Some photographers contract with advertising agencies, magazines, or others to do individual projects, while others operate portrait studios or provide photographs to stock photo agencies. Most salaried photographers work in portrait or commercial photography studios. Others are with newspapers, magazines, advertising agencies, and government agencies. Most photographers and camera operators work in metropolitan areas. There is no one best way to enter the occupation.
Determination often is as much the key to success as are creativity, skill, and formal preparation.
Students should subscribe to photographic newsletters and magazines, join camera clubs, and find work in camera stores or photo studios. Individuals also should decide on an area of interest and specialize in it. Completing an internship, through summer or part-time work, for a newspaper or magazine is an excellent way to gain experience and eventually entry to this field. Many entry level jobs require little formal preparation in photography. However, entry level positions in photojournalism and in scientific or technical photography are likely to require a college degree in photography with courses in the scientific field being photographed biology or botany, for example.