We surveyed 11,706 photographers to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical photographer. Here are the results.
How much intelligence is required as a photographer?
Low
High
Working as a photographer typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.
Can I learn to become a photographer?
Intrinsic Talent
Acquired Talent
A career as a photographer typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.
Is it easy to get a job as a photographer?
Easy
Hard
It’s typically difficult to find a job as a photographer. If you’re curious about the numbers, check out the job market for photographers.
Do photographers work full-time or part-time?
27% of photographers work in full-time roles while 73% work part-time.
Is being a photographer stressful?
Low
High
Photographers tend not to find their jobs stressful, which likely contributes positively to career satisfaction.
Is being organized important as a photographer?
Low
High
Organization is considered a very important trait for photographers, and is critical to success in the field.
How competitive is the workplace for photographers?
Low
High
Photographers tend to see lots of competition in the workplace, with desire to get ahead of co-workers being common.
Does being a photographer require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?
Low
High
Photographers will have to sometimes face time pressure on the job.
Are photographers allowed to express themselves creatively?
Low
High
Creativity is intrinsic to being a photographer, and a highly valuable part of the career.
Do photographers have control over the direction of their work?
Low
High
Photographers have high flexibility in the direction of their work, allowing them a lot of freedom in how they accomplish their goals.
Is being a photographer physically demanding?
Low
High
Being a photographer may occasionally require demanding physical activity, which may make it not a suitable career choice for everyone.
Are photographers exposed to a wide variety of work?
Low
High
The workload of a photographer changes frequently, with their day-to-day rarely being the same.
Does being a photographer require attention to detail?
Low
High
Attention to detail is a vital skill for photographers, as small mistakes can make or break one's ability to succeed in the career.
Does being a good photographer require compassion and empathy?
Low
High
Being compassionate and empathetic is considered helpful to those looking to pursue careers as photographers.