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Photographers - Fashion & Glamour produce and preserve images
that paint a picture, tell a story, or record an event. To create
commercial quality photographs, photographers need both technical
expertise and creativity. Producing a successful picture requires choosing
and presenting a subject to achieve a particular effect, and selecting the
appropriate equipment. For example, photographers may enhance the
subject’s appearance with natural or artificial light, use a particular
lens depending on the desired range or level of detail, or draw attention
to a particular aspect of the subject by blurring the background. Using
computers and specialized software, photographers also can manipulate and
enhance the scanned or digital image to create a desired effect. Images
can be stored on portable memory devices including compact disks (CDs) or
on new types of smaller “mini pocket” storage devices such as flash disks,
which are small memory cards used in digital cameras. Digital technology
also allows the production of larger, more colorful, and more accurate
prints or images for use in advertising, photographic art, and scientific
research. Some photographers use this technology to create electronic
portfolios as well. Because much photography now involves the use of
computer technology, photographers must have hands-on knowledge of
computer editing software. Photographers may start out as assistants to
experienced photographers. Assistants learn to mix chemicals, develop
film, and print photographs, and acquire the other skills necessary to run
a portrait or commercial photography business. Freelance photographers
also should develop an individual style of photography in order to
differentiate themselves from the competition. Some photographers enter
the field by submitting unsolicited photographs to magazines and to art
directors at advertising agencies. For freelance photographers, a good
portfolio of their work is critical. Photographers need good eyesight,
artistic ability, and good hand-eye coordination. They should be patient,
accurate, and detail-oriented. Photographers should be able to work well
with others, as they frequently deal with clients, graphic designers, or
advertising and publishing specialists. Increasingly, photographers need
to know how to use computer software programs and applications that allow
them to prepare and edit images.
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Photographers who operate their own
businesses, or freelance, need business skills as well as talent. These
individuals must know how to prepare a business plan; submit bids; write
contracts; market their work; hire models, if needed; get permission to
shoot on locations that normally are not open to the public; obtain
releases to use photographs of people; license and price photographs;
secure copyright protection for their work; and keep financial records.
Knowledge of licensing and copyright laws as well as contract
negotiation procedures is especially important for self-employed
photographers, in order to protect their rights and their work.
Photographers can expect keen competition for job openings because the
work is attractive to many people. The number of individuals interested
in positions as commercial and news photographers usually is much
greater than the number of openings. Those who succeed in landing a
salaried job or attracting enough work to earn a living by freelancing
are likely to be the most creative, able to adapt to rapidly changing
technologies, and adept at operating a business. Related work
experience, job-related training, or some unique skill or talent—such as
a background in computers or electronics—also are beneficial to
prospective photographers.
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