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Employers usually seek applicants with a “good eye,” imagination, and creativity, as well as a good technical understanding of photography. Entry-level positions in photojournalism, industrial, or scientific photography generally require a college degree in journalism or photography. Freelance and portrait photographers need technical proficiency, whether gained through a degree program, vocational training, or extensive work experience.

The photograph has affected the way many cultures throughout the world understand and learn about their world. One of the main fields responsible for this paradigm is photojournalism. Photojournalism is the use of photographs in conjunction with the reporting of news in media such as print newspapers, magazines, television news and internet reporting. The incorporation of photographs into news reports is so ubiquitous that a story without photographs to a contemporary audience feels incomplete, as though they were only getting half the story.

Salaried photographers had median annual earnings of $26,080 in 2004, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $54,180. The middle 50 percent earned between $18,380 and $37,370. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of salaried photographers were as follows:

Professional, Scientific, Technical Services: $23,100
Newspapers and Periodicals: $32,800

Teamwork is essential to film production. Video photography students share responsibilities as cinematographers, lighting and sound technicians, scriptwriters, and editors to complete a professional-quality project. Programs include hands-on study of professional filmmaking and production techniques.