College Major Spotlight: Photography Majors
What do people who graduate with photography majors do?
People with photography majors produce and preserve images that paint a picture, tell a story, or record an event. To create commercial-quality photographs, photographers need technical expertise, creativity, and the appropriate professional equipment. Producing a successful picture requires choosing and presenting a subject to achieve a particular effect, and selecting the right cameras and other photographic enhancing tools. Some photographers specialize in areas such as portrait, commercial and industrial, scientific, news, or fine arts photography. Self-employed, or freelance, photographers usually specialize in one of the above fields. In addition to carrying out assignments under direct contract with clients, they may license the use of their photographs through stock-photo agencies or market their work directly to the public. Most photographers spend only a small portion of their work schedule actually taking photographs. Their most common activities are editing images on a computer—if they use a digital camera—and looking for new business—if they are self-employed.
Job outlook for graduates of Photography Majors:
Employment of people with photography majors is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2016. Demand for portrait photographers should increase as the population grows. Moreover, growth of Internet versions of magazines, journals, and newspapers will require increasing numbers of commercial photographers to provide digital images. Employment of photographers is expected to grow 10 percent over the 2006-16 projection period, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
People with photography majors can expect keen competition for job openings because the work is attractive to many people. The number of individuals interested in positions as commercial and news photographers usually is much greater than the number of openings. Salaried jobs in particular may be difficult to find as more companies contract with freelancers rather than hire their own photographers.
Earnings for Photography Majors:
Median annual earnings of salaried photographers were $26,170 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,680 and $38,730. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,540, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $56,640. Median annual earnings in the industry employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were $22,860 in the photographic services industry.
Salaried photographers—more of whom work full time—tend to earn more than those who are self-employed. Because most freelance and portrait photographers purchase their own equipment, they incur considerable expense acquiring and maintaining cameras and accessories. Unlike news and commercial photographers, few fine arts photographers are successful enough to support themselves solely through their art.
What type of Photography Major should you consider?
Entry-level positions in photojournalism or in industrial or scientific photography generally require a college degree with a photography major or in a field related to the industry in which the photographer seeks employment. Entry-level freelance or portrait photographers need technical proficiency. Some complete a college degree or vocational training programs. Basic courses in a photography major cover equipment, processes, and techniques. Learning good business skills is important and some bachelor’s degree programs offer courses focusing on them. Art schools offer useful training in photographic design and composition.
Photography majors may start out as assistants to experienced photographers. Assistants acquire the technical knowledge needed to be a successful photographer and also learn other skills necessary to run a portrait or commercial photography business.
Consider taking the myUsearch college match quiz to find the right Photography Major for you.
Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos264.htm
