What does a certified photo specialist do?
A photo specialist usually works at photography shops where they operate photo processing machines, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. Although their duties vary upon their company of employment, it usually involves printing or developing photos from negatives, handling equipment according to guidelines, organizing and storing supplies appropriately, and maintaining records. They may also take the clients' photos and assist them by answering inquiries, providing cost or time estimates, facilitating photoshoots, and giving them instructions while maintaining courteous behavior.
Certified photo specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real certified photo specialist resumes:
- Manage passport photos, develop films, digital media, CD's, DVD's, and print products.
- Schedule patients for allergy testing and allergy injections.
- Skil at operating computerize cash registers, scanners for inventory and affiliate POS systems.
- Maintain ethical and confidential relationships between company personnel, patients, and other hospital personnel.
- Perform minor maintenance of kiosk computer systems which save Walmart $10K in machine repair.
Certified photo specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Certified Photo Specialists are proficient in Mental Illness, Rehabilitation, and Role Model.
We break down the percentage of Certified Photo Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Mental Illness, 14%
Provided recovery-based certified peer support services to individuals recovering from mental illnesses and/or substance abuse disorders.
- Rehabilitation, 13%
Provide Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services to persons transitioning into and currently living independently.
- Role Model, 10%
Be a role model for person in recovery; sharing of personal experience of recovery.
- Patients, 9%
Coordinated with Physicians and hospital staff regarding protocols/outcomes for orthopedic patients.
- Substance Abuse, 9%
Worked in residential setting for the support and enhancement of individuals with mental health and substance abuse related issues.
- CPS, 6%
Reviewed all documentation developed by CPS staff for accuracy and appropriateness.
"mental illness," "rehabilitation," and "role model" are among the most common skills that certified photo specialists use at work. You can find even more certified photo specialist responsibilities below, including:
The three companies that hire the most certified photo specialists are:
- Wisconsin Community Services
6 certified photo specialists jobs
- Merakey6 certified photo specialists jobs
- WellSpan Health3 certified photo specialists jobs
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Certified photo specialist vs. Digital retoucher
A digital retoucher specializes in altering or enhancing images using special computer software. Their responsibilities usually include assessing photos to identify which areas need retouching, accepting requests from the clients, removing blemishes, adjusting the brightness or sharpness, cropping or re-sizing the images, and changing color temperatures. In some establishments, a digital retoucher may also restore old photos, change backgrounds, and take the clients' photos. When it comes to employment, a digital retoucher may work for shops offering photography services or as an independent contractor working remotely.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between certified photo specialists and digital retoucher. For instance, certified photo specialist responsibilities require skills such as "mental illness," "rehabilitation," "role model," and "patients." Whereas a digital retoucher is skilled in "adobe photoshop," "retouch," "photography services," and "digital images." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Digital retouchers tend to reach lower levels of education than certified photo specialists. In fact, digital retouchers are 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Certified photo specialist vs. Film developer
Retouchers are skilled professionals who use advanced computer imaging software to change or modify the appearance of a photo or other digital image. These professionals must interface directly with clients to perform multiple image composition, color correction, and image manipulation. They are required to use Photoshop to carry out editing tasks such as masking, rebuilding, and cleaning of images. Retouchers must work exclusively with photographers and manage high volumes of photo organization. They must also maintain an organized electronic database of digital images.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, certified photo specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "mental illness," "rehabilitation," "role model," and "patients." Meanwhile, a film developer has duties that require skills in areas such as "ald," "xrd," "cvd," and "thin films." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Film developers earn similar levels of education than certified photo specialists in general. They're 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Certified photo specialist vs. Retoucher
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from certified photo specialist resumes include skills like "mental illness," "rehabilitation," "role model," and "patients," whereas a retoucher is more likely to list skills in "color correction," "adobe photoshop," "product photography," and "mac. "
Most retouchers achieve a similar degree level compared to certified photo specialists. For example, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Certified photo specialist vs. Developing machine operator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between certified photo specialists and developing machine operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a certified photo specialist might have more use for skills like "mental illness," "rehabilitation," "role model," and "patients." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of developing machine operators require skills like "java," "r," "production environment," and "proposal application. "
In general, developing machine operators hold higher degree levels compared to certified photo specialists. Developing machine operators are 6.3% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of certified photo specialist
Updated January 8, 2025











