What they do
While there may not really be a "typical" day in a photography job, photographers often find themselves performing the following kinds of tasks:
- Analyze and decide how to compose a subject
- Use various photographic techniques and equipment
- Capture subjects in commercial-quality photographs
- Use photo enhancing software
- Maintain a digital portfolio, often on a website, to demonstrate work
- Marketing and networking to find new clients
- Preparing for photo shoots
Where they work
Professional photographers take pictures of people, events, places and objects. The majority work in general practice, which involves work such as taking pictures of weddings and family portraits. Others include:
- Advertising - working on commission from advertising agencies, magazines and design groups
- Fashion - can be studio based or on location, possibly abroad
- Editorial - involves taking pictures to illustrate articles, often in magazines
- Newspapers - working for either the local or national press
- Medical - experiments and post-mortems
- Scientific and technical - involves taking pictures for government departments and research institutes
- Industrial and commercial - involves recording industrial processes, machinery and buildings
- Police/ forensic - photographers crime or traffic accidents
Unit 14: Interview Techniques for Creative Media Production