Picture-Perfect Career: How to Become a Photographer in 7 Steps

If you’re wondering what do you need to be a photographer, here’s your roadmap:

1. Master essential skills. 

Many professional photographers have studied the art form at the college level, earning degrees in fine art or photojournalism. But photography is a widely practiced pastime, so classes and workshops in photography can jump-start your knowledge of basic skill sets and connect you with like-minded artists. Educational opportunities are generally only a click away; type “photography class” into your search engine and sift through the results to find the best fit for you.

2. Study the career paths of photographers you admire. 

As with any artistic endeavor, an essential way to understand your tastes and ambitions is to assess the work of those who are doing what you’d like to do. What photographic points of view do you gravitate toward, and why? Use that to determine your focus, whether that’s portraits, events, commercial work, or photojournalism.

3. Invest in equipment.

The essential piece of still photography equipment is a camera—you can hardly call yourself a photographer without one. More advanced professionals also use multiple lenses, lens filters, and lighting equipment. If photo editing and manipulation are part of their job, they also need digital software and computer hardware.

4. Build your portfolio and keep updating it. 

In the digital age, a personal website is great for displaying professional work. Social media can also be a powerful tool for showcasing your photography, particularly image-forward sites like Instagram and Flickr.

5. Browse and apply to gigs on job sites. 

From general job posting resources like Indeed and Staff Me Up to more specific ones, such as our comprehensive photography job database, there’s a high demand for photographers on job sites. Persistence and consistency are key to maximizing your odds of booking gigs. Bookmark job databases in your browser and schedule regular times to check them out.

6. Network.

Continue to grow your network of professional connections, which includes potential clients. It’s essential to maintain productive relationships, including with fellow photographers, and you can find like-minded artists and pros online thanks to Facebook, LinkedIn, Reddit, and other social media platforms. 

7. Adapt to industry changes. 

Stay current with AI tools and emerging photography trends so that you’re not left behind.

Anton Pentegov/Shutterstock

Learning how to be a professional photographer starts with developing these essential abilities throughout your career:

• A keen eye for visual details, such as how lighting, color, and composition affect images
• An artistic point of view and a strong visual imagination
• Communication and interpersonal skills, particularly when it comes to client relations and customer service
• Business skills and an entrepreneurial attitude
• A mastery of camera components, such as apertures, shutter speeds, frame rates, and film speed
• A familiarity with digital editing, touch-up software, and graphic design

The majority of still photographers work as freelancers. These professionals are self-employed and hired by clients who are either seeking a one-off session or regular photography services. The types of clients and what kinds of images they’re looking for depends on the genre a photographer specializes in (see below). Many photographers work in or are adjacent to the entertainment industry. For example, on-set photographers capture still images alongside a film’s moving images.

However, full-time or part-time salaried photographer positions do exist at publications, media organizations, and companies that provide photographic services (think Getty Images or Shutterstock). Job titles at such companies can range from art director to graphic designer, but they all essentially fall under the umbrella of professional image-crafting.

Dmytro Sheremeta/Shutterstock

Conceptualizing, arranging, and executing photo shoots—particularly for portrait or commercial photography—constitutes the bulk of a professional image-taker’s work. This calls for efficient, frequent communication about shoot details with all parties involved, including clients, venue operators, models or talent, and assistants.

However, the process is not as simple as pointing a camera at a subject, sending files to your client, and getting paid. Most photographers these days, especially those who are piecing together careers as freelancers, have digital image-editing experience. After a photo shoot, professional photographers continue to adjust their images using software like ‎Adobe Photoshop to enhance their work and better serve their clients’ needs. Lastly, publicizing that work benefits both client and photographer: An image credited to a photographer is theirs to showcase in portfolios, which can lead to more work.

LightField Studios/Shutterstock

From companies using photography for advertising to individuals looking for non-selfie portraits of themselves, there are many options for photographers when it comes to jobs. The industry is also seen through many different lenses (no pun intended); very few professionals work in multiple genres and styles. Instead, many photographers specialize in fields and sub-industries that require specific kinds of images. Here are the most popular types of jobs and projects:

• Headshot and portrait photography: This is an area that’s especially geared toward freelancers. Professionals of all kinds need to represent themselves with basic, high-quality images. Headshot photographers often specialize in particular areas. In the arts industry, be mindful of the differences between types of media (commercial versus theatrical headshots, for example) and types of professions (acting and modeling have different headshot standards).
• On-set photography: Film and television sets don’t just need videographers and cinematographers—most also employ still photographers whose job is to capture behind-the-scenes images. Sometimes candid, sometimes staged to recreate the footage the camera is capturing, unit photography can be turned into promotional materials for both scripted and unscripted projects.
• Commercial photography: Advertising, editorial, and stock photography are popular in print materials like magazines and digital publications. Without commercial photography, the media industry would rely only on words and illustrations.
• Specialized photography: Food, fashion, retail, real estate, architecture, and landscape or aerial shots all require specific skills, viewpoints, and equipment. These images can end up in commercial or news publications.
• Live event photography: This can include one-off occasions like weddings—which is an entire industry on its own—as well as sports, red carpet shoots for galas and awards ceremonies, and corporate events. This is an area of photography that requires you to think on your feet and have a precise eye. The life of an event photographer is, well, an eventful one.
• Photojournalism: This documentary form of journalism centers on recording events that are relevant to local or international stories. News photographers are the most active of all of these specialists, sometimes traveling the world to chase and capture newsworthy stories.
• Fine art photography: These photographers identify first and foremost as artists. Their work, usually painstakingly composed and crafted, is meant for art galleries and public consumption.

Pro tip: Since filmmaking comprises a collection of still images, film photography encompasses many of the same elements as still photography. Those who capture moving images as a director of photography or cinematographer typically have experience composing still images.

Related

How to Get Photography Jobs

On average, photographers earn $20/hour, according to ZipRecruiter—though earnings vary significantly by experience, specialization, and location. Major cities like New York and Los Angeles offer lucrative opportunities, though they come with higher living costs.

Here’s what photographers typically earn:

• Entry-level photographers might earn $20/hour or less as they build experience and portfolios.
• Specialized photographers like wedding photographers often command premium rates at around $48/hour.
• Experienced freelancers can earn around $63/hour.

Visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for more data.

Images that once required hours of studio shooting and editing can now be achieved in minutes (sometimes without even picking up a camera!) using tools such as AI photo culling, automated editing, and even headshot generators. Still, AI faces significant limitations (the horror show of AI-generated hands, anyone?) due to a lack of authenticity and emotional resonance found in real images taken by human photographers. 

For the best chance of success in this post-truth era, you’ll likely want to learn to adapt to or embrace AI. Rather than fighting against AI integration, try:

• Using AI tools like Adobe Photoshop, Canva, and Luminar Neo to streamline editing workflows
• Focusing on authentic, human-centered photography that emphasizes your unique creative vision
• Leveraging AI for rapid concept development and client mockups

The ability to compose shots, share narratives, capture moments, and evoke emotional responses in viewers is inherent to the soul of photography—which can’t easily be replaced by algorithms.