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Chief photographer vs freelance photographer

The differences between chief photographers and freelance photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a chief photographer and a freelance photographer. Additionally, a freelance photographer has an average salary of $42,949, which is higher than the $38,178 average annual salary of a chief photographer.

The top three skills for a chief photographer include adobe photoshop, video production and ENG. The most important skills for a freelance photographer are adobe photoshop, aperture, and adobe lightroom.

Chief photographer vs freelance photographer overview

Chief PhotographerFreelance Photographer
Yearly salary$38,178$42,949
Hourly rate$18.35$20.65
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs14,1261,766
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age3939
Years of experience22

Chief photographer vs freelance photographer salary

Chief photographers and freelance photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chief PhotographerFreelance Photographer
Average salary$38,178$42,949
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $71,000Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between chief photographer and freelance photographer education

There are a few differences between a chief photographer and a freelance photographer in terms of educational background:

Chief PhotographerFreelance Photographer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

Chief photographer vs freelance photographer demographics

Here are the differences between chief photographers' and freelance photographers' demographics:

Chief PhotographerFreelance Photographer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 79.7% Female, 20.3%Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between chief photographer and freelance photographer duties and responsibilities

Chief photographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

Freelance photographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage HDR and PANO shots for greater Pittsburgh area.
  • Help manage a few bands Facebook pages and websites, including sharing and promoting shows and upcoming relate events.
  • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
  • Provide commercial photography to assist company advertising and promotion on social platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
  • Experience with Nikon D90 and relate equipment.
  • Experience with Nikon D50 D2100 SLR digital cameras
  • Show more

Chief photographer vs freelance photographer skills

Common chief photographer skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 21%
  • Video Production, 18%
  • ENG, 12%
  • Visual Content, 6%
  • News Coverage, 5%
  • Local News, 4%
Common freelance photographer skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 30%
  • Aperture, 14%
  • Adobe Lightroom, 7%
  • Photo Shoots, 5%
  • Portfolio, 4%
  • Music Videos, 4%

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