photo studio or successful photographer can also be a great way to make contacts, gain experience of the business, and potentially even work your way up to a photographer’s position, so you might want to consider the long-term prospects, rather than what benefits the position initially has to offer.
Newspapers
Shooting for local or national newspapers used to be one of the best ways to get a photography job, but in recent years most newspapers have moved away from directly employing staff photographers. Many of the photographs taken for newspapers will now come from either the reporters themselves, members of the public, or freelance news photographers, and so the number of news photographers has fallen dramatically. There are still a few photographers employed by local papers, but the positions are few and far between – and highly sought-after.
School photography
There are many companies that specialize in shooting school portraits, some of which employ a team of photographers to cover different areas. These are often part-time or seasonal roles, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to do it as a full-time job, and most will be paid on commission or a day rate for each assignment. However, it could still be a great way to get experience of shooting and selling high volumes of portraits.
retail and sales companies
Even though many estate agents shoot their own images, or employ freelance photographers, some high-end estate agents employ photographers or a photographic company to shoot their promotional images. Many property photographers will need to shoot video, produce virtual tours and even draw up floor plans, along with shooting images of the property. Like many photography jobs, this
Working as an assistant for a studio can be a great way to make contacts, or even work your way up to a photographer’s position
is often paid on a day rate or for each property, rather than as a straight salary.
There are many similar industries that require promotional images for their products, such as car dealers, retailers and e-commerce firms, and some employ photographers. Work for these businesses primarily involves shooting product shots for use online or in printed brochures, and so will usually require some experience of using studio flash, along with the ability to process images for different platforms. While some companies employ a dedicated photographer, you’ll also find that the job is often part of a wider marketing role that includes some photography.
Cruise ships
If you fancy travelling while learning how to take and sell people shots, then a job as a cruise ship photographer might be right up your street. Working as a cruise ship photographer isn’t quite as glamorous as it may sound, as the hours can be long and it will involve being away from home for long periods of time. But if you are prepared for these hardships it can be a great way to gain experience of portrait and events photography, and also to learn how to sell and promote your images.
These positions are usually done on a short-term or fixedterm contract, rather than as a long-term career, but this is a common practice for many photography jobs. Along with checking out the usual job sites, try looking at www.allcruisejobs. com where you will find many of these positions in one place.
editorial/publishing
While it’s less common than in years gone by, some magazines and publishers still employ staff photographers, as well as using freelancers. For most positions you will need to be able to demonstrate that you are capable of producing highquality images of a range of subjects day in, day out, and to strict deadlines. It’s not a job for the beginner to get a foot in the door, but is more suited to an experienced photographer looking for a regular income, rather than a freelance role.
the armed forces
Along with private companies, there are some photographic roles in the armed forces. Both the Army and Air Force offer opportunities to train as a photographer, but you’ll normally need to sign up for one of their other roles, and then apply for a photography position. This means you’ll need to be willing to enlist for a standard tour of duty, and meet their entrance requirements in terms
A basic staff photographer position will bring in between £15,000 to £30,000 per year, depending on the company
of age, qualifications and fitness. Then you will have to complete the basic training before you can start the training for a photographic role.
This isn’t a career move for everyone, but if you are interested in joining the forces, it might be worth considering, as you will receive a good grounding in many aspects of photography ranging from portraiture and corporate events to shooting on location.
how much money can you make once you get a job as a pro photographer?
A starting salary for an assistant or junior photographer can be as low as £10,000 per year – and even less for some positions. You will also find that many positions will have a commission-based pay structure.
A basic staff photographer position will bring in between £15,000 to £30,000 per year, depending on the company, your experience and the role. As with most of the options we’ve covered, it’s not going to make you rich, but if your heart’s really in it, it can make for an enjoyable and rewarding, career. Good luck, and happy shooting!