Categories of Photographic Businesses

Photography combines elements of science and art. Some types of photography are very subjective, creative and interpretive. Other types are objective, structured and repetitive. Depending on your personality, skills and where you live (yes, where you live!), you should try to align your attributes with the business.

Here is a list of photographic business types ranging from objective to subjective:

Document copying
Scientific
Medical
Report illustration
Architectural (record)
Commercial
Press
Sports
Architectural (interpretive)
Illustrative (eg food)
Weddings
Travel
Portraiture
Photo-journalism
Advertising
Non-representational (artistic)

About 80% of all professional photography falls into the Portrait and Wedding market. Many would-be pros first aspire to be travel photographers. It's a great job if you can get it! The reality is that few do. But there are opportunities for those who are enterprising, innovative and do the research. Perth does not have the population to support specialist photographers. Many photographers will cover wedding, portrait and commercial.

Some of the skills and attributes required for these photographic sub-groups vary considerably in their priority:

Creative visualisation
Technical operation of camera
Computer and digital manipulation
Effective time-management
Business organisation
Ability to handle stress
Personal presentation
Extroverted personality
Ability to work efficiently under difficult physical conditions
Physical fitness
Interpersonal

Exercise: Select two of the photographic sub-types below and list the top five attributes you believe match that job type. There's no need to write the attributes in full, simply list the numbers eg 6,2,10,1,5. When you have finished compare your estimates with the author or another participants.

Weddings: __________________________________________________________

Sports: __________________________________________________________

Travel: __________________________________________________________

Portraiture: __________________________________________________________

Commercial: __________________________________________________________