A career in digital photography can be very satisfying and rewarding for the people who have a passion for this dimension of visual arts. A digital photographer is like a conventional commercial photographer working with digital media and their function remains largely the same. Photographers cover important news, sports, show business, fashion and social events, apart from creating promotional commercial and independent art.
Pursuing a Career in Digital Photography
If you have been already working with a camera and you feel that you can create some remarkable results, then you could even think about becoming a professional photographer. You can pursue a career in digital photography by either joining an organization such as a publication or working as a freelance photographer.
As a professional photographer, you would need to work with top-notch equipment, or at least with excellent photography skills, good hand-eye coordination and a lot of practice, so that you can be sure that you can capture the perfect shot on the spur of the moment. The job could involve a lot of traveling and scheduling freedom. You could start assisting an experienced photographer to develop industry contracts and to grow yourself as a professional photographer yourself.
Digital Photography Career: Qualification, Courses, Training
Unless you are already an established photographer, you would require a college degree in photography before you can enter the industry. You would need to build a portfolio of your images to introduce your skills to potential employers, especially if you are an entry-level freelance photographer as you would have to prove your proficiency. You could take a number of training courses in art schools to add a qualification to your profile.
Digital Photography Career: Schools, Colleges, Universities
The following are among the best photography schools in the United States.
- Yale University, New Haven, CT
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
- California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
- San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Digital Photography Career: Job Opportunities, Salaries and Recruitment
On average, digital photographers can earn around $26,000 per year, with the top 10% earning more than $62,430 and lowest 10% earning less than $16,920. However, the salary largely depends on the personal profile, the organization and experience. A highly competitive field of work, it is expected to grow at a considerable rate of 12% in the period from 2008 to 2018.