Professional photographers take pictures using film or digital technology for media outlets, portraits, commercial and fine art photography. They may work in risky environments and must understand editing software and have a portfolio.
Professional photographers capture images on camera, using traditional film or digital technology. They might work for a newspaper or other media outlet, photograph news events, or work in a portrait studio photographing people. Some professional photographers take commercial photographs, such as advertisement shots, while others are more artistic and take fine art shots. After the photograph is taken, photographers spend time developing and editing it.
A professional photographer working for a media outlet such as a newspaper can take pictures of anything from a local car accident to a war in a faraway country. Being a news photographer or photojournalist can be risky as the photographer may be sent to unstable and dangerous areas or to photograph volatile events. Professional photographers working in media or news may not work a regular 40-hour week. Instead, they can be on standby whenever a noteworthy event occurs.
Some professional photographers specialize in taking portraits of people, either on location or in a studio. A portrait photographer might take pictures of students for a school yearbook or might be hired to take pictures at a wedding. Many portrait photographers also run their own studio and have to deal with the business side such as advertising, paying taxes and working with employees.
Commercial photographers can work in a variety of industries. They might take photographs of models for fashion catalogs or photos of food for menus. Professional photographers working in a commercial industry are usually responsible for taking pictures for print advertisements as well. They may also take professional photographs for use in a company’s brochure.
Photographers can also specialize in taking fine art photos. Being a fine art photographer requires creativity and skill when using a camera. Most fine art photographers sell their work to art buyers as individual prints. Some may have presentations in galleries or museums. It can be more difficult to make a living as a fine art photographer than as a photojournalist, portrait or commercial photographer.
In addition to being able to use a camera, professional photographers need to understand how to use editing software if using digital film or how to develop traditional photographic film. Part of working as a professional photographer is putting together past work in a portfolio to show potential employers or clients. Many photographers have their portfolios published on their websites, while some may have physical copies of their portfolio.
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