How much does a photographer earn? How to become a photographer?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Many people think about how much a photographer who works on pre-order gets paid. This becomes especially important after the newlyweds find out the prices for the operator's services. It’s not a sin to think about additional earnings yourself. What is so difficult here? Buy a good camera and click yourself right and left. But is the skin worth the candle? Will a photographer's salary be enough to cover expenses and secure a comfortable existence?

Job or calling

The availability of high-quality photographic equipment, combined with the capabilities of computer programs, makes working as a photographer in Moscow almost the most common and easily accessible. However, as practice shows, not everything is as simple as it might seem at first glance. In fact, this profession is quite difficult. Despite how much the photographer receives forone photo shoot.

This is especially true for solemn specifics. So, for example, on a wedding day, a professional photographer needs to constantly monitor guests and newlyweds, track the right angles and focus on significant events. It will not be very good if the master gapes and misses the moment of congratulating some relative. But it doesn't end there. Having shot the material, the photographer must select the most juicy and brightest shots, correct them if necessary, and present his work to the customer. Are you still wondering how much a photographer earns? Then read on and you will learn other subtleties of this profession. For example, how to become a photographer. Or how to get a high-paying job.

Work as a photographer in Moscow

In order to enter the industry of professional activity with lightning speed and firmly gain a foothold in it, it is necessary, at a minimum, to have high-quality equipment and suitable equipment at your disposal. As a rule, it is at this stage that interest in the photographer’s salary decreases slightly, because a professional camera and other related equipment require significant investments. In addition, the technique for creating and processing photography, like everything else in this world, tends to become outdated and lose its relevance. And this means that the equipment will have to be updated regularly in order to survive in the face of fierce competition. How much a photographer in Russia receives per month depends on many factors, including the willingness to invest in the futureprofession at the initial stage.

There are plenty of offers on the modern market. For this reason, choosing the most suitable camera can be very difficult. You can rely on the opinion of experienced photographers. In any case, it is impossible to save on the technique of such a plan. Especially if she will continue to help earn a living.

How much does a decent machine cost?

Not only the skill, but also the technique depends on what kind of pictures the photographer receives. How much does a professional camera cost? To answer this question, let's first try to select it. Of course, it must be professional. It is best to give preference to a full-frame matrix. Such a camera has more opportunities, the photos are more detailed. In addition, it can work in low light conditions.

On average, a professional camera at "Avito" costs about 40 thousand rubles. This is a used camera without a lens. The lens is the most expensive and most necessary part. A really good camera will cost the photographer about 120 thousand rubles.

There was no technological breakthrough as such, and even the most sophisticated phone cannot compete with a professional digital camera. And pulling out a wedding photo shoot on an amateur DSLR is extremely difficult.

Most photographers shoot with professional digital cameras. There are, however, aesthetes who use film. The photos are really luxurious, but it's damn expensive.

Lens

The camera itself is the so-called "carcass", which is useless without a lens. It is he who collects all the light, focuses it in a special way and directs it into the frame. Good lighting is the 1 problem for every photographer, as the lack of it does not allow you to take really good and high-quality images.

The geometry of the frame depends on the capabilities of the lens. It allows you to create images that are blurry far and clear near images, work out brightness and blur. In fact, it is the lens that "makes" photos juicy, bright and memorable. Needless to say, it costs almost the same as the camera?

As a rule, the camera is sold with a simple lens, which is not enough for a professional photographer, so you have to buy something more suitable. On average, a good lens will cost around 100-130 thousand rubles.

Up-to-date information on how much the photographer receives, taking into account all the costs of materials and equipment, you will find below.

What else do you need?

In addition to a good camera and lens, the photographer will need other related accessories. So, for example, it would not be superfluous to purchase a spare camera in case the main one breaks. You will also need specialized equipment to create the necessary lighting: a flashlight and a flash. The built-in flash usually does not provide the necessary lighting. In some cases, you can do without additionallighting. But if you need to pull out clear portraits of people from the darkened corners of the restaurant, an additional flash is indispensable.

To process photos you will need a graphics tablet or computer. Here, too, it is important to purchase powerful equipment, since a weak laptop will not pull out photo processing programs. Memory cards, spare batteries, tripods and monopods - all this will allow you to work as a photographer in Moscow and other Russian cities.

How to find your clients?

The easiest and most effective way is advertising on social networks. You need to start small - you can just post an ad in a local group, invite friends there, promising a small discount for spreading the word.

Advertising in local newspapers also works, but you need to take into account the fact that in the age of information technology, printed publications are becoming less relevant. If you really can’t find clients at all, you can work for a while to your own detriment, that is, take pictures for free: offer a few friends a free photo session in exchange for their promoting an aspiring photographer.

