Photographer
(Female, Age 24) from Milledgeville, GA
This is a REAL-LIFE job profile written by a Female aged 24 who works as a Photographer in Milledgeville, GA. We have removed all names and personal information in order to protect privacy. This professional kindly spent a bit of their time to complete one of our job profile surveys so that prospective job seekers like you could read their insights. Please excuse any punctuation or grammatical errors in this profile.
At a Glance
Current Job
Basic data on your current job
| Job Title | Photographer |
|---|---|
| Salary | $18,000 |
| Other Compensation | None Set |
| Hours/Week | 35 |
| Company Size | (not answered) |
| Location | Milledgeville, GA |
| Years Experience | 3 years |
Career Ratings
Opinions on your CAREER overall (i.e. not just your current job)
| Years in Career | 0 |
|---|---|
| Education | (not answered) |
| Income Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Interest Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Work-Life Rating | 0 / 10 |
| Fulfilment Rating | 0 / 10 |
Current job Q&A
Describe the type of organization you work for.
Describe your job role and responsibilities.
I am responsible for photographing clients both in a studio setting and outdoor/on-location setting. I am responsible for all of the photo equipment (lights, flashes, camera bodies, lenses, etc.) After the photo sessions I am responsible for all photo editing and touch-ups and handling clients’ print orders.
Please list an additional benefits (beyond compensation) that you receive.
No benefits as I am self-employed. I do have lots of freedom and the ability to travel to interesting locations for photo shoots.
Do you feel you are under/over or well/fairly compensated at your current position?
I feel that I have been compensated more now that when I started. With the ability to set my own prices, I’ve learned just how much time and work is involved in this job.
Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Please explain.
Yes. I work with new people every week and I love it. Photographing weddings are especially interesting because you really get to know people and their friends and families and their traditions. I love meeting new people. I think that’s one of my favorite things about being a photographer.
Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes
Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it.
My work location varies from my studio in my spare room at my home to outdoor sessions at many locations – lakes, rivers, arboretums, fields, beaches, etc.
Please rate each of the following aspects of your current job on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest/best):
Income: 3
Benefits: 7
Hours: 5
Co-Workers: 1
Supervisors: 8
Job Title: 6
Level of Responsibility: 4
The Actual Work: 2
A day in the life of…
Please describe a typical workday for you in your current job:
| 5am to 6am | |
| 6am to 7am | |
| 7am to 8am | The description for this day is for an on-location photo shoot day.
Pack any last-minute equipment. double-check to make sure all equipment is loaded and ready to go. Equipment includes but is not limited to lenses, camera bodies, flashes, reflectors, batteries, tripod, shutter release cables, and lens filters. I then leave an begin the drive to the photo shoot location. |
| 8am to 9am | Arrive at the photo shoot location to meet with the client and go over details of what all we will be shooting (poses, outfits, etc). I give the client some paperwork detailing what his/her fees include and a print order form. I receive payment for the session and we begin. |
| 9am to 10am | Photo shoot in session. Client may change outfits and move around the shoot location. |
| 10am to 11am | We finish the session. I like to shoot outdoor sessions between 9am-12pm. That is a great time for natural light. |
| 11am to 12pm | Lunch. |
| 12pm to 1pm | Break once I get back to the home office. Taking photos outdoors (especially in the Georgia summer heat) can really take the energy out of you! |
| 1pm to 2pm | I begin uploading the photos to the computer and begin the editing process. This generally takes more than one day. I like to have the proofs to the customer within 48 hours, but depending on the amount of editing that has to be done, it sometimes takes longer than expected. |
| 2pm to 3pm | Editing process continues while I check e-mails, respond to questions, place print orders for other clients. |
| 3pm to 4pm | Editing process continues. . . |
| 4pm to 5pm | Break time. |
| 5pm to 6pm | I generally end my work day sometime after 5:00pm. |
| 6pm to 7pm | Dinner. |
| 7pm to 8pm | Watch TV |
| 8pm to 9pm | May do some more editing, respond to e-mails, etc. Recharge all batteries and clean equipment before putting it away for the night, and if applicable, pack everything for a shoot the next morning. |
| 9pm to 10pm | May watch some TV before drifting off to sleep. |
| 10pm to 11pm | Sleep. |
| 11pm to 12am | Sleep. |
Table of Contents
How you got your job
How did you get your current job?
Lifelong interest in photography.
What was the application process?
I am self-employed. Began taking photos for friends and family and now have hundreds of clients.
Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
There was no interview process for my job.
If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
n/a
Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
I am self-employed. I feel that I was properly prepared.
Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes. It was optional training, but was very beneficial. I took photography classes and took thousands of photographs.
Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Absolutely. The photography classes I took were extremely valuable.
If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
I would definitely recommend photography classes and a degree in the field can’t hurt!
What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Practice, good equipment and good people skills are all required.
Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
I definitely think it helps but many great photographers have no formal training.
What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Photography is an expensive field to get into. Good quality equipment is essential. Make sure you can handle crazy schedules and have the time and programs for post-processing and editing. If you love photography, give it a shot!
Long-term career plans
Is your current employment part of your overall career plan? Why or why not?
Yes it is. I’ve always wanted to be a photographer and now that I have started my business, it’s definitely something I want to do for the rest of my life.
What are your current career goals?
To keep expanding my business. When I have the finances, I would love to open my own studio space.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
While photography seems like an easy career, there is so much more involved that I ever imagined. It is a physically demanding job (especially at on-location shoots) and it takes up a lot of time and money. If you can handle all of the demands, it definitely pays off and is very rewarding.
Prior work history
Please list your most recent jobs prior to this current job:
| Title | Length | Salary | Description | |
| Prior Job 1 | Administrative Assistant | 3 years | 16000 | I was the assistant of the manger. I created spreadsheets, filed paperwork, called customers, ran errands, worked with all of the MS programs, took photos of products, created videos, etc. |
| Prior Job 2 |
Educational background
Please list your educational background:
High School GPA:3.6
| GPA | School | Degree | |
| College (Undergraduate) or Technical/Vocational |
3.85 | Georgia College & State University | Art/Photography |
| Graduate or Professional (Masters or Doctorate) |
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