Educational Career Goals: Pathways, Education, and Skills

Wages and Specializations

The occupation I have chosen is to be a photographer. The wages for this occupation In Idaho, photographers earn a median wage of $25,730 per year, from zero to two hundred throughout the years. Photographers need to: communicate, reason and problem solve, manage themselves, people’s time and things, work with people, perceive and visualize. In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state’s graduation requirements. You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school.

This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them.

Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application. Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this occupation include art, art history, drawing & painting, film & videotape, and photography. Many photographers are self-employed. If you want to run your own business someday, you should consider taking these courses as well: Accounting, Entrepreneurship, and Introduction to Business. The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking. You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work. Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you.

Key Skills for Photographers

By participating in activities, you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community. A college or university administrator typically needs to have a high school diploma or equivalent, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, have one to five years of related work experience. College and university administrators manage the business affairs and student services of colleges.

Higher Education and Training Options

College and university administrators perform a range of tasks. Administrators meet with students and faculty to address campus concerns. They make decisions on faculty tenure. Sometimes they meet with members of the local community as a representative of the college. They also coordinate student and faculty events. Administrators have specific duties that vary by job. Presidents and provosts, Presidents and provosts set goals and priorities for a college.

They create budgets and allocate funds to each department. In public schools, they work with state legislatures to get funding and to make sure they are meeting all legal requirements. They make sure buildings are in good shape and receive maintenance when needed. Deans: Deans manage a specific college within a large university, such as the College of Arts and Sciences. Deans also lead graduate schools and supervise student services administrators. Department heads: Department heads are in charge of a specific department, such as math or business. They decide what courses are required to earn a degree in a major and what courses to offer each term. They help determine curriculum and may teach courses. They hire faculty and head their department’s tenure committee. They develop budgets and write reports for top administrators. They may also meet with students because of academic misconduct. Registrars: Registrars maintain and update student records.

They assemble course catalogs and schedules. They register students for classes. Registrars collect fees and tuition. They make sure students have completed all graduation requirements before they earn a degree. Financial aid Admissions administrators: Admissions administrators are in charge of recruiting new students. They determine the criteria to use for selecting new students. They work closely with financial aid administrators to help new students learn about scholarship, loan, and grant programs. Alumni directors: Alumni directors organize and attend functions that are designed to raise funds from the school’s graduates. Athletic directors: Athletic directors manage sports and other recreational programs. Alumni directors organize and attend functions that are designed to raise funds from the school’s graduates. Athletic director Athletic directors manage sports and other recreational programs. Portrait photographers pose their subjects and carefully arrange them to light.

Commercial photographers take pictures of products, scenery, or buildings. Industrial photographers take photos of equipment, products, and workers. News photographers record people, places, and events in the news; fine arts photographers sell their photos as artwork. Scientific photographers may use equipment such as electron microscopes to take photos of tiny items. All photographers have basic tasks in common. They select the camera and equipment that will best meet the needs of the job. Photographers must choose film, lenses, filters, and flash attachments. They set up the camera to frame the subject for the best composition. They arrange the background and lighting to create the desired effect. They also arrange people or objects in the desired position. In studio settings, photographers can control all these elements. When working in the field, they must often make do with the available conditions. Photographers focus the camera and adjust the settings based on lighting, subject matter, distance, and film or shutter speed. Some develop their own film and print photos. Those who work with color film often send it to laboratories for processing.

Photographers who use digital cameras often will process their prints with computer software. They may print photos themselves using photo paper and printers or have them printed elsewhere. Photographers who work for large operations may direct the work of others. Self-employed photographers carry out basic business tasks. For example, they order supplies, keep records and bill clients. Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in the studio or on location. Select and set up camera equipment to frame the subject. Arrange the subject material in the desired position. Compose the background and lighting to create the desired effect. Focus on the camera and adjust settings for light, subject, distance, and film speed. Shoot photos with traditional or digital cameras. Develop the film and print photos. Use scanners to digitize photos for computer use. Enhance and change digital images with special computer software. Review photos to select the best work. Test equipment before use to make sure it is working properly. May use special equipment such as electron microscopes to photograph microscopic items.

