Photographer

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Overview

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Requirements

92% Match

Career Spectrum

Resources

Overview

Description
Photographers capture subjects in commercial quality photographs using photographic
techniques and specialized equipment. They use photo enhancing software or editors to
remove blemishes and format their pictures. They usually keep records of their works to
showcase on portfolios or websites . Photographers that work for commercial clients are
expected to communicate with said client and provide various services such as: framing
and keep billing records .
Sample Job Titles: Photojournalist, Portrait Photographer, Sports Photographer

Provincial Outlook

Estimated Salary

Not Available

$21,284 - $74,015

Learn More

Learn More

Education Level
Secondary School
On-the-job Training
College/Apprenticeship

Compatibility

92%
Match

Related Occupations

Engraver

University

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Workplace

Work Environment
The work environment for photographers can vary considerably, depending on their
specialty.
Portrait photographers may work in studios, but they also often travel to take photographs
at a clients location, such as a school, a company office, or a private home.
News and commercial photographers may travel locally or internationally. News
photographers often work long, irregular hours in uncomfortable or even dangerous
surroundings and must be available to work on short notice. For example, a news
photographer may be sent to a war zone to capture images.
Aerial photographers often work in planes or helicopters. Most photographers stand or
walk for long periods while carrying heavy equipment.

Main Duties

Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.

Perform general office duties such as scheduling appointments, keeping books, and
ordering supplies.
Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using
computers and specialized software.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Adjust camera settings based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field depth,
subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects,
equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
Select and assemble equipment and required background properties, according to
subjects, materials, and conditions.
Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.
Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment such as tripods,
filters, and flash attachments.

Important Skills

Artistic ability. Photographers capture their subjects in images, and they must be able
to evaluate the artistic quality of a photograph. Photographers need "a good eye"the
ability to use colours, shadows, shades, light, and distance to compose good
photographs.
Business skills. Photographers must be able to plan marketing strategies, reach out to
prospective clients, and anticipate seasonal employment.
Computer skills. Most photographers do their own postproduction work and must be
familiar with photo editing software. They also use computers to keep a digital

portfolio and communicate with clients.

Customer-service skills. Photographers must be able to understand the needs of their
clients and propose solutions.
Detail oriented. Photographers who do their own postproduction work must be
careful not to overlook details and must be thorough when editing photographs. In
addition, photographers accumulate many photographs and must maintain them in
an orderly fashion.
Interpersonal skills. Photographers often photograph people. They must communicate
effectively to achieve a certain composition in a photograph.

Career Cluster

This cluster includes the elements of design, production,

exhibition, performance, writing, and publication of
multimedia content such as visual arts. This cluster also
includes the performing arts and design, journalism, and

Arts, Audio/Video

entertainment services.

Technology and
Communications

Outlook

Job Outlook

Alberta

Not Available

British Columbia

Not Available

Manitoba

Not Available

New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Nova Scotia
Northwest Territories

Not Available

Nunavut

Not Available

Ontario
Prince Edward Island

Not Available

Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Not Available

Job Outlook based on NOC 5221 (Photographers)

View Regional Data

Salary Ranges

Canada

$21,388 - $85,283

Alberta

$21,284 - $74,015

British Columbia

$21,388 - $56,528

Manitoba

$22,327 - $55,944

New Brunswick

Not Available

Newfoundland and Labrador

Not Available

Nova Scotia

$22,119 - $73,660

Northwest Territories

Not Available

Nunavut

Not Available

Ontario

$22,953 - $156,501

Prince Edward Island

Not Available

Quebec

$22,014 - $46,783

Saskatchewan

$21,284 - $54,212

Yukon

Not Available

Salary Ranges are based on hourly rates for NOC 5221 (Photographers) and an estimated 2086 hours per year

View Regional Data

Employment Growth

2012

49,947

2013

50,716

2014

51,330

2015

51,916

2016

52,417

2017

52,786

2018

53,147

2019

53,517

2020

53,757

2021

54,038

2022

54,341

Employment Growth based on Stats Canada Occupation Group 522

Requirements

Education Level

Secondary School

On-the-job Training

College/Apprenticeship

University

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in visual arts with specialization in photography or completion of

specialized training in photography in high school, college or specialized training
schools or extensive on-the-job training under the supervision of a photographer is
required.
Experience in, or knowledge of computerized photography or digital imaging may be
required.

Creative and technical ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are required.

Subject Areas

Creative Arts

English

Languages

Related Programs

Film Production

Digital Photography

University of British

New Brunswick Community

Bachelor of Design in
Visual Communication

Columbia

College

Capilano University

Career Spectrum

Interests

Your Interest Type is

This occupation is a

THE DEVELOPER (RE)

GOOD MATCH

Match Results

Your Results

Realistic

Occupation Results

Enterprising
81%

79%

61%

39%

Artistic

Conventional
77%

77%

83%

6%

Social

Investigative
75%

69%

22%

17%

Knowledge

Your top subject area is

This occupation is

ENGLISH

NOT A MATCH

Match Results

Your Results

English

Occupation Results

Technical & Trades

94%

89%

18%

27%

Social Science

Physical Education
89%

89%

26%

12%

Science

Creative Arts
89%

83%

11%

55%

Computers

Languages
83%

83%

37%

25%

Business

Mathematics
78%

72%

44%

31%

Motivations

Your top motivation factor is

This occupation is a

RELATIONSHIPS

GOOD MATCH

Match Results

Your Results

Relationships

Occupation Results

Independence
81%

72%

61%

67%

Working Conditions

Recognition
61%

50%

42%

45%

Support

Achievement
44%

42%

28%

56%

Compatibility
Test equipment prior to use to ensure that it is in good working order.

Definitely

Perform general office duties such as scheduling appointments, keeping books,

and ordering supplies.

Somewhat

Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic

transmission.

Somewhat

Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects,

using computers and specialized software.

Definitely

Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.

Definitely

Adjust camera settings based on a combination of factors such as lighting, field

depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.

Definitely

Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting

subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.

Definitely

Select and assemble equipment and required background properties,

according to subjects, materials, and conditions.

Definitely

Perform maintenance tasks necessary to keep equipment working properly.

Definitely

Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment such as

tripods, filters, and flash attachments.

Definitely

Resources

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