Jenifer Greer Beggren is successful wedding photographer in Los Angeles, California who runs her own photography company. She describes her unique job, her experience in photography school, and offers advice to future photographers.

Photographers held about 131,000 jobs in 2000. More than half were self-employed, a much higher proportion than the average for all occupations. Some self-employed photographers contracted with advertising agencies, magazines, or others to do individual projects at a predetermined fee, while others operated portrait studios or provided photographs to stock photo agencies.

Photographers 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 lighting or draw attention to a particular aspect of the subject by blurring the background.

Working conditions for photographers vary considerably. Photographers employed in government and advertising agencies usually work a 5-day, 40-hour week. On the other hand, news photographers often work long, irregular hours and must be available to work on short notice. Many photographers work part time or variable schedules.