- working with clients to discuss the images the client requires and how they want to use them,
- manage the business aspects of working, including administration, scheduling work, invoicing and basic accounting,
- preparing proofs for approval,
- carrying out research and preparation for a shoot and developing a good portfolio,
- building a network of contacts,
- achieving a reputation for quality and reliability on order to secure future assignments.
The salary a photographer will get depends on how high up in the business they are. Typically, at the start of the career, a photographer will earn £10,500 per annum to £21,250 per annum. Salaries at the highest end of media photography range from £25,000 to £65,000. Those who become famous or highly sought because they have photographed certain shots of particular celebrities, e.g. Justin Bieber or Kim Kardashian, can make a lot more than these salaries.
The job contract that most typical photographers have is freelance. This means that they can pick and choose when to work depending on when is convenient for them, but they not get sick pay or holiday pay. The job contract a photographer has depends on the type of photography they do. For example, a press photographer will work freelance so they can choose a company to be paid by depending on how much is offered per photograph etc.
The photography business has long and unpredictable hours and sometimes there is little or no work. They can be working all through the day and night dependent on what exactly they're photographing, whether it be a party until early hours of the morning or just a celebrity wedding throughout the day. Sometimes you will have a week completely booked up with events to photograph, but sometimes there will be no work. For example, wedding season is throughout the summer months. This will be a particularly busy time for photographers as every couple wants to capture their wedding day. They mean even put their prices up during particular seasons as they know they will get work whether they're expensive or not.
Travel for photographers can be across the UK or even abroad, which obviously costs a lot and isn't convenient - although a holiday will be made from it.
There are more male photographers than female which can be seen as sexist. This could possibly mean that if you're female then you have less of a chance to gain a job being a photographer than if you're male.
The photography business has long and unpredictable hours and sometimes there is little or no work. They can be working all through the day and night dependent on what exactly they're photographing, whether it be a party until early hours of the morning or just a celebrity wedding throughout the day. Sometimes you will have a week completely booked up with events to photograph, but sometimes there will be no work. For example, wedding season is throughout the summer months. This will be a particularly busy time for photographers as every couple wants to capture their wedding day. They mean even put their prices up during particular seasons as they know they will get work whether they're expensive or not.Travel for photographers can be across the UK or even abroad, which obviously costs a lot and isn't convenient - although a holiday will be made from it.
There are more male photographers than female which can be seen as sexist. This could possibly mean that if you're female then you have less of a chance to gain a job being a photographer than if you're male.
The way to become a photographer in media is by being either a graduate or a diplomate from university. Although you can become a photographer with either being a diplomate or a graduate, there are certain qualifications in subjects that will increase your chances of getting this job. These include: fine art; digital managing; art and design and media studies. You would need a strong CV and portfolio of previous work. Work experience will be essential to get this competitive job. A postgraduate qualification isn't essential but may help in more competitive areas of photography such as fashion and advertising.
