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334
Photographers and Camera Operators

(D.O.T.  143)

Nature of the Work

The job of a photographer or camera operator is to accurately or
artistically portray people, places, and events.  Skillful
photographers capture the special feeling or mood that sells
products, highlights news stories, and brings back memories.

   Photographers and camera operators all use the same basic equipment,
a camera.  Camera operators generally use 35- or 16-millimeter
cameras or camcorders to film commercial motion pictures and
documentary or industrial films.  They also make films for
television news, and film private ceremonies and special events.
Some camera operators have begun offering their services to the
general public by recording important events, and renting out their
equipment.

   Photographers use a wide variety of cameras that can accept lenses
designed for close-up, medium-range, or distance photography.  These
cameras also offer adjustments that allow the photographer creative
and technical control over the picture-taking process.  In addition
to cameras and film, photographers and camera operators use an array
of equipment from filters, tripods, and flash attachments to
specially constructed motorized vehicles and special lighting.
Photography increasingly involves the use of computers.
Photographers take the picture, then it is scanned by a computer and
manipulated to create the desired effect.  The images are stored on
a compact disk (CD) in the same way that music is stored on a CD.
Currently, photographers primarily use this technology to create an
electronic portfolio.  However, due to poor image quality and high
cost, this technology has not been widely adopted.

   Taking quality pictures and movies requires technical expertise and
creativity.  For example, photographers and camera operators may
enhance the subject's appearance with lighting or by drawing
attention to a particular aspect by blurring out the background.
Composing a picture includes choosing a subject, presenting a
subject to achieve a particular effect, and selecting equipment to
accomplish the desired goal.  By creatively applying the technical
aspects of light, lens, film, filters, and camera settings,
photographers and camera operators produce pictures that capture a
mood or tell a story.

   Many photographers develop and print their own photographs,
especially photographs requiring special effects, and photographers
may enlarge or otherwise alter the original image.  Most, however,
send their film to laboratories for processing.  This is especially
true for color film, which requires very expensive equipment and
exacting conditions for processing and printing.  (See the statement
on photographic process workers elsewhere in the Handbook.)

   Most photographers specialize in commercial, portrait, or
journalistic photography.  Some specialize in weddings or school
photographs.  Portrait photographers take pictures of individuals or
groups of people and often work in their own studios.  Portrait
photographers who are small-business owners also arrange for
advertising, schedule appointments, set and adjust equipment,
develop and retouch negatives, and mount and frame pictures.  They
also hire and train employees, purchase supplies, keep records, and
bill customers.

   Some self-employed photographers sign with stock photo agencies.
These agencies grant magazines and other customers the rights to an
individual's photographs on a commission basis.  Stock photo
agencies require an application from photographers and a sizable
portfolio.  Once accepted, a large number of new submissions are
required each year.  Photographers frequently have their photos
placed on CD's for this purpose.  Additional photographs can be
added later to the same CD.

   Commercial, editorial, and industrial photographers take pictures of
such subjects as manufactured articles, buildings, livestock, and
groups of people.  Their work is used in reports, advertisements,
and catalogs.  Industrial photographers take photographs or
videotapes for use in analyzing engineering projects, for publicity,
or as records of equipment and processes.  Automobile manufacturers
hire photographers every year to show off their new models.
Companies use photographs in publications to report to stockholders
or to advertise company products or services.  This work frequently
is done on-site.

   Scientific photographers provide illustrations and documentation for
scientific publications, research reports, and textbooks.  They
usually specialize in fields such as engineering, medicine, biology,
or chemistry.  Some use photographic or video equipment for use as a
research tool.  For example, biomedical photographers use
photomicrography, photographs of small objects magnified many times
to obtain information not visible under normal conditions, and time-lapse
photography, where time is stretched or condensed.  Biomedical
photographers also take photographs of medical procedures such as
surgery.

   Photojournalists photograph newsworthy events, places, people, and
things for publications in newspapers, journals, and magazines.

