Photography Jobs Key Terms

Understanding careers in photography

A career in photography can be fun and rewarding, as you use your creative nature and eye for a story to create a legacy through images. There are several ways you can use your photographic eye to impact the world, and this article explains a few of those career choices. Understand that your photography career can reach across many of these opportunities; you don't have to settle for just one.

 

Portrait

A portrait photographer is what most people first think of when they think photography. In this position, you take pictures of individuals or groups in an effort to capture who they are through the lens. Portrait photographers can specialize in one type of photo (weddings, senior portraits, families, children) or cover a broad range. Most portrait photographers maintain their own studio or business.
Try: The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics provides more information on photography jobs, including portrait photography. For examples of portrait photography, look at work done by Ann Geddes.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism is the art of telling a story through pictures. Most photojournalists work for newspapers, magazines and books, providing the photographs that accompany the text. Some media outlets devote an entire publication to the images from photojournalists, such as in remembrance of an event like 9-11.
Try: Professional photojournalist Nancy L. Ford explains the responsibilities of the job. Professional photographer Rosh Sillars discusses the job in his New Media Photographer blog.

Fashion

Fashion photography is an industry where the photographs focus on displaying current fashion trends in clothing, hair styles, accessories and the like. Most fashion photographers see their work published in magazines or advertisements. While some may view fashion photography as similar to portraiture, the style is very different.
Try: Visit Fashion Net for information on how to get started as a fashion photographer. Richard Warren, a well-known New York fashion photographer, has examples of the style in his portfolio.

Commercial

Commercial photography, also known as industrial photography, focuses on providing images for advertising purposes, specifically architecture, products and food, to name a few. While commercial photographers may use models in the image, they are not the focal point.
Try: Degree Source explains commercial photography in more detail. View the Dion & Company portfolio for examples of commercial photography.

Medical

Medical, or biomedical, photographers take pictures of a scientific nature, including medical procedures, tests, microscopic images and other exposures necessary for the advancement of health sciences.
Try: For more details on a medical photography job, visit the Wisconsin AHEC Health Careers Information Center. Examples of medical photographs are available at Oregon Health & Science University.

Editor

A photo editor refers to one of two things. First, the photo editor may be the person in charge of photography for a publication, such as a magazine or newspaper. This photo editor discusses assignments with photographers and picks the images used in the publication, among other tasks. Another type of photo editor, sometimes known as a Photoshop artist,is an individual who works for a photography studio and edits the images taken by the photographer for the client's review.
Try: Nancy L. Ford explains the role of a photo editor for a publication. A Digital Dreamer explains the role of a Photoshop artist in more detail. Read A Photo Editor, written by Rob Haggart, former director of photography for Men's Journal and Outside Magazine.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---