Photographs. A wonderful, and often under-appreciated invention that science gave us all those years ago. But now photography has moved from the realm of science to the realm of arts.
Photography has been steadily rising as a career option for Gen-z. So much so that now it is being taught as a course at various premier universities of our country in the form of a BFA in Photography degree.
If you are wondering what are the possible career options that you can pursue after this degree, fret not. We have compiled a list of the best five career options that one can pursue after BFA Photography. Enjoy!
Photo Journalist
A great option for you, if you are a Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate, is to pursue the path to become an Photo Journalist. The work-profile is really interesting, and you would be required to solve unique problems every day. Is there a better feeling than that? Probably not.
In simple terms, Photo Journalists are the photographers or the camera persons who collaborate with the Journalists at the time of reporting of any news, events and sports. They record and capture images of the same having visual significance with the reporting.
He (or she) uses various different tools such as DSLR cameras and editing software to perform these tasks and duties. BFA Photography graduates have an added advantage, as they have been trained to do this due to regular assignments and coursework during their 3 years of graduation.
Work from home is not possible in this field. And if you are assuming that there is a dearth of companies that hire photojournalists; take a look at related job postings on LinkedIn – it will blow your mind (Okay, it might not blow your mind, but it will definitely change your opinion).
Salaries are a mixed lot. Some firms offer really good starting salaries, whereas others would require you to slog for a couple of years before you get decent pay. On average, you can expect your starting salary to be around 3.5 LPA.
Fashion Photographer
If you’re unsure about the above option, then becoming a Fashion Photographer may be the right fit for you. Lately the demand has been rising like crazy and now would be the perfect time to get into the job market for this field. If you have opened LinkedIn lately, you would have definitely seen that it is filled with employers asking for Fashion Photographer.
Okay, great. But what does a Fashion Photographer actually do? Here’s the answer.
Fashion Photographers are responsible for promoting costumes and designer dresses in the best possible visually attractive manner. They have to click high quality creative pictures for fashion magazines, advertisements and campaigns, by working with fashion houses and productions.
Sometimes your responsibilities may also include product images, but in essence, it all boils down to good photography. So if you think that you would enjoy doing that, then becoming a Fashion Photographer might just be your best option.
Let’s get to the juicy part. Starting salaries are in the range of 4 LPA, but the earning potential is sky-high. And keep in mind that this is an average estimate, and your salary would be more than this if you live in a major town or a tier-1 city.
Leadership opportunities are available with time, and the potential for career growth is phenomenal. But keep in mind that this is not a desk job, so travel will be a part of your professional life. So if ‘no travel’ is a big priority or a make-or-break thing for you, this career option may not be your best bet.
Photographer
Another fantastic choice for you if you recently graduated with a BFA Photography degree, is to work as an Photographer. Decent pay, plenty of room for advancement, the chance to put all of your skills that you learnt during graduation to good use, and some travel thrown in for good measure. What more could BFA graduate possibly require?
If you’re not sure, this is what a Photographer does – General Photographers are required to capture normal visually pleasing images – mostly nature, landscape and sceneries. They mainly work as freelancers or under any photography studio or production houses. They are responsible to click pictures for both the mediums – digital and print.
The job profile varies depending on the business and your place in the organizational chain, but this will be your primary responsibility. If leadership and management are essential factors for you in choosing a profession, opportunities are easily once you reach a certain level of experience.
Growth and leadership opportunities can be difficult to come by at first, but if you persevere, you will be rewarded with increased responsibilities (and of course; better pay). Work-life balance can be ridiculous at times, but it’s not impossible to achieve if you have good relations with your superiors.
Let’s get to the good stuff. Starting salaries are in the 2.6 LPA range, but there is a lot of room for development. Also, bear in mind that this is an estimate; if you live in a major city or tier-1 city, your salary would be much higher.
Digital Image Specialist
For students of BFA Photography, becoming a Digital Image Specialist is a slightly unusual or odd career choice. However, being special does not imply that the work is of poor quality or that the pay is low. It simply means that, for whatever reason, there aren’t many people who walk this route.
Digital Image Specialists are required to handle and create digital formats of images, films, and videos. It also includes graphic-designed pictures. They have to capture remarkable images and shoot well made videos or filmography and create the best possible digital copies of them.
This role is creative in nature, which means that no two days will be alike. You’ll still be a problem solver if you’re an Digital Image Specialist. Plus, if you’re a ‘creative’ problem solver, you’ll get bonus points.
In this sector, salaries vary greatly. And they are based on a variety of unrelated variables, but one thing you can count on is that you will be paid what you are worth. Starting salaries will range from 4.15 LPA, but keep in mind that this is just an approximation.
The potential for growth is strong, but the competition is fierce. The job can be difficult and stressful at times, but if you like messing around with images, you will enjoy being an Digital Image Specialist. To stand out, you’d have to be exceptionally good at your work. The sky is the limit for the fortunate few who make it.
Product Photographer
Another amazing option for you if you have just graduated after completing a BFA Photography degree, is to become a Product Photographer. Good salary, great growth opportunities, opportunity to apply all that photography knowledge, and some travel sprinkled here and there. What more can a BFA graduate need?
If you don’t know, Product Photographer Product Photographers play an important role to market any product. They have to capture high quality beautiful pictures that attract customers to buy the product. Usually they deal in digital photographs of various e-commerce sites and shopping sites.
Product Photographers have both the scopes – freelancing and full time.
You can expect your starting salary to be around 3.25 LPA, but this is not a hard and fast rule. If you are applying to a bigger company and are able to adequately display your skills, you can get a much higher package. And as for growth prospects, the same rule applies. If you are good at what you do, you can expect quicker promotions and more leadership opportunities.
Work-life balance varies from company-to-company, but in general, your weekends are going to be holidays and working overtime is going to be a rarity.
So these were some of the highest-paying professions that you can go for after completing a BFA in Photography. Did you like the article and found it informative? Then please share it with fellow budding photographers so that they can make well-informed decisions about their professional life. Subscribe to our newsletter to get a weekly update about the different career options added on the website.