   Photography also is an art medium.  Some photographers sell their
photographs as artwork, placing even greater emphasis on
self-expression and creativity, in addition to technical
proficiency.  Unlike other specializations, however, very few
photographers are successful enough to support themselves through
this specialty.

   Some camera operators work for local, network, and cable television
stations.  They cover news events as part of a reporting team.  They
also may capture and transmit live pictures to the television
audience.

   Camera operators employed in the entertainment field use motion
picture cameras to film movies or electronically record movies,
television programs, and commercials.  Some camera operators
specialize in filming cartoons or other optical effects for
television and movies.


Working Conditions

Working conditions for photographers and camera operators vary
considerably.  Photographers in government, commercial studios, and
advertising agencies usually work a 5-day, 35- to 40-hour week.
Newspaper photographers and camera operators may work long and
irregular hours and must be available on short notice.

   Photographers and camera operators frequently work outdoors.

   Self-employment allows for a good deal of autonomy, flexible
scheduling, and the possibility of working from one's own home.
However, the continuing need to find new clients can be time
consuming and stressful.  Some photographers hire an assistant
solely for this responsibility.

   Portrait photographers often work in their own studios but may
travel locally to take photographs in churches, synagogues, and
homes.  Press and commercial photographers and camera operators may
frequently travel locally or overnight; some travel to distant
places for long periods of time.  Their work may put them in
uncomfortable or even dangerous surroundings.  This is especially
true for photojournalists assigned to cover natural disasters or
military conflicts.

   Photographers and camera operators may work long hours in a cramped
and smelly darkroom or stand and walk for long periods while
carrying heavy equipment.  Also, photographers often work under
severe time restrictions to meet deadlines and satisfy customers.

Employment

Photographers and camera operators held about 118,000 jobs in 1992.
About 4 out of 10 were self-employed, a much higher proportion than
the average for all occupations.  Some photographers contract with
advertising agencies, magazines, or others to do individual
projects, while others operate portrait studios or provide
photographs to stock photo agencies.

   Most salaried photographers work in portrait or commercial
photography studios.  Others are with newspapers, magazines,
advertising agencies, and government agencies.  Most camera
operators are employed in television broadcasting or in motion
picture studios; few are self-employed.  Most photographers and
camera operators work in metropolitan areas.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

There is no one best way to enter the occupation.  Determination
often is as much the key to success as are creativity, skill, and
formal preparation.  Students should subscribe to photographic
newsletters and magazines, join camera clubs, and find work in
camera stores or photo studios.  Individuals also should decide on
an area of interest and specialize in it.  Completing an internship,
through summer or part-time work, for a newspaper or magazine is an
excellent way to gain experience and eventually entry to this field.

   Many entry level jobs require little formal preparation in
photography.  However, entry level positions in photojournalism and
in scientific or technical photography are likely to require a
college degree in photography with courses in the scientific field
being photographed biology or botany, for example.

   Employers usually seek applicants having a technical understanding
of photography and certain personal traits, including imagination,
creativity, and reliability.  Business skills are essential for
photographers planning on opening their own studio courses in
accounting and marketing are recommended.  Technical expertise can
be obtained through practical experience and postsecondary
education.

   Camera operators generally acquire their skills through on-the-job
training.  Photography and cinematography assistants may set up
lights and cameras or help a photographer take pictures.  They also
may receive routine assignments requiring few camera adjustments or
decisions on what subject matter to photograph.  With experience,
they may advance to more demanding assignments.  Photography
assistants may learn to mix chemicals, develop film, and print
photographs, and can learn the skills vital to running their own
business.

   Many aspiring photographers who wish to open their own studios
believe that talent alone will insure success.  However, all
professional photographers have talent, and success requires, in
addition, the skills necessary to run a business.  They must know
how to bid for and write contracts, hire and direct models, acquire
permission to use photographs of people, price photographs, and keep
financial records.  Some self-employed photographers attempt to
enter the field by submitting unsolicited photographs to magazines
with the hope of eventually contracting with them to shoot
photographs for articles.

   Universities, community and junior colleges, vocational-technical
institutes, and private trade and technical schools offer courses in
photography, often as part of a communications or journalism
program.  There are relatively few courses in cinematography.  Most
schools do not offer degrees in photography or cinematography.

