How To Become A Freelance Writer And Photographer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a freelance writer and photographer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Dr. Terry Nugent,

Gayle Rogers

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a freelance writer and photographer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.15 an hour? That's $52,315 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -10% and produce -5,100 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a freelance writer and photographer?

Dr. Terry Nugent

Assoc prof of English, Website

Graduates with a BA in English have more opportunities than ever before in the job market. While most think only about the degree as a stepping stone into K12 teaching or graduate school, the degree can also be a stepping stone into the corporate world. Large corporations need people who have experience writing complex texts, applying critical thinking and analytic abilities, and audience awareness when communicating with stakeholders at all levels of their industry. Industries that hire English majors include nonprofit organizations, government agencies, medical institutions, journalism, publishing, and entertainment. Basically, I would encourage a senior or new graduate to think outside the box—hone in on the industry you think you would be most interested in, think about the kind of work environment you are best suited for, and then look for entry-level positions with companies in that industry.

ScoreFreelance Writer And PhotographerUS Average

Salary

4.1

Avg. Salary $52,315

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate -10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.29%

Asian 8.66%

Black or African American 6.50%

Hispanic or Latino 12.92%

Unknown 4.41%

White 67.21%

Gender

female 60.28%

male 39.72%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.1

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a freelance writer and photographer

Explore freelance writer and photographer education requirements

Most common freelance writer and photographer degrees

Bachelor's

72.6 %

Associate

11.8 %

Master's

8.9 %

Start to develop specific freelance writer and photographer skills

Skills	Percentages
Photography	13.66%
Adobe Photoshop	9.89%
Local News	7.72%
Local Events	6.30%
Feature Stories	5.50%

Complete relevant freelance writer and photographer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New freelance writer and photographers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a freelance writer and photographer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real freelance writer and photographer resumes.

Research freelance writer and photographer duties and responsibilities

Manage and update social media accounts (Facebook and Instagram).
Contribute to nationwide social media campaigns on Instagram and Facebook.
Specialize in blogging and ad copy writing for localranches.
Contribute to the web site s blog and Instagram account.

Prepare your freelance writer and photographer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your freelance writer and photographer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a freelance writer and photographer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable freelance writer and photographer resume templates

Build a professional freelance writer and photographer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your freelance writer and photographer resume.