Jobs With Travel Photography

Some travel photographers work for nature magazines.

Travel photographers often make money shooting for magazines or transportation companies. They typically need a good eye for background and lighting and a creative mind. If looking to work for a large company, they may need a college degree or some type of professional training. Travel photographers can photograph news stories, nature, stock photos and more.

Cruise Ship Travel Photographer

Cruise ship travel photographers ride the cruise line, entertaining passengers and crew members while photographing everyone on board and at the ports of call. Cruise ship photographers often make a base salary and earn commission from photographs sold. The perk to this job is free travel, and if you're a talented photographer, you can make decent money off of commissions. Cruise ship travel photographers are either contracted out to the cruise ship or hired by the cruise line.

Travel Stock Photographer

Travel stock photography is mostly freelance work. Photographers plan a trip itinerary making sure to see landmarks, culture, scenery and other important aspects of an area. They must bring their own gear and photograph as many scenes as they can. Upon returning home, they must license and sell stock photographs, providing all necessary photo details, to stock photo agencies. Some stock photo agencies that buy travel stock photos are Alamy, Corbis, Shutterstock, Dreamstime and Fotolia.

Travel Photojournalist

Traveling photojournalists often work for news companies and receive assignments that can range from local and national storm and hurricane coverage to international war and political unrest. These photographers, who must be prepared for spontaneous travel, make a base salary from the hiring news company. Travel photojournalists must have assertive communication skills and usually have professional training. Their photographs are published alongside news stories in print and online news publications.

Travel Nature and Magazine Photographer

There's significant competition among travel photographers looking to work for nature magazines such as National Geographic, but there are many smaller nature magazines and online magazines that can help you get your start. Smaller magazines tend to work with freelancers, which means you'll most likely have to front the money for your trip and photography equipment, and shoot photographs you hope magazines are going to want to buy. One way to speculate what images to shoot is to come up with a business plan and target magazines before you plan your trip. To successfully market yourself, you should build a modern online portfolio with samples of your work and pitch your images to the editors of nature magazines.

References

• "Cruise Ship Jobs"; Photography Jobs; Cruise Ship Employment Services; 2011
• "Job Monkey"; Travel Photography Jobs; 2011
• "Info Stock Photo"; Travel stock photography tips; Chris C.; 2009
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Photographers
• "CNN"; CNN photojournalist shares travel secrets; Manav Tanneeru; 2007
• "Nature Photographers"; Taking the Plunge: Making the Transition to Pro Photographer; Samantha Chrysanthou; 2010

Resources

• "University of Maryland, Baltimore County"; The Basics of Nature Photography; 2002