Photo by Alexander Dummer from Pexels
It’s a dream by many to live a life where they get to make money out of something they love. There’s this famous saying that goes: “choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Quite a charm isn’t it?
Those who know exactly what they want in life can surely attest that this saying is true. Of course, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. But, it surely is better than working on a job you don’t even like. However, there’s another spectrum that goes with passion. That spectrum is knowing what you love, but don’t know how to make money out of it.
If you’re lucky to know what you want and make a living out of it, good for you. Not all fields and industries provide enough opportunity for people to do the job that they love. One of which is photography. There are a lot of photography enthusiasts out there who are struggling to make money or even turn their passion into an actual career.
Thankfully, in this today’s digital age, photography is something that is adored the most. Most especially in social media. With that, here are 4 career options that photography enthusiasts can try.
1. Photographer
Let’s start with the most obvious one: a photographer. Nowadays, photos are the main deal on every social media platform. A great photo attracts thousands to millions of likes. And, if you’re an influential person, you’ll likely start a trend with a captivating photo that you post.
The job of a photographer nowadays is not limited to studios. In this day and age, a lot of types and specialities are available to photographers. Gone are the days when they’re just available in professional photo printing services. Now, they can focus and specialise in certain areas such as:
- Weddings
- Commercial
- Portraits
- Travel
- Wildlife
- Sports
The above are just some of the areas that you can choose from. More options are available for you to practice and get better at. Each speciality needs a different level of creativity. For example, a commercial photographer needs a different set of skills when capturing images of advertisements and media-related cuts.
If your dream is to become a photographer, look into the different types that you can use to hone your skills. Maybe one of these types is the one you’ve been looking for that will help you with your craft.
2. Photography lab business owner
Another career option for photography enthusiasts is to be a photography lab owner. If you’re fond of photo editing, you can make use of your skills by opening your own photo lab business. Also, you can offer picture-taking services, photo printing, film processing, and more.
You can start with the three services I mentioned. Then, as time progresses and you are now familiar with how your business operation would be, you can add bigger services. This is a great business for those who are passionate about both photo editing and photography.
If you don’t have a budget yet for a physical store, maybe you can start your business online. Maybe, instead of starting a service on photo taking, you can start with photo printing and editing first. Once you have the budget from your earnings, you can then start to invest in a physical store should you wish to have one.
3. Professional photo editor
Aside from being a photography lab owner, you can also be a professional photo editor. If you have exceptional talent in photo editing, then maybe becoming a professional photo editor is your destiny. If you’ve always loved and enjoyed Photoshop, that passion can be used in something useful.
With the help of the internet, you can take online courses and earn certifications in photography. If you’re not that confident with your skills, you can learn, watch, and practice with the help of online videos and tutorials.
That way, if you want to become a professional photo editor, you’ll have the qualifications and skills needed for the job. Usually, what employers look for in a professional editor are talent and experience. But of course, even though you don’t have the experience yet, you can always showcase your skills through the work that you’ve done.
Experience might give you an edge in a certain role, but your talents and skills will get you farther than that.
4. Marketing or advertising designer
If you’ve always loved editing photos and also love designing, then maybe you can apply for a marketing designer or an advertising designer role. If you enjoy both editing and designing, then maybe these two roles are perfect for you.
Unlike the first 3 career options that I discussed above, this 4th option leans more towards design than photography. But of course, these roles still cover a wide range of photography-related stuff. This career option is ideal for those who are passionate about design and photography.
As you create creative marketing or advertising materials and collateral, you also have the opportunity to edit photos. Both of these career roles include and require someone skilled and well-versed in photoshop applications. These two roles are also great if you’re looking to try a new field or a change in career direction.
If you want a new set of responsibilities and to try a new role that is still somehow related to your photography skills, a designer role is a great option.
Look for a job where you’ll be able to hone and showcase your skills.
What do you think about the 4 photography career options that I discussed above? If you don’t see yourself working on any of those recommendations, here’s a tip. Look for a job where you’ll be able to hone and showcase your skills.
If the question “what are you passionate about?” overwhelms you, start by getting to know what your skills are. If for example, you’re good at photo editing, then maybe you can look for a job that requires skills in enhancements.
It’s okay if you don’t know yet what career path you should take despite knowing what you’re good at. Just get to know yourself better first. From there, look for a job where you’ll get to hone and showcase the skills that are already within you.
About the author:
Bianca Banda is a writer for DS Colour Labs Ltd (DSCL), a professional photography lab that offers a vast range of products and services to aid every photographer’s needs.
