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The differences between owner/photographers and school photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an owner/photographer and a school photographer. Additionally, a school photographer has an average salary of $98,357, which is higher than the $39,992 average annual salary of an owner/photographer.
The top three skills for an owner/photographer include adobe photoshop, portrait photography and customer service. The most important skills for a school photographer are customer service, kids, and camera equipment.
| Owner/Photographer | School Photographer | |
| Yearly salary | $39,992 | $98,357 |
| Hourly rate | $19.23 | $47.29 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 47,716 | 25,482 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An owner/photographer is responsible for developing digital photographic contents based on clients' needs and specifications by operating multiple photography equipment and photo editing software tools. Owner/photographers coordinate with the clients closely to update them with the progress of the project, ensuring that the deliverables meet the budget goals and the agreed timeframe. They also suggest the best places for the photoshoot for the client's approval. An owner/photographer must be highly creative and organized to achieve clients' satisfaction that would benefit their portfolios and attract more potential clients upon their former clients' recommendations.
A school photographer is typically a freelancer who works from one institution to another. Their responsibilities typically revolve around organizing and facilitating photoshoots for yearbooks, school IDs, and other events. Moreover, a school photographer is also responsible for coordinating with school authorities to identify and meet their preferences when it comes to the setting and backgrounds, arranging sets, and managing schedules and budgets. A school photographer may also liaise with parents, students, and faculty members to provide them with copies of the photos.
Owner/photographers and school photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Owner/Photographer | School Photographer | |
| Average salary | $39,992 | $98,357 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $55,000 | Between $17,000 And $561,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an owner/photographer and a school photographer in terms of educational background:
| Owner/Photographer | School Photographer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 49% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between owner/photographers' and school photographers' demographics:
| Owner/Photographer | School Photographer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 37.5% Female, 62.5% | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |