Forensic photographer vs photographer assistant

The differences between forensic photographers and photographer assistants 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 photographer assistant. Additionally, a forensic photographer has an average salary of $79,125, which is higher than the $36,555 average annual salary of a photographer assistant.

The top three skills for a forensic photographer include latent prints, photographic techniques and adobe photoshop. The most important skills for a photographer assistant are adobe photoshop, photographic equipment, and photo shoots.

Forensic photographer vs photographer assistant overview

	Forensic Photographer	Photographer Assistant
Yearly salary	$79,125	$36,555
Hourly rate	$38.04	$17.57
Growth rate	9%	9%
Number of jobs	1,964	1,771
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	2	2

Forensic photographer vs photographer assistant salary

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

	Forensic Photographer	Photographer Assistant
Average salary	$79,125	$36,555
Salary range	Between $20,000 And $306,000	Between $20,000 And $64,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between forensic photographer and photographer assistant education

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

	Forensic Photographer	Photographer Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 51%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Photography	Photography
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Harvard University

Forensic photographer vs photographer assistant demographics

Here are the differences between forensic photographers' and photographer assistants' demographics:

	Forensic Photographer	Photographer Assistant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%	Male, 35.1% Female, 64.9%
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, 6.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between forensic photographer and photographer assistant 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.

Photographer assistant example responsibilities.

Achieve working knowledge of professional DSLR cameras and equipment.
Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
Assist head photographer in outdoor shoots -Operate equipment such as flashes, tripods, reflectors, etc.
Work closely with merchandising managers and organize all lifestyle studio and outdoor shoots.
Freelance commercial photography with a focus on natural light environmental portraiture and lifestyle photography.
Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

Forensic photographer vs photographer assistant skills

Common forensic photographer skills

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

Common photographer assistant skills

Adobe Photoshop, 38%
Photographic Equipment, 15%
Photo Shoots, 13%
Customer Service, 11%
Adobe Lightroom, 3%
Scheduling Appointments, 3%

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Forensic Photographer
Forensic Photographer vs Photographer Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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