A traditional route of entry into commercial photography is working as an assistant to a professional photographer.

1. Our Visual World
Mrs. Henderson’s
Digital Photography Class
http://www.g-wlearning.com/visualtechnology/3057/index.htm#ch01

2. Objectives
● Discuss the significance of photography in our visual society.
● Describe the various methods of entering the field of commercial
photography
● Identify the major photographic career fields
● Describe the basic skills important to succeeding as a commercial
photographer
● Create a portfolio for use as a career tool

3. Abstractionism
Cinematographers
Commercial photographers
Composition
Documentation
Freelancers
Photojournalists
Portfolio
Portraiture
videographers
Technical
Terms

4. Photography is Everywhere
Product Photography
● The rapid growth of Internet and mail order buying has created new
opportunities for studios specializing in catalog illustrations.
● A large volume of advertising photography is done each year to sell
products to business clients.

5. In a sense, all forms of photography
can be classified as documentation,
a record of what the photographer
saw - a scene, event, person, or
object.
Documentation

6. Photographic Careers
A major area of documentation is photographic illustration for use in
newspapers, magazines, and electronic media.
Photojournalists produce thousands of still pictures and many hours of video
each day to meet the demand for news ranging from political developments, to
fires, auto accidents, and sporting events.

7. At times, journalistic photos go far
beyond being mere record shots.
Some become icons, summing up
the emotions or events of a
particular period. Astronaut Neil
Armstrong’s 1969 photo of Edwin
Aldrin Jr. walking on the moon, not
only records a moment in history,
but carries a full load of
associations with the changes in
American society resulting from the
“space race” with Russia.
Icons

8. Photographic Careers
Beyond breaking news, a great deal of photography is needed to illustrate
informational articles in newspapers and magazines. While such photos may be
produced by a publication’s staff photographers, this area represents a
significant opportunity for self-employed photographers, often referred to as
freelancers.
While some cinematographers (those recording on film) and videographers
(those using electronic capture methods) work exclusively with moving images,
many commercial photographers offer both still image capture.
It takes special knowledge to take scientific and technical photographs.

9. Photography as Art
● The use of the photograph as a form of artistic expression, and the
continuing debate over whether photography is art or craft, dates back
almost to the beginning of photography.
● For a time, photography was used as an imitation of painting. It then evolved
into what was termed Naturalistic photography which did not attempt to
mimic the look of a painted image. A later development was the growth of
abstractionism, which placed strong emphasis on forms and their
relationships.
● About half of self-employed photographers operate their business on a part-
time basis.

10. Photographic Career Requirements
● Relatively few photographers can earn a living as strictly fine art
practitioners whose works are sold to collectors, galleries, and museums. In
most cases, they must rely upon work in commercial photography, teaching
or non-art occupations to pay the bills while continuing to produce their
photographic art.
● Commercial Photographers - Also known as professional, make all or most
of their living from photographic work. Jobs in this field can be divided into
two broad groups - salaried and self-employed.
● A traditional route of entry into commercial photography is working as a(n)
______ to a professional photographer.

11. Photographic Career Requirements
● Many photographers begin their careers with only a high school diploma.
Photo studios or photo service companies look for a strong portfolio of
creative work.
● If you want to work for a corporation or organization full-time, a degree is
often required.
● Basic requirements are artistic ability and well-developed photographic
skills
● “People Skills” and a business-oriented attitude. Ex: A photographer must
relate well to people since they are in constant contact with others while

12. Learning to See

13. Seeing a
Photograph
You might want to photograph a
given subject for a wide variety of
reasons:
● Simple record (selfie)
● It is a subject we automatically
record (birthday party)
● It engages our emotions
● It appeals aesthetically
because of its shapes, colors,
composition, or visual impact
● It can be a means of stating
your political, moral or social
views

14. First Impression not always the
best - dig deeper
Cameras capture images within a
four-sided space or frame
The arrangement of visual
elements, such as shapes, colors,
and textures with that frame form
the photograph’s composition.
The 2 broadest categories of
composition are horizontal framing
(landscape format) and vertical
framing (portrait format).
Composing a
Photograph

15. Composing a Photograph
Pattern
A repetition of elements within
the frame. The repetition may
present a feeling of rhythm.
Balance
The arrangement of major visual
elements within the frame.
Balance may be symmetrical
(formal) or asymmetrical
(informal)
Emphasis
The relative prominence of the
most important visual element.
The element may be larger,
closer, lighter, or more vivid in
color.
Arrangement of the visual elements within a frame is governed by various design
principles, such as pattern, balance and emphasis.

16. Portfolio
● As an aspiring photographer you will want to develop a portfolio, which
is a book or binder of your best work to show potential clients or
employers.
● At the end of the semester you will create a google slide presentation
along with a blog post showing your top 10 best work from the
assignments in this class.
http://www.g-wlearning.com/visualtechnology/3057/index.htm#ch01

17. Warm-Up #503
● What percentage of self-employed photographers
operate their business on a part-time basis?
● What do you think their “jobs” are?

18. Warm-Up #503
● 50% of self-employed photographers operate their
business on a part-time basis?
● Their jobs are taking portraits for sports teams,
individual pictures, weddings or babies.

19. Warm-Up #504
● What is binder or book with your best photographic
work called?
http://www.g-wlearning.com/visualtechnology/3057/index.htm#ch01

20. Warm-Up #504
● What is binder or book with your best photographic
work called?
● A portfolio is a collection of your best work.

21. Warm-Up #505
● A traditional route of entry into commercial
photography is working as a(n) ______ to a
professional photographer.
http://www.g-wlearning.com/visualtechnology/3057/index.htm#ch01