Forensic photographer vs freelance photographer

The differences between forensic 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 forensic photographer and a freelance photographer. Additionally, a forensic photographer has an average salary of $79,125, which is higher than the $42,949 average annual salary of a freelance photographer.

The top three skills for a forensic photographer include latent prints, photographic techniques and adobe photoshop. The most important skills for a freelance photographer are adobe photoshop, aperture, and adobe lightroom.

Forensic photographer vs freelance photographer overview

	Forensic Photographer	Freelance Photographer
Yearly salary	$79,125	$42,949
Hourly rate	$38.04	$20.65
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	1,964	1,766
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	2	2

Forensic photographer vs freelance photographer salary

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

	Forensic Photographer	Freelance Photographer
Average salary	$79,125	$42,949
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $306,000	Between $29,000 And $61,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between forensic photographer and freelance photographer education

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

	Forensic Photographer	Freelance Photographer
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common major	Photography	Photography
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Harvard University

Forensic photographer vs freelance photographer demographics

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

	Forensic Photographer	Freelance Photographer
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%	Male, 51.2% Female, 48.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 15.6% Asian, 5.8% 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 Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between forensic photographer and freelance photographer duties and responsibilities

Forensic photographer example responsibilities.

Coordinate and manage providing and dressing the customers with old western costumes in preparation of taking their photos.
Photograph latent impressions on a variety of surfaces using ALS, RUVIS, and other light sources using a Nikon D3S.
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

Forensic photographer vs freelance photographer skills

Common forensic photographer skills

Latent Prints, 32%
Photographic Techniques, 27%
Adobe Photoshop, 15%
Biometrics, 14%
Law Enforcement, 12%

Common freelance photographer skills

Adobe Photoshop, 30%
Aperture, 14%
Adobe Lightroom, 7%
Photo Shoots, 5%
Portfolio, 4%
Music Videos, 4%

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Forensic Photographer
Forensic Photographer vs Freelance Photographer

Updated January 8, 2025

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