1. the profession of photography
making a living at something you are
passionate about

2. a working professional
• You will spend 40 – 60 hrs of your week
working at a job
• That is approximately 2600 hrs a year
• Over the course of your lifetime that is
approximately 130,000 hrs
• If you do not draw fulfillment from your
work, it will be difficult to find it elsewhere
• YOU CAN make a very good living at the
things you enjoy doing

3. The US Department of Labor…
• Photographers held about 129,000 jobs in 2004 and
more than ½ were self-employed (much higher than
most occupations)
• Photography jobs are expected to INCREASE 18% 26% THROUGH 2014
• Wages
– Middle 50% between $18k - $37k in 2004
– Highest 10% earned over $54k
• Working Conditions
– Usually a 5-day week, 8hrs a day (on average)
– Self employment gives greater autonomy, freedom of
expression and flexible scheduling

4. photography categories
• Commercial photographers
– Portrait
• wedding, school & studio shoots
– Advertising
• books, magazines & catalogs
• Industrial photographers
– Equipment, machinery, products
– Analysis of engineering & technical information
• Scientific photographers
– Illustrate & record medical field, scientific procedures and/or
scientific phenomena
– Typically incorporate science/engineering with photography

5. photography categories
• News photographers
– Photojournalism
– Newspapers, journals, magazines and/or television
• Fine arts photographers
– Gallery exhibit and expose
– Work sold for:
• Aesthetics, appreciation and/or decoration
• Digital Imaging
– Manipulation of the image
– Originally dark room work done by photo editors
– Now the possibilities are endless…

6. you as a photographer
career project

7. your PITCH…
• Career Projects
– 1: Choose a Photography
Career
• Photography category
• Career prospects
– Stability & future of the
career
– Pros & Cons
– 2: Learn About a
Professional (currently
working)
• Short bio (two to three
sentences)
• Seek out the professional’s
website or blog
• Four Career Slides
– 3: Email your professional
• Contact your professional
via email
• Introduce yourself
• Write a professional letter
• Get information about the
job market
– 4: Samples of
Professional’s Work
• At least 4 (Four) samples of
photographs
• Briefly explain why you:
– RELATE or
– APPRECIATE

8. your PROJECT…
• Ten Slides (One Photo Per)
– A regular digital book (ten professional quality pics)
– Each picture should be part of a portfolio which:
• You would use to get a position in your chosen career OR
• Show off your work completed in this position (pretend you actually
already have this job)
–
–
–
–
All ten pictures should show unity and emphasis
All ten pictures must be related to the career
Use your professional to help guide you
Include your letter with your project and your professional’s
response
– In class we will do a “mock interview and resume”