Is Photography As a Career Choice a Good Idea?
A career in photography can be extremely rewarding and relatively well paid, but it can also be very difficult, and many photographers struggle financially. This article will help you weigh the pro's and con's of a career in photography.
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Different Areas of Photography
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There are many different paths one could take with a photography career. Some directions include commercial fields, like in a fine arts gallery, portrait and event (weddings, celebrations) photography, industrial photography, scientific photography and news photography.
Types of Payment
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Freelance photographers sometimes license their work by engaging with stock agencies, contract their photography with organizations or work directly with clients, which requires working with customers in billing and scheduling. Staff photographers for the government and advertising companies have a normal 40 hour, five-day work week. Photojournalists working for media organizations may have to work long and difficult hours.
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Freelance Freedom
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Freelance photographers have a lot of freedom in their work, but consistent income can often be uncertain. Freelancers sometime have assistants helping them find work. Freelance photographers usually do not make as much as photographers on salary--mainly because self-employed photographers use and must buy their own equipment.
Job Outlook
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008, employment for photographers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2008-2018. With the increase of online magazines, newspapers and journals as well as freelancers increased opportunity to market to customers via the Internet, the demand for photographers should increase as well. However, because of the amount of people interested in careers in photography the competition for job openings will be very keen.
Earnings
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Between salary and freelance photographers, a career in photography can earn $16,920 to $62,430 as of 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Hamed Saber