Research and develop new photographic techniques and materials. Direct the activities of workers helping with photo sessions. May purchase supplies, keep records, and bill clients, if self-employed. Photographers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many occupations. Think creatively, Use computers, convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions, Get the information needed to do the job, Establish and maintain relationships, Update and use job-related knowledge, Communicate with people outside the organization, Make decisions and solve problems, Perform for or work with the public, Organize, plan, and prioritize work, Perform activities that use the whole body, Develop goals and strategies, Schedule work and activities, Handle and move objects, Perform administrative tasks, Monitor and control resources, Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others, Coordinate the work and activities of others, Document and record information, Inspect equipment, structures, or materials, Judge the value of objects, services, or people, Identify objects, actions, and events, Monitor events, materials, and surroundings, Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates. To work as a photographer, you typically need to: have a high school diploma or equivalent; and complete long-term, on-the-job training.

Building a Portfolio and Gaining Experience

Education after high school News, industrial, and scientific photographers usually have a college degree in journalism or photography. Many universities and colleges offer photography courses. Vocational schools and private trade schools also offer such courses. Bachelor’s degree programs provide a well-rounded education, especially when they include business courses. Art schools offer useful training in design and composition. Work experience you can get experience through summer or part-time jobs at photography studios or camera stores. Look for internships while you are in school. These offer good experience and contacts. Assembling a high-quality portfolio of your work is important. On-the-job training, many photographers learn their skills on the job. You may start as an apprentice or assistant photographer. You learn to set up lights, cameras, and other equipment. You work in the darkroom and spend many months learning and practicing before getting your own assignments.

Depending on the employer and your skills, training may last from a year to a few years. Military training some branches of the military train people to be photographic specialists. Training lasts from seven to 24 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job. Photographers typically have the following interests: Artistic interests. They like work activities that deal with artistic forms, designs, and patterns. They prefer work which allows for self-expression. Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside. Values Photographers typically have the following work values: Consider independence important. They like to make decisions and try out ideas on their own. They prefer jobs where they can plan their work with little supervision.

Outlook and Career Advancement

Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong. Consider achievement important. They like to see the results of their work and use their strongest abilities. They like to get a feeling of accomplishment from their work. About 68% of photographers are self-employed. Major employers: Photographic portrait studio Newspapers and magazines Outlook Demand for this occupation is declining. The decreasing cost of digital cameras and the increasing number of amateur photographers and hobbyists will reduce the need for professional photographers. Stock photographic services give individuals and businesses access to stock photographs for a fee or subscription, decreasing the demand for photographers. The rapid growth of Internet versions of magazines, journals, and newspapers will require commercial photographers to provide digital images.

This will increase the opportunities for self-employment. Strong competition is expected for photographers because there are many qualified applicants for openings ., A photographer typically needs to: have a high school diploma or equivalent and complete long-term, on-the-job training. Working Conditions More information. In a typical work setting, photographers: Have a very high level of social contact. Many photographers work directly with clients or subjects. They may work indoors or outdoors, but they are more likely to work indoors. They must be sure that all details are done and that their work is exact. Errors could result in dissatisfied clients. May work part-time or full-time.

Photography: A Personal Journey

Here is a story of a guy who had an experience In photography and what he did and what changed his life pretty much. Tom Boyd, Photojournalist. “I was inspired by my fourth-grade teacher, who was an avid photographer,’ says photojournalist Tom Boyd. ‘He brought his cameras into the class and had us use photographs for art projects. I was interested in it from then on. “I assisted a commercial photographer, loading film . . . packing the gear, setting up lights. “While still in elementary school, Boyd learned some rudimentary photographic skills from the older students in his 4-H club. ‘I learned how to develop film and all that basic stuff,’ he says. ‘Then, in seventh and eighth grade, I worked on the school newspaper and yearbook. A lot of photographers have actually started that way.