Field of activity

To find out how much a photographer earns, you need to list all the possible specializations:

• Advertising agency photographer: celebrity hunt, up-to-date information and on-site reporting, studio shooting. The difficulty lies in the fact that the photographer must have the skills to create various printingproducts.
• Wedding photographers. The main difficulty lies in professionalism. Only those who have sufficient experience and the ability to make really good shots can count on a good salary. In Moscow, the cost of a photographer's work (photo, video shooting, editing, retouching 40-50 photos and about 500-800 unprocessed, but corrected in color) costs an average of 15-20 thousand rubles for 6-8 hours.
• Photographer for a newspaper, magazine or any other print publication.
• Private judge. It is troublesome and costly, relevant for a big city.
• Working in a photo studio.
• Fashion and style. The photographer shoots everything related to the fashion industry.

Professional photography has a number of unique features. Surely many thought about how to become a photographer. Someone has been shooting all his life (not amateur, it should be noted), but still cannot earn a living. And someone successfully completes photography courses and literally in a few months becomes a master of their craft.

How much do professional photographers earn in different countries?

It is worth comparing income levels in Russia, Europe and the United States. So, in the USA, rather tough conditions are imposed on photographers. Often require knowledge of SEO and sales. Often, potential employers hire only someone who has a bachelor's degree (it is not at all necessary to understand 19th century painting - just a higher liberal education is enough).

A wedding photographer in the US can earn from 6 to 11 thousand dollars, an advertising photographer - from 2 to 5 thousand conventional units, the average salary of a journalist is 3800-4500 dollars.

In European countries, no less stringent requirements are imposed on photographers. So, those who have their own car and a good portfolio, an assistant and professional equipment can apply for a good salary.

It's easy to find a "professional" photographer in Russia, now everyone who uses a professional camera for more than a year is called one. The cost of services varies depending on the region. You will probably be wondering how much a photographer gets for one photo session, say in St. Petersburg. Approximately 10-15 thousand rubles for one event. In Moscow, you will have to pay about 15-20 thousand for the photographer to capture the brightest moments of the wedding ceremony. The cheapest way to shoot a wedding in Kazan is about 5 thousand rubles.

Profession Requirements

First they think about where to get the profession of a photographer, and then - how to find a job in their speci alty. Among the numerous job offers, you can easily find vacancies for a photographer. It would seem, what could be the requirements for this profession? Take pictures to your he alth, but process pictures on a computer! But not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. There are a number of requirements that potential employers make (some of them have a right to exist, and some are frankdelirium):

• There is a very funny vacancy - "courier photographer", the name of which speaks eloquently for itself.
• "The ability, and most importantly - the desire to develop in the field of photography." Do you really think it's possible? All work and even part of the free time of the photographer will be inundated with plans, tasks and requirements that require purely mechanical execution.
• Communication - one cannot but agree with this.
• Higher education - yes, and European requirements have come down to us. Of course, a professional photographer must correctly express his thoughts, as well as use a computer freely, but this can also be a person who has not graduated from a prestigious university.

Among other requirements, you can find your own car, knowledge of a foreign language, attractive appearance (the question arises why, if he takes pictures, and not him), lack of a criminal record and bad habits (well, yes, a light hop will certainly affect the clarity of the image), medical book, etc.

Freelance

The best option is your own business. The advantages are obvious: the photographer can independently organize his daily routine, no restrictions on professional growth, as well as a lot of free time and complete freedom of action. There is also the other side of the coin - unstable income in the first months of work.

In order to make money on photography on your own and not depend on anyone, you will have to acquire professional equipment and complete specialized courses.

How to getorder?

First of all, you need to register on several sites. It often happens that a customer places an ad on one resource and then moves to another.

Then you need to study the archives, that is, to understand which pictures are most popular. Here you can already try to get your first orders (by default, it is not customary to greatly underestimate the cost of your work).

Filling out your profile. No customer will entrust work to a photographer who has not submitted the results of his previous work.

Tips for beginners

There is nothing surprising in the fact that a person reading this article will understand at the very end how he will earn a living and immediately go to the store for a professional camera. It often happens that young guys buy expensive equipment and have no idea how to use all its features. As a result, a good digital camera acts as an amateur DSLR or even a soap dish - this is sheer blasphemy!

Only those who have been trained as a photographer, have solid experience in this field of activity, and also responsibly approach the study of modern technologies and the possibilities of digital technology can count on a decent fee. To improve your skills, it is worth attending photo exhibitions and master classes, reading specialized forums and magazines, participating in competitions, and posting your work on various resources. After all, he althy criticism never hurt anyone.