Careers in Outdoor Photography

There are many career opportunities in outdoor photography, such as freelance photography, shooting exotic weddings, outdoor weddings and engagements, photography for travel and fashion magazines and location scout opportunities.

Freelance Photographer

Many couples get married outdoors.

Freelance photographers have an endless amount of job opportunities outdoors. Many couples employ photographers for outdoor weddings and receptions and also take their celebration and engagement photos outdoors. Outdoor photographers can take their camera to exotic locations for modeling shoots, events, festivals and concerts, extreme sports and much more. For those outdoor photographers who want options, freelance photography may be the best choice.

Location Scout

Outdoor photographers need to be skilled at taking photos in any lighting situation.

Becoming a location scout can be an interesting twist to photography. Studios, directors and producers hire location scouts to find and photograph specific locations for their films, television shows and advertising campaigns. The job requires making a list of specific locations, such as a '50s diner in Los Angeles or a rough bus stop in Hollywood. The photographer would need to take photographs of all the required spots in the screenplay or script and show the photographed locations to the director and creatives.

Magazine Photographer

A model poses outdoors.

Magazines of all kinds need outdoor photography. Travel magazines may require photographers to snap pictures of exotic locations and holidays destination sites. Wildlife and nature magazines need photos of animals from around the world, such as forest animals, deserts reptiles, farm animals, exotic animals and endangered animals. Fashion magazines offer opportunities shooting street styles in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Fransisco, London, Paris, Rome and many other cities around the globe.

References

• Travel Photographers Network
• Professional Photographer Magazine
• Association of Location Scouts and Managers

Resources

• Alaska Society of Outdoor and Nature Photographers