Digital Photography Careers

Digital photography careers are perhaps more accessible now to the average person than they have ever been at any point in history. This largely, is due to two main developments within the last twenty years:

1. The internet, and 2. digital camera sensors (CCD'S, CMOS's) which replaced the need for film.

The Digital Photography & Internet Revolution

The internet itself, created numerous opportunities for photographers to promote and sell their work, which could now be transferred worldwide as a digital file.

Instead of sending off shots on prospect and waiting, most times a fairly futile exercise, you only needed to have an online portfolio, and you could also add shots to stock photography sites that buyers scour everyday.

Instant pay, instant download!

The demand for photographic images of all descriptions grew exponentially at a rapid rate. Now photographs were not just confined to news print, magazines, advertising and the other traditional avenues of digital photography jobs; now, literally millions of websites and e-products, sprang up everywhere with an ever growing demand for images on the 'hurry-up'.

Even photographers who were involved in the more traditional and fixed fields of digital photography careers, could now benefit by submitting unused shots to microstock photography sites, thus improving their baseline considerably.

The Photography Business

The majority of photographers work essentially freelance. While there are some digital photography jobs that will pay a regular salary, such as some kinds of photo journalism, these are not really the majority of cases you will find when speaking to people with a digital photography career.

The subject matter is indeed broad. There are even some forms of specialist digital photography careers for which there is no exact title, due to the relative obscurity of the subject matter.

For example, what would you call a photographer that specifically photographed food for products, restaurants and so on; the title 'Food Photographer' hardly seems apt now does it?

Also make sure you see online photography courses first, if you're planning on obtaining any form of training online, as not all the courses are reputable.

Below is a by no means a complete list of various digital photography careers you may be interested in:

Digital Photography Career Choices

Photo Journalist

Photo Journalism is a branch of photography where the photographer seeks to document an event as it happens, hence the other name for this type of photography, 'documentary photography'.

Within this branch of digital photography career we have our 'paparazzi' photographer as well as our National Geographic photographer. In this field you will probably find the majority of employed, as opposed to self-employed, (freelance) photographers; although freelance is perhaps more common.

Travel Photographer

Possibly one of the most attractive kinds of digital photography careers to people first considering doing digital photography jobs is that of travel photographer, the general idea being you get to see the world.

In fact, this type of photography can cover various forms of specialized photography, such as architectural photography and landscape photography.

To be honest, the market is saturated with travel type images, and so this digital photography career is highly competitive.

It's also hardly cheap to jet around the world taking shots of famous sites on what will more than likely be your own expense in the beginning.

The profit recouped may not even cover your expenses, so therefore the only realistic way of doing this would be to be commissioned, but no portfolio in the first place equals no commissions.

A magazine image buyer can just as easily go online and find someone in the desired country, who has already taken a picture of what they require, rather than having a salaried in-house photographer they have to pay every month.

Think carefully before choosing this digital photography career. It may be a good idea to start building up a portfolio based on your normal budgeted holidays in the beginning. Also remember, the country you live in, is probably a holiday destination for someone, somewhere so don't discount it!

Portrait Photographer

A portrait photographer takes pictures of people for a fee.

I still have trouble thinking of a portrait photographer as anything but the guy who used to come round to my school, and take almost perfunctory shots of us every year.

In fact there are quite a few different kinds of portrait photographers not necessarily as dull as as the above.

Some specialize in taking head-shots for actors, well known photographers may even be commissioned to do a series of shots of a famous actors or actress.

Paid portrait photography doesn't really leave too much room for photographic experimentation unfortunately, as the main point is most often to provide a recognizable image of the person.

Studio Photographer

Although studio photographer isn't an exactly a digital photography career job title, rather it encompasses quite a few different types of digital photography careers, and is a broad moniker for this type of photographer.

If your not one for the great outdoors and various weather conditions, then this kind of photography may be just right up your street. Classed as studio photographers are portrait photographers, advertising photographers (in some cases) and some fashion photographers, to name but a few.

Studio photography allows for maximum control of light and conditions, and in that case, many polished photos seen in magazines such as Vogue, esquire and cosmopolitan are often from a photographers studio.

A photographer specializing in one of the many forms of studio photography, can make for a lucrative digital photography career.

Wedding Photographer

Wedding photographers will probably always be in demand, as let's face it, people will continue to get married for the foreseeable future.

This is just one of the many fields of photography that is rarely short of work.

As long as you are prepared to work some weekends, to learn wedding photography can confer professional photographer a substantial income over the years.

If you enjoy interacting with people, this can also be a very helpful trait to possess for this career, as well as some of the other digital photography jobs.

Sports Photographer

Those photographers you see on the sidelines of sporting events with lenses as long as your arm are sports photographers. Sports photography involves standing around for a lengthy period of time, in the hope of getting a sell-able shot, so it definitely helps if your also a sports fan.

Many sports photographers, in fact ,specialize in one kind of sport. This enables them to become well known for a particular branch of sports photography, thus potentially generating more work as a known name.

It should also be said that 'patience is a virtue' if you're planning on becoming a sports photographer.

Whichever digital photography careers you are interested in, make sure you learn more about each one, and remember to learn the basics of photography first, as the basics will always stand you in good stead no matter which you choose.

Find out more about building a successful photography business with Lori Osterberg, a long time photographer, and her 'Photography Business Kit' by clicking here: How to Build a Photography Business From Scratch






From digital photography careers go back to the digital photography tips tutorial home page by clicking here