   Basic courses in photography cover equipment, processes, and
techniques.  Bachelor's degree programs provide a well-rounded
education, including business courses.  Art schools offer useful
training in design and composition, but may be weak in the technical
aspects of photography.

   Photographers and camera operators need good eyesight, artistic
ability, and manual dexterity.  They should be patient, accurate,
and enjoy working with detail.  They also should be able to work
alone and with others, as photographers frequently deal with
clients, graphic designers, and visual information specialists.
Knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry is helpful for
understanding the workings of lenses, films, light sources, and
developing processes.  News photographers must be decisive in
recognizing a potentially good photograph and acting quickly to have
it published.

   Commercial photographers must be imaginative and original.  Portrait
photgraphers need the ability to help people relax in front of the
camera.  Photojournalists must not only be good with a camera but
also understand the story behind an event so that their pictures
match the story.  This requires journalistic skills and explains why
employers increasingly look for individuals with a 4-year degree in
photojournalism or journalism with an emphasis on photography.

   Camera operators can become directors of photography for movie
studios and television programs.  Magazine and news photographers
may head up graphic arts departments or become photography editors.
Photographers and camera operators may become teachers and provide
instruction in their own area of expertise.

Job Outlook

Photography, particularly commercial photography and
photojournalism, is a highly competitive field.  There are more
people who want to be photographers than there is work to support
them.  Only the most skilled and those with the best business
ability are able to find salaried positions or attract enough work
to support themselves as self-employed photographers.  Some become
weekenders, individuals with full-time jobs in other fields who take
photographs of weddings and other special events on weekends.

   Employment of photographers is expected to grow about as fast as the
average for all occupations through the year 2005.  Many additional
job openings will arise as workers transfer to other occupations or
stop working.  The growing use of visual images in education,
communication, entertainment, marketing, research and development,
and other areas should spur demand for photographers.  Demand for
portrait photographers should increase as the population grows.
Digital cameras, which use electronic memory rather than a film
negative to record the image, are now available.  However, these
cameras are much more expensive than conventional cameras, and are
not capable of producing an equally good image.  As the technology
improves and the price declines, however, these cameras may be more
widely used, increasing demand for commercial photographers in
particular.

   Employment of camera operators also is expected to grow about as
fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005, with
businesses making greater use of videos for training films, business
meetings, sales campaigns, and public relations work.  Expansion of
the entertainment industry will create additional openings, but
competition will be keen for what generally is regarded as an
exciting field.

Earnings

The median annual earnings for salaried photographers and camera
operators who worked full time were about $21,200 in 1992.  The
middle 50 percent earned between $16,500 and $35,600.  The top 10
percent earned more than $49,200, while the lowest 10 percent earned
less than $12,300.

   Photographers in the Federal Government averaged $33,000 a year in
1992.

   Some self-employed photographers earn more than salaried workers,
but many do not.  Their earnings are affected by the number of hours
worked, their skills, their marketing ability, and general business
conditions.

   Unlike photojournalists and commercial photographers, very few
artistic photographers are successful enough to support themselves
solely through this specialty.

Related Occupations

Other jobs requiring visual arts talents include illustrators,
designers, painters, sculptors, and editors.

Sources of Additional Information

   Career information on photography is available from:

   Professional Photographers of America, Inc., 1090 Executive Way, Des
Plaines, IL 60018.

   For a list of self-help technical publications on photography and
photographic processing, write to:

   Eastman Kodak, Kodak Information Center, Department 841, 343 State
St., Rochester, NY 14650.

   For a publication listing places to sell your photographs and
instructions on how to do it, write to:

   F&W Publications, 1507 Dana Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45207.

   For a publication describing standard business practices for
commercial and stock photographers, write to:

   American Society of Media Photographers, Suite 502-14, Washington
Rd., Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.

   Lists of colleges and universities offering courses or a degree in
photography may be found in directories of college programs,
available in guidance offices, libraries, and large bookstores.