“After high school, Boyd spent four years with the Marines. During that time, he continued taking pictures as a hobby and even found a part-time job printing photos in a small portrait studio off-base. After completing his military service, Boyd decided to become a newspaper photographer because ‘it seemed like a realistic goal. But I found out very quickly that I needed a college degree to do that,’ he says. He used money he’d saved from his service in the Marines to get a degree. ‘I basically strolled into Portland State University without doing any research. I ended up in the Veterans’ Affairs Office, and when I walked out, I was enrolled in college,’ he says. “I’ve always been into the creative process of making images and telling stories with images. “Had they offered a photography or journalism major, I would have done that,’ he says. ‘But they didn’t, so I became a speech communications major. They had a ‘mass communications’ focus within the communications department, so I went after that. But the most important thing I did in college was to work on the daily college newspaper. As long as I was with the paper, I had access to free film and a darkroom, and I could shoot anything I wanted. That was the key because, in this business, it’s all about building your portfolio. “Boyd’s work at the college newspaper allowed him to assemble a portfolio, or collection, of his best photographs. He used his portfolio to land two summer internships with newspapers in nearby towns. ‘I worked all summer for free, essentially,’ he says. ‘But you’ve got to have an internship to get an idea of what the professional world is like. “After college, I had built up my reputation to a degree that I was getting regular freelance work at [the area’s major newspaper]. I also assisted a commercial photographer in loading film into his cameras, packing the gear, setting up lights, and that kind of stuff. It was really key in learning the technical side of photography, like how to choose the right type of film, how to use different camera systems, and how to use lighting to make photos look interesting and professional.

“Boyd spent the next five years as a photographer for a small newspaper. Three years ago, he moved into his current position as a photojournalist for a major daily newspaper in a larger city. He now spends most of his time ‘on assignments,’ taking pictures for stories that his editors want to publish. “Right now, I’m shooting a lot of sports,’ he says. ‘For instance, last Saturday, I took pictures of a high school basketball team on their way to breaking their win streak record. “A good deal of time is also spent processing and scanning the film,’ Boyd adds. After developing his negatives, he chooses the best shots and scans the negatives directly onto a computer. He also writes captions for his pictures. “I’ve always been into the creative process of making images and telling stories with images,’ he says. ‘Some photographers will say they like meeting interesting people, and I like that too, but my favorite part is really making the images. “At this point, my photography skills are so ingrained, it’s like second nature,’ he says. Because some people are unhappy about being photographed, he believes that ‘people skills’ are very helpful. ‘There’s no recipe for how to do it, but sometimes you have to charm people into letting you take their picture. It can be tricky. Their opinion of you could be based on anything from the shoes you’re wearing to your body language.

“Boyd offers some advice to aspiring photographers. “Every job they take, and every decision they make, should be toward their goal,’ he says. ‘They should be completely obsessed with it because if it’s not something they want to do from their very core, they won’t make it. You have to build your career as you go. If you want to be a photojournalist, don’t waste your time working at a fast food restaurant when you could be working at a school paper or a small newspaper. “He explained that he followed after his teacher’s dream. Photographers produce images that paint a picture, tell a story, or record an event. Most photographers specialize in one of several areas. Portrait photographers pose their subjects and carefully arrange them to light. Commercial photographers take pictures of products, scenery, or buildings. Industrial photographers take photos of equipment, products, and workers. News photographers record people, places, and events in the news. Fine arts photographers sell their photos as artwork. Scientific photographers may use equipment such as electron microscopes to take photos of tiny items.

Photography Specializations and Working Conditions

All photographers have basic tasks in common. They select the camera and equipment that will best meet the needs of the job. Photographers must choose film, lenses, filters, and flash attachments. They set up the camera to frame the subject for the best composition. They arrange the background and lighting to create the desired effect. They also arrange people or objects in the desired position. In studio settings, photographers can control all these elements. When working in the field, they must often make do with the available conditions. Photographers focus the camera and adjust the settings based on lighting, subject matter, distance, and film or shutter speed. Some develop their own film and print photos. Those who work with color film often send it to laboratories for processing. Photographers who use digital cameras often will process their prints with computer software. They may print photos themselves using photo paper and printers or have them printed elsewhere.

Conclusion: Capturing Life Through the Lens

Photographers who work for large operations may direct the work of others. Self-employed photographers carry out basic business tasks. For example, they order supplies, keep records and bill clients. Photographers need knowledge in the following areas: Customer and Personal Service: Providing special services to customers based on their needs. Sales and Marketing: The methods for selling products and services. Computers and Electronics: Computer hardware and software. Fine Arts: The methods and concepts needed to create visual, musical, or dramatic arts. English Language: The meaning and use of the English language. Communications and Media: How to produce written, spoken, or visual media. Psychology: People, their actions, and mental processes and how to treat problems. Administration and Management: How to run a business or group. Photographers frequently use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects or controls. It’s important for photographers to be able to see details of objects that are less than a few feet away. See differences between colors, shades, and brightness, and speak clearly, so listeners can understand.

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