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CAREERS IN
PHOTOGRAPHY • Advertising If you’re artistic, have an eye for detail and are great with people then a career in photography could be perfect for you. You will get the opportunity to combine creativity and technical knowledge to take perfect shots in a range of fields, including...
• Fashion • Journalism • Publishing • Weddings and events.
HOW MUCH WILL I GET PAID? Salaries will vary depending on your specialism and how often you work. Assistant photographers can earn up to £17,000 a year, while full-time professional photographers can earn anything between £18,000 and £50,000. Many photographers are self-employed and undertake freelance work, in which case your wage would depend on how often you are commissioned for a job, your reputation and how much you choose to charge for your services.
KEY FACTS The photography industry employs around 44,000 people There are around 14,000 photography businesses, almost half of which are self-employed freelancers
94% of these employ less than 50 people Over 20% of workers are educated to degree-level.
HOW CAN I GET INTO THE INDUSTRY? Good technical knowledge of photography will be crucial, and most professional photographers will be trained to degree level, so it will be beneficial to take industryrecognised qualifications, especially if you want to specialise in a certain field. As well as having a high level of ability with a camera it’s also important to be familiar with the latest digital software such as Adobe Photoshop. While studying you can also gain work experience as an assistant photographer, which will be a great way of brushing up your skills and making key industry contacts.