How Much Money Do Photographers Get Paid?
There are many perks to a photographer's job. Generally, there's little dress code. It's an artistic pursuit and can frequently require travel to interesting or even exotic locations. Plus, there's very little paperwork involved. As of May 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the average salary of a photographer as $36,370. However, salary ranges vary depending on the photographer's type of work.
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Freelance Photographer
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Freelance photographers may work all kinds of jobs. They might cover a story for a newspaper or magazine one day and shoot a wedding the next. Tourists also may hire them to take photos for a skiing or snorkeling trip. As of 2010, Payscale shows the average salary range of a freelance photographer as $25,679 to $70,648. Self-employed photographers usually make less than salaried photographers, however, as they have to maintain and update their expensive equipment, which cuts into profits.
Photojournalist
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Photojournalists work for newspapers and magazines illustrating stories in the publication. Newspaper photographers illustrate stories in the paper, such as sporting events, portraits of people profiled in the paper or political and social events. Magazine photographers might follow someone on a trip for a travel piece, take photos of athletes in action for a sports magazine or take portrait shots of chief executive officers for a business magazine. The annual average salary for these jobs, according to the BLS, is $42,430.
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Wedding or Event Photographer
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Wedding and event photographers take photos of the big moments at an event --- when the cake is cut or the prize delivered. They also take group shots of key players, such as the wedding party, and candid shots during the event. Many couples even want photos of the hours or days before the wedding. A July 16, 2009, Virtual Photography Studio article, "Earning An Income With Your Photography -- Passive versus Active," reports the average pay per wedding is $2,000.
Studio Photographer
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Studio photographers include fashion photographers, photographers hired to illustrate advertisements and books and portrait photographers. The cost of maintaining a studio factors into both the price they charge clients and their net earnings. According to the Fashion Schools website, top fashion photographers earn between $50,000 and $100,000. However, Indeed reports the national average salary of a studio photographer is $22,000.
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References
- Photo Credit photographer image by rufar from Fotolia.com
