Media and Communication Equipment Workers

How to become a Photographer

Official title: Photographers

Also called: Advertising Photographer, Commercial Photographer, Graduation Photographer, Newspaper Photographer, Photo Editor, Photographer, Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer, Sports Photographer, Studio Photographer

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

Main tasks

Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.

How to become one

Photographers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation. Many photographers take classes or earn a certificate or degree in photography or a related field to improve their skills.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Photographer, Still.
College: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 35 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $44,660 a year The middle half earn $36,050 to $62,740.
About 145,000 people work in this job now, and about 144,000 are projected by 2035. (-0.7%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Photographer?

Photographers typically need a high school diploma to enter the occupation. Many photographers take classes or earn a certificate or degree in photography or a related field to improve their skills.

How much does a Photographer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $44,660 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $36,050 to $62,740.

Is a Photographer a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 145,000 people now and 144,000 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Photographer?

Not always. 54% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Arts & Humanities degrees; Photographer, Still.

Will AI change the work of a Photographer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.