- Job Description: Take pictures of various subjects, products, and other images for promotional materials, possibly ending up on a billboard, product packaging, or television/ magazine commercials.
- Necessary Skills: Must know how to work a digital camera, use photoshop or other programs on the computer, and/or know how to process film from a camera.
- Educational/Skill Requirements: May be useful to earn a degree in photography or fine arts, but not necessary. Many photographers learn the necessary skills under apprenticeship of professionals.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast the number of photography jobs to rise 12% between 2008 and 2018, faster than average.
- Employment: Most photographers are freelance, jumping company to company for a piece of art. Some creative firms, however, hire photographers permanently.
- Salary: The starting average photographer was about $35,980 annually.
- Prerequisite Jobs?: Being an apprentice photographer before/during/after college would be a good way to gain experience. It would also give you time to make a detailed portfolio needed to land an advertising photographer position.
- Skills: Must know how to work Adobe Illustrator or something like that. Also, a good eye and opinion for judging works.
- Education: Must have some background in computer or graphic design in high school. Must have one year of editing or design experience. Must have a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design.
- Salary: About $60,000 a year on average.
Art Director:
- Description: Supervisors and critique the visual appearance so that it meets the clients' needs.
- Skills: Must be skilled with communicating effectively with people, and use the computer well.
- Education: Must have experience with computers. Need at least a B.S. in graphic design or advertising.
- Salary: $35,000 to about $83,000 per year.
- Description: Oversees the design of the project, stay in track with deadlines, and meets the demands. Oversees the WHOLE department.
- Skills: Must be able to organize well, communicate well, and be good in management.
- Education: A degree in Fine Arts or Graphic Design and some years of management experience.
- Salary: Up to $50,000 to $150,000 a year.
- Description: Creates images from printed material develops from books to greeting cards,
- Skills: Must have a creative mind and good with computers.
- Education: A B.S. in Fine Arts.
- Salary: At least $55,000.
- Description: Responsible for creating web pages for companies and firms.
- Skills: Must have good judgement in organization, good with computers, good verbal skills, and creativity is also an important key.
- Education: Just know how to use HTML extensions and other programs. 4 or 2 year degree in something related to web design.
- Salary: Up to $74,000.
- Description: Create InDesign products to be used on packaging on products, like Coke or Cheez-Itz
- Skills: Creativity and communicating well.
- Education: Must have a B.S. in Graphic Design, etc.
- Salary: $40 to $80 grand a year.
- Description: Use graphics or on-computer drawings to make small cartoons in a certain way to tell a story.
- Skills: Keep up with current trends
- Education: N/A
- Salary: Up to $75,000 if you work hard and are very good at your job.
- Description: Communicate visually and create ads for companies.
- Skills: Creative and able to communicate well.
- Education: B.S. Graphic Design
- Salary: Average is $60,000
- Description: Creates designs for magazine covers and pages.
- Skills: Must show strong knowledge of graphics and page layouts.
- Education: B.S. in something graphics related.
- Salary: Average $48,000.
- Description: Create storyboards and ideas for movies or videos. Also includes angles of vision for characters.
- Skills: Must be able to adapt work, work with director's ideas and visualize, and good drawing skills/ graphic design. Must have the ability to think cinematically
- Education: B.S. in Fine Arts
- Salary: Starting salary is $35,000.
- Description: American Institute of Graphic Arts. Their job is to inspire and support graphic design. Also legal (copyright) and moral help for involved graphic design.
- Description: The Society of Publication Designers. Promotes and encourages editorial design. They offer internships and education for their members to partake in helps them become better designers.
- Description: Hired to take photographs for clients in a creative way so the audience doesn't focus on the background, but the subject.
- Skills: Develop pictures, creative, and use a camera well.
- Education: B.S. of Arts and Photography.
- Salary: Up to $46,000.
Computer Animator:
- Description: Works with computers to make the ideas come to life.
- Skills: Artistic ability and must be familiar with animation programs
- Education: Any degree involving in computers and/or graphic design.
- Salary: $61,000 average annual salary
PIAG:
- Description: (Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia). Educate the public about the importance of print, to act as a catalyst for growth or the printing and imaging industry, and to strengthen and support members through education and business resources.
Documentary Photographer:
- Description: Capture pictures (non-poised) of historical events that are happening.
- Skills: Knowledge of photography and how to use graphic design programs. Must have experience! Also a passion for current events and history, and must be adaptable.
- Education: B.S. Photo-Journalism .
- Salary: Starts with $39,000.
Editorial Photography:
- Description: Take pictures for magazines, from cover page to article pictures.
- Skills: Need to know how to use a digital camera, use Photoshop, and Illustrator.
- Education: B.S. in Photography or Fine Arts
- Salary: Up to $61,000 a year.
Fashion Photographer:
- Description: Take pictures of fashion items or models.
- Skills: Photographers, good communicating skills, and know how to use programs.
- Education: A.S. or B.S. in Photography.
- Salary: Up to $100,000 or higher.
Photo-Journalist:
- Description: Take pictures that tell stories and compliment news articles.
- Skills: Photography and technology/computer skills to edit and perfect the image(s).
- Education: A degree in Photography or something related.
- Salary: $25,000 to $60,000 a year.
Sports Photographer:
- Description: Take pictures involving sports and sporting events.
- Skills: Must know how to work a camera in various lighting and speeds.
- Education: B.S. in Photography or something related.
- Salary: Up to $45,000.
PPA:
- Description: (Professional Photographers of America). Represents photographers and is the largest non-profit association. Provides art shows, education, and possible jobs for photographers.
APA:
- Description: (American Photographic Artists). Provide education for photographers to do hands on learning. They want to expose advertising and image makers to the advertising industry. They also hold contests for amateur and master photographers.
NAPP:
- Description: (National Association for Photographic Users). They prep members' art for print, editing; provides educational and business opportunities.
NPPA:
- Description: (National Press Photographer's Association). Represents and protects photos and other prints for editorial photographers and photo-journalists.
Copyrighter:
- Description: Write the text for posters, brochures, etc.
- Skills: Must have good writing skills, clever thinking, and creative.
- Education: B.S. in Journalism or something English related.
- Salary: Can be a freelancer or work for a company, so salaries vary too much to really tell. Around $75 to $100 an hour for copyrighters working for a specific company.
Freelancer:
- Description: You work for yourself. You are in charge of everything from banking to clients.
- Skills: Creative, good with pressure, use all the programs by yourself, and good with people.
- Education: B.S. in Graphic Design to insure good work for your clients.
- Salary: Whatever your skill level, experience, and amount of clients and how much your clients are willing to pay.
GAG:
- Description: (Graphic Art Guide) Want to promote graphic design and they represent all graphic design workers who are members of the GAG.
