Professional Photography Occupational Overview Professional photographers are employed in either Portrait Photography or Commercial Photography. Portrait photography creates a likeness and delineation of character in people. Commercial photography concentrates on the photographing of objects in the studio or on location. The demand for professional photographers has remained high for the last several years. As the industry moves toward more electronic imaging, the demand for skilled digital photographers will increase.
Graduates usually begin their careers as staff assistants in either a commercial or portrait studio.
Commercial photographers must be willing to relocate to a large metropolitan area. Portrait photography provides more mobility when seeking employment opportunities since portrait studios are found in almost any size city. Many past graduates currently operate their own studios. About the Program Skills in photography are developed by a combination of lecture and laboratory experiences. The Professional Photographer of America awards educational achievement merits to students or graduates of educational institutes meeting the required merit accreditation standards.