Photographers

Description

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects, using digital or film cameras and equipment. May develop negatives or use computer software to produce finished images and prints. Includes scientific photographers, aerial photographers, and photojournalists.

Tasks

Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
Scan photographs into computers for editing, storage, and electronic transmission.
Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.
Review sets of photographs to select the best work.
Estimate or measure light levels, distances, and numbers of exposures needed, using measuring devices and formulas.
Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
Perform general office duties such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and ordering supplies.
Determine project goals, locations, and equipment needs by studying assignments and consulting with clients or advertising staff.
Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to subjects, materials, and conditions.
Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.
Set up, mount, or install photographic equipment and cameras.
Develop and print exposed film, using chemicals, touchup tools, and developing and printing equipment, or send film to photofinishing laboratories for processing.
Produce computer-readable, digital images from film, using flatbed scanners and photofinishing laboratories.
Direct activities of workers who are setting up photographic equipment.
Employ a variety of specialized photographic materials and techniques, including infrared and ultraviolet films, macro photography, photogrammetry and sensitometry.
Engage in research to develop new photographic procedures and materials.
Set up photographic exhibitions for the purpose of displaying and selling work.
Load and unload film.
Develop visual aids and charts for use in lectures or to present evidence in court.
License the use of photographs through stock photo agencies.
Mount, frame, laminate, or lacquer finished photographs.
Photograph legal evidence at crime scenes, in hospitals, or in forensic laboratories.

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Abilities

Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Work Activities

Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Work Context

Contact With Others: How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Public Speaking: How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?
Consequence of Error: How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
Time Pressure: How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment: How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
Level of Competition: To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
Frequency of Decision Making: How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results: How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?

Interests

Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Style

Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Self Control: Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance: Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Concern for Others: Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Work Values

Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Related Occupations

Set and Exhibit Designers

Sound Engineering Technicians

Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Motion Picture

Film and Video Editors

Lay Titles

Advertising Photographer

Aerial Photographer

Apprentice Photographer

Biological Photographer

Biomedical Photographer

Cameraman

Commercial Photographer

Crime Scene Photographer

Digital Photographer

Finish Photographer

Food Photographer

Forensic Photographer

Freelance Photographer

Industrial Photographer

Marine Photographer

Medical Photographer

News Photographer

Newspaper Photographer

Newspaper Photojournalist

Ophthalmic Photographer

Photo Editor

Photo Journalist

Photo-Optics Technician

Photographer

Photographer Assistant

Photographic Specialist

Photojournalist

Portrait Photographer

School Photographer

Scientific Photographer

Sports Photographer

Still Photographer

Street Photographer

Studio Photographer

Wedding Photographer

Wild Life Photographer

Wildlife Photographer

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $13.7 hourly, $28,490 annual.

Employment (2008):: 56,140 employees