what does it take to be a photographer?

Question

what is the average income of photographers?
do you need college and if so what are some good colleges to get a degree in photography?

Answer 1

I get this question a lot for students touring my work place. The desire to work in the field can be called a labor of love.

There has to be a certain level of passion in this work. Curiosity is a major plus. I find an understanding of history ( in general and also in specific areas of local interests, politics and businesses) very helpful. Also I stay up on current events!

There are photographers out there who make a lot of money. However on average a photographer made $24,040 in 2002. A newspaper or periodical photographer made $31,460. Also consider that as a young shooter there are a lot of long hours and in some cases no overtime pay. (Read your employment contract carefully.) On the other hand, if you have talent and skill you can make a pretty good living on the side (read your employment contract) by freelancing. A lot of photographers are working without health insurance and other benefits. It's a tough business.

That said, I honestly don't think you need a degree in photography to be a newspaper photographer. A killer portfolio speaks volumes to an editor. The portfolio needs to display a wide range of images. Sports, News, Feature, Picture Stories and Illustrations. This takes time but can be done. A determined individual who shows a keen interest in getting a great photo and collect the needed information will be called upon to do work for a paper. Some of it also depends on location. If I have a good freelancer in an area that I need photos from on a consistent basis, I'm going to call them and not send a staffer. The cost of doing business is always climbing and every paper is trying to cut costs.

This means that you have to have some business skills. Be smart about what you Cost of Doing Business really is! A $150 for a photo may sound good but if you take all day getting the photo and drive 200 miles to get to the assignment you are losing money! Learn to negotiate! Let when to say No!

Of course there are a lot of people who call themselves "photographers" and armed with a digital camera they provide downward pressure on any pay scale in the area. A lot of editors realize this and play to the bottom feeders. (You get what you pay for.)

However, I also think a college education makes you a more well-rounded individual. I learned a lot of the legal and ethical rules by attending college. I have no regrets about the time I spent at university but it didn't cost nearly as much back then.

I would check out Western Kentucky University, Indiana University, University of Texas and of course University of Missouri. Each has their strengths.

I would also try to get a ride-along with a photographer. Some newspapers will allow this. If you're interested in another part of photography see if you can be an assistant for a few days. Even if all you do is carry equipment from one place to another you will learn something.

Good luck....it's a wonderful profession and I can't think of anything else that I would rather do.

Answer 2

Basically, having a good eye for a shot comes naturally. It is really difficult to make alot of money as a photographer because there is alot of competition. If you are interested in fine art photography, you need to obtain a BFA then MFA to teach college. Art school will teach you the more creative side of photography while a technical photo school will teach you the commercial stuff to be a wedding photographer or whatever. I chose art school because I like to use photography as my artistic medium. I probably would have made more consistent income doing commercial stuff but I'm just not into that sort of thing. Good luck to you!

Answer 3

All of the answers above . And patience . And perseverance . And most of all Passion and respect for your subject .
Ah , and you might also consider taking a serious job . Photography is still not considered very valuable , unfortunately , and it might take a while to get noticed , especially if you're into artistic stuff . I try my best to improve my photo skills and got some of my works published . Still I didn't make any serious money from photography yet , so I'm working as an illustrator to help support my Passion .

Answer 4

Becoming a photographer takes quite a bit of work.

A degree is nice but not required. Instead of a degree you can get an apprenticeship with a local studio.

An SLR camera (either digital or not) is required along with all the fucntions of it.

Basic understanding of aperature, f-stops, ISO, color balance is a great to have to help speed up time.

The ability to understand and see light is a huge, huge plus!!

Composotion and posing is another must have.

Patience and the ability to learn

A creative eye is a great start, but can be developed over time.

Answer 5

you need a very nice camera, great, new, and exciting ideas like pictures of what people are interested in. right now people are into celebrities big. a photographer can make lots of money but they have to take good pictures. magazines hire a lot of photographers. college isnt required but it helps a lot.

Answer 6

1. a good up-to-date camera
2. maybe some courses -there is a college in Tampa, FL i think that offers a school of the arts for photography
3. attention to detail, style, aesthetics
4. ambition!
average income of photographers i think varies - it can be a breadless job, just like any other arts, unless you make it big.

Answer 7

I'm a photographer in the Air Force....and I'm pretty lucky because my education, on the job training, equipment....everything is provided by the military. It might be something to consider.

Answer 8

You need a camera.