Careers and Trends in Photography for 2024: An Overview

Photography by definition is the application and practice of creating images, incorporating light — chemically, naturally or electronically. Photography derived from greek words, et literatim, means ‘drawing with light’. This art of creating images with light has been around for aeons and has evolved. In the current context, photography has smoothed the way for a lot of opportunities, widening the scope for pursuing lucrative careers in the industry. This article is a deep dive into the world of photography and its career scope.

Careers in Photography

- Commercial Photographer

A professional commercial photographer captures images of specific products and/or offering or receiving services. In commercial photography, the photographer aims to enhance the best quality of a client’s or company’s products and services. These images are used for branding and marketing requirements. A commercial photographer earns from Rs. 5 lakh and goes up to Rs. 15–20 lakhs.

- Photojournalist

Photojournalists are also known as news photographers and they work with news publications, media houses and digital news platforms. These professional photographers can work on various news beats such as sports, science, fashion, entertainment, technology, automobiles, travel, food etc. News when accompanied with images have more impact with people and is an effective form of news reporting.

- Scientific Photographer

Scientific photography is photographing experiments, scientific data, research and samples for analysis. Although this may seem similar to nature photography, scientific photography is more inclined to capturing images to be used for scientific studies and examination; mostly for applied sciences like medicine and engineering, also for botany, microbiology, particle physics, zoology and much more.

- Portrait Photographer

Picture day at school and work, photos for your passport and documentation, headshots and mugshots are all captured by a professional portrait photographer. These professionals work either at studios or at other locations based on appointments. They work on lighting and background setting based on the image’s requirements and produce images of various sizes for documentation needs. Portrait photography can go beyond formal conditions. This can be family portraits, pictures of your children, portrait photos for birthdays and weddings etc.

- Photoeditor

As the word sounds, a photo editor administers editing and is also the lead for a team of photographers. They oversee location permissions, shoot set up, coordinate with and guide photographers regarding the requirements of the photoshoot. They set the tone for the end result of the images with basic edits, colour correction, white balance and more.

- Freelance Photographer

You are an aspiring photographer and you are looking forward to working in multiple industries without limiting yourself to one. Freelance photography lets you pursue this desire. A Freelance photographer works on need-basis or contracts and are mostly self-employed; they do not solely work for any company, studio or organization. Freelancers get to work in different sectors and gain experience with various kinds of photography. Although sources of income may seem unsteady or active, with the right guidance and projects, you can maintain a lucrative career as a freelancer.

- Wedding Photographer

Everyone wants their dream wedding to have picture perfect moments. A wedding photographer ensures that your dream comes true. Although wedding photography requires planning or coordination, unlike other types of photography, a wedding photographer must be spontaneous amidst busyness. Today, wedding photographers incorporate new techniques in their craft such as drone shots, aerial shots etc.

- Travel Photographer

Doesn’t it sound fun to be paid to travel everywhere and take pictures while you are at it? This is exactly what a travel photographer does. Capturing images of culture, traditions, people and places; Travel photographers work with agencies and travel publications. You get to try different styles and techniques in photography to give people a view of the world. Travel photographers earn Rs. 4 lakh to 6 lakh per annum.

- Wildlife Photographer

Life in the wilderness is fascinating and intriguing. Capturing this life without compromising its true essence is indeed an art. Wildlife photographers are professional photographers who photograph animals and their life in the great outdoors. This requires closely monitoring and capturing movements of animals, their patterns and survival. Oftentimes, this is a risky profession; the photographer must be equipped and should have the skills to tackle things in the wild to protect themselves and be mindful of the wildlife.

Trends in Photography

Storytelling and Forming Narratives

Photographs put together are beyond mere images of objects, people or places. Every image has a story to say. Mastering the perfect lighting, the perfect camera angle and the perfect time gets better with an effective story to tell. You can convey a lot of powerful meanings through an image series. Photography is also used as a means to propagate the importance of social justice and revolution.

Inter-Disciplinary Techniques and Approaches

The field of photography now transcends across other industries. It is not limited to media, art and entertainment. Pathways such as corporate photography, astrophotography (capturing the outer space), travel photography, architectural photography and much more are horizons that students can explore. This helps photography aspirants learn photography while learning the basics about other fields of work.

Mastering Fine Art Photography

Fine Art Photography is the use of photography as a means of creative expression and it stands apart from commercial photography and journalistic photography. Through learning to express creativity and emotions through photography, a student learns to become better at their skill and they also learn to regulate their emotions thereby channeling personal growth. While practicing fine art photography, the person behind the camera is more of an artist than just a photographer.

Marketing Skills and Building a Portfolio

By learning photography from an institute with well curated programs, you get to learn both creative skills and the skills required to market your art. With work opportunities becoming more diverse, students now have the opportunity to branch out as freelancers, documentary photographers, in-house studio photographers and more. Learning and understanding the business side of photography is crucial for rising photographers. Personal projects, additional certifications and volunteering are an added advantage when it comes to preparing and organizing your portfolio.

Ethical Practices in Photography

Any kind of art must come from a space of respect and inclusivity. In photography, to express ideas and creativity, the photographer must be mindful of the people or person in the photograph, they must understand the concept of seeking consent and permission before photographing and must also respect personal space and boundaries. This is especially the case when it comes to photographing cultures, traditions and communities. The way to prove justice to communities and people is by honoring and respecting them, by not taking up space and by not appropriating cultures. A good photographer must also not resort to manipulation and deceiving viewers by falsifying images.

Conclusion

The world of photography is vast, dynamic and ever-evolving. The aforementioned are only a few career prospects and trends in the industry out of the many advancements we see today. Photography and professionals are in demand with people’s preferences changing and growing. Everyone loves a good picture that brings memories and pictures that can be reminisced in the future.

Read more about AAFT’s School of Still Photography here.