If you’re always taking pictures on your smartphone or camera, capturing moments and emotions on film, then you might want to consider a career in photography.
And if that’s your dream, whether you’re exploring your options after high school or considering a career change, you’re truly spoiled for choice as to what you can do.
In this article, we’ll explore 10 exciting careers in photography that pay well, and we’ll also talk about what you need to enter the field and what you could potentially earn.
What do you need for a career in photography?
If you’re considering a career in photography, the good news is that you don’t always need a postsecondary education — often, a good eye and a combination of creativity and technical skill will do more than suffice.
That said, completing a college degree in photography or a related creative subject (or even taking classes in photography) can significantly improve your job prospects and credibility.
Meanwhile, some photography careers do require a postsecondary education — for example, a photojournalist will need to have an understanding of journalism fundamentals like reporting and ethics, which can be acquired through a photojournalism or journalism degree program.
Beyond this, photography careers typically require a varied and well-rounded skill set featuring:
- Artistic ability to capture aesthetically pleasing photos
- Attention to detail, which is especially important in postproduction
- Computer skills, which include being adept at using software like batch AI photo editing
- Customer service skills, as photography requires working directly with clients
- Interpersonal skills, which include being flexible and a good communicator
- Business skills, which involve devising marketing and advertising strategies
How much do photography professionals earn?
Photography careers can offer competitive pay, but potential earnings largely depend on a varied set of factors, including:
- Level of experience
- Personal and professional reputation
- Field of specialization
- Type of employment (eg: self-employed, salaried employee or freelancer)
- Geographical location
- Educational background
That said, the average salary for photography professionals ranges between $51,950 and $53,380 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Beginners typically start at around $28,510 a year, while mid-level professionals can expect annual earnings of $40,760. Seasoned professionals, meanwhile, can command salaries as high as $95,740 — or more.
Top 10 photography careers
Looking for some inspiration? Here are 10 careers in photography that aren’t only exciting but that pay well, too!
1. Portrait photographer
Portrait photographers aim to capture the identity, personality and very essence of a subject in different poses through the proper use of lighting and backdrops, either in a studio or on location.
They typically take portraits of families, children on their first day of school, high school graduates, or professionals who want to use a headshot on their LinkedIn profile or company website.
2. Wedding photographer
A vital part of a wedding photographer’s job is capturing couples’ big day in all its glory. They sometimes specialize in a specific area, like destination weddings, elopements, Indian weddings (even outside India) or gay weddings, but for the most part.
Wedding photographers are considered the jack of all trades within the field, as they combine the skills and knowledge required from many other specialties, including portrait, documentary and product photography. They usually start out in one of these fields.
3. Event photographer
Event photographers specialize in taking photos of guests and occurrences at different kinds of events and gatherings, such as engagements, christenings, birthdays, award ceremonies, galas, graduations, company parties, dances, concerts, music festivals, weddings — you name it.
They essentially serve as documentarians, freezing time and telling stories that capture all the key moments of an event or function. As they cover a wide area and capture action from a variety angles, they need to have a thorough understanding of the event’s purpose and expected outcomes to really succeed.
4. Travel photographer
If you enjoy traveling to faraway, exotic destinations (or a little closer to home) as much as you enjoy photography, then you might want to consider becoming a travel photographer.
Whether you’re documenting an area’s landscape, history, culture, customs or people, you will essentially be serving as both a storyteller and an educator on the world’s rich diversity.
Travel photographers may work locally or globally, providing their services to companies, publications and even individuals, or they may work on their while maintaining a personal travel blog.
5. Photo editor
If you’re more interested in the postproduction aspects of photography, a career in photo editing might be right up your alley.
Essentially, photo editors are responsible for improving the quality of, and generally perfecting, images before they’re published in print or digitally. They’re commonly employed by media agencies, publishing companies, news outlets and advertising agencies. Some are self-employed and work from home on a freelance basis.
6. Pet photographer
Prefer working with animals over people and things? Then consider pet photography!
As a pet photographer, you’ll be taking photos of pets like cats, dogs, birds and even exotic animals to capture their personality, beauty and spirit. There are many subgenres of pet photography that you can specialize in, including:
- Portrait pet photography, which emphasizes pets’ personality and unique expressions
- Action pet photography, which captures pets in motion
- Creative pet photography, which involves props, unique settings and artistic editing
7. Sports photographer
If you’re an avid sports fan, but would rather observe than participate in sports, becoming a sports photographer will allow you to combine your love of baseball, basketball or football with photography.
As a sports photographer, you’ll capture iconic sporting moments and record-breaking achievements from designated press areas, near the finish line or the sidelines, all while documenting the excitement, athleticism and drama on the pitch or court.
8. Newborn photographer
If you want to become the next Anne Geddes and take photos of newborn babies in whimsical and fantastical settings (and being kissed on the head by Céline Dion), then this one is for you.
Newborn photography focuses on capturing the first days or weeks of a baby’s life through the use of creative settings, cute outfits, props and lighting. While you may be taken by adorableness of the babies you’re photographing, you need to make sure they’re safe and comfortable.
9. Landscape photographer
From lakes to forests and volcanoes to icebergs and clouds to rice fields, landscape photography involves capturing images that embody the spirit of natural features of land, sky and waters.
As one of the photography jobs that can take you all over the world, it’s a great career option to consider if you love nature and the great outdoors, and you want to explore the planet we call home.
10. Food photographer
Food photographers focus on capturing beautiful, mouth-watering photos of food to showcase delicious dishes or inspire people to try new food, whether it’s for a cookbook, a food blog or restaurant menu.
If you’re worried that you might be tempted to sneak a bite, meanwhile, you don’t have to be. Indeed, you’ll gradually learn the secrets of food photography, which include using shaving cream instead of whipped cream and substituting syrup for pancakes with motor oil!
Frequently asked questions
Got questions about working in photography? Check out these FAQs:
Q: What is the typical career path in photography?
There is no set career path for photographers, as it can vary exponentially from one professional to another. Often, though, they start working as an assistant to an experienced photographer, which allows them to learn the ins and outs of the trade, and gradually build their own portfolio.
Q: Do I need to be licensed or certified?
This depends on the specific area of photography you work in. For example, photographers who commercially operate drones must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to do so, which includes passing a knowledge test.
Q: Where can I find photography jobs?
You can find available photography jobs on company websites, job boards, dedicated platforms like ShootWithMe and PhotoJobz, and even freelance job marketplaces like Upwork and Freelancer. The Association of Photographers, meanwhile, often advertises vacancies through its Job Shop.
Final thoughts
Whether you choose one of the photography specialties we covered in this article, or you opt for something else completely (like scientific, real estate, product or wildlife photography), it’s a good idea to first test the waters in as many domains as possible.
Indeed, this way, you’ll be able to make a more informed career choice — or possibly discover that your interests and passion lie in a photography career you never previously considered.
Got a question? Let us know in the comments section below.