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Chief photographer vs owner/photographer

The differences between chief photographers and owner/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 an owner/photographer. Additionally, an owner/photographer has an average salary of $39,992, 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 an owner/photographer are adobe photoshop, portrait photography, and customer service.

Chief photographer vs owner/photographer overview

Chief PhotographerOwner/Photographer
Yearly salary$38,178$39,992
Hourly rate$18.35$19.23
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs14,12647,716
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age3939
Years of experience22

Chief photographer vs owner/photographer salary

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

Chief PhotographerOwner/Photographer
Average salary$38,178$39,992
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $71,000Between $28,000 And $55,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between chief photographer and owner/photographer education

There are a few differences between a chief photographer and an owner/photographer in terms of educational background:

Chief PhotographerOwner/Photographer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityNorthwestern University

Chief photographer vs owner/photographer demographics

Here are the differences between chief photographers' and owner/photographers' demographics:

Chief PhotographerOwner/Photographer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 79.7% Female, 20.3%Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5%
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, 6.4% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between chief photographer and owner/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.

Owner/photographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
  • Set up multiple Profoto lighting and tether DSLR camera equipment.
  • Develop Facebook posts to ensure social interactions with customers.
  • Do stylize commercial photography for fellow business owners for products and portfolio building.
  • Obtain permits, insurance and responsible for acquiring any and all documentation need for photography productions.
  • Perform all photography and photo-editing/finishing/restoration of product.

Chief photographer vs owner/photographer skills

Common chief photographer skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 21%
  • Video Production, 18%
  • ENG, 12%
  • Visual Content, 6%
  • News Coverage, 5%
  • Local News, 4%
Common owner/photographer skills
  • Adobe Photoshop, 25%
  • Portrait Photography, 13%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Adobe Lightroom, 8%
  • Photo Shoots, 4%
  • Lifestyle, 2%

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