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What does a photo editor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
Quoted expert
Bradley Shreve
What does a photo editor do

Photo Editors are employees in the creatives or marketing department of the company. They handle photos used by the company for its marketing collaterals, social media posts, or publishing. They also ensure that the photos are in line with the company's brand and image. Photo Editors may add items or elements to make the photo more eye-catching.

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Photo editor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real photo editor resumes:

  • Manage SEO tags for photo base articles.
  • Lead teams of multimedia writers to creating short documentaries.
  • Manage metadata and implement SEO practices that increase page views!
  • Manage international man-made fiber market research/publishing company and supervise editorial content and sales of industry statistical journal.
  • Experience with HTML and CSS coding to build a web-base interface to display training modules.
  • Maintain the image database, caption placements, color correction, image archive and ftp images to clients and agencies.
  • Create animation and motion graphics.
  • Strategize a social media approach through Instagram.
  • Create scenarios of films, slideshows, presentations and clips.
  • Build and maintain a multimedia website using Dreamweaver and InDesign.
  • Create a portfolio of vary images for each person or group.
  • Copyedit stories, write headlines, and design layout using InDesign.
  • Capture memories of guests with characters and landmarks around the parks and resorts.
  • Create websites, graphics, animation, and videos for daily news broadcast.
  • Create images for facebook, getglue, and other social platforms for show promotion.

Photo editor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 23% of Photo Editors are proficient in Adobe Photoshop, Stock Photography, and Photo Shoots. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Good judgment, and Writing skills.

We break down the percentage of Photo Editors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Adobe Photoshop, 23%

    Edited photos received from photographers using Adobe Photoshop Elements.

  • Stock Photography, 7%

    Edited rights-managed stock photography from world-renowned National Geographic Society photographers, in submissions of approximately 200 frames each.

  • Photo Shoots, 6%

    Conceptualized and produced gallery photo shoots both domestically and internationally with broadcast network for advertising, publicity and online promotion.

  • Instagram, 6%

    Directed and ran our Instagram account and successfully increased our following by 200% from Fall 2015 to Spring 2017.

  • FTP, 5%

    Executed distribution of client assets and coordinated, organized and maintained job databases, FTP accounts and archives of projects.

  • Facebook, 4%

    Developed social media marketing strategies, including a Facebook contest.

Most photo editors use their skills in "adobe photoshop," "stock photography," and "photo shoots" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential photo editor responsibilities here:

Creativity. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a photo editor to have is creativity. Their role and responsibilities require that "editors must be imaginative, curious, and knowledgeable in a broad range of topics." Photo editors often use creativity in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "performed news and creative photo research, caption writing and web production for website. "

Good judgment. Many photo editor duties rely on good judgment. "editors decide whether certain stories are ethical and whether there is enough evidence to publish them.," so a photo editor will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways photo editor responsibilities rely on good judgment: "handled all onsite photo assignments ensured that photographs were kept in good order and organized accordingly. "

Writing skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of photo editors is writing skills. This skill is critical to many everyday photo editor duties, as "editors ensure that all written content has correct grammar, punctuation, and syntax." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assisted editor-in-chief with story editing and overall consistency/quality of writing and layout. "

Detail oriented. A big part of what photo editors do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to photo editor responsibilities because "editors must be meticulous to ensure that material is error free and matches the style of a publication." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical photo editor tasks: "level of detail required to edit photos range from light touch-up to more detailed color correction and restoration. "

Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for photo editor responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of photo editors all the time, as "in working with writers, editors must have tact and the ability to guide and encourage them in their work." An excerpt from a real photo editor resume shows how this skill is central to what a photo editor does: "coordinated interpersonal relations between editorial staff, artists, writers and judges. "

Most common photo editor skills

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Compare different photo editors

Photo editor vs. Videographer

A videographer specializes in shooting and editing high-definition videos of different events, making them presentable to clients. They are primarily responsible for having their video equipment, coordinating with clients to learn any preferences or particular requests, capturing and recording from the best angle, and producing results quickly and accurately. Most of the time, a videographer may travel to different places, direct clients on what to do during filming, and edit any obstructions to produce an optimal result. Furthermore, it is essential to build rapport with clients to establish a client base and earn more projects.

The annual salary of videographers is $19,548 lower than the average salary of photo editors.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both photo editor and videographer positions are skilled in adobe photoshop, photo shoots, and instagram.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a photo editor are more likely to require skills like "stock photography," "ftp," "art direction," and "edit photos." On the other hand, a job as a videographer requires skills like "training videos," "video production," "video content," and "photography." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Videographers really shine in the education industry with an average salary of $41,551. Comparatively, photo editors tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $68,080.videographers tend to reach similar levels of education than photo editors. In fact, videographers are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Photo editor vs. Video producer

Generally, a video producer manages and coordinates different aspects of the video production process. Video producers establish and develop multimedia content for internal corporate announcement videos, customer stories, and any other business projects. They also create videos for external promotions, product marketing, and recruitment. A bachelor's degree in video production, broadcasting, or film is necessary for this job. Video producers should know about media communication and production. Their skills should include attention to detail, initiative, leadership skills, and acceptance of criticism.

A career as a video producer brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a photo editor. In fact, video producers salary is $4,556 lower than the salary of photo editors per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both photo editors and video producers have skills such as "adobe photoshop," "instagram," and "facebook. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real photo editor resumes. While photo editor responsibilities can utilize skills like "stock photography," "photo shoots," "ftp," and "art direction," video producers use skills like "video production," "motion graphics," "youtube," and "video projects."

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Video producers tend to reach similar levels of education than photo editors. In fact, they're 2.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for photo editors in the next 3-5 years?

Bradley ShreveBradley Shreve LinkedIn profile

Editor, Tribal College Journal

If you plan to teach, focus on becoming familiar with, and understanding how to use, different learning management systems. You should also know where to find various digital historical sources, whether in online archives or on the web. It is also crucial to be adept at using a variety of apps and social media platforms.

Photo editor vs. News producer

A News Producer supervises the editorial content of the news to ensure that news stories are produced and presented to the public in a quality manner. They collaborate with the news director to select and prioritize content to make the broadcast more attractive.

On average scale, news producers bring in lower salaries than photo editors. In fact, they earn a $8,560 lower salary per year.By looking over several photo editors and news producers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "facebook," "twitter," and "feature stories." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from photo editor resumes include skills like "adobe photoshop," "stock photography," "photo shoots," and "instagram," whereas a news producer is more likely to list skills in "assignment desk," "control room," "story development," and "social media sites. "

News producers earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $65,677. Comparatively, photo editors have the highest earning potential in the professional industry, with an average salary of $68,080.When it comes to education, news producers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to photo editors. In fact, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Photo editor vs. Freelance videographer/editor

A freelance videographer/editor is responsible for processing and editing video contents, usually on a project basis. Freelance videographer/editors create their footage using their shooting equipment, utilize various design and editing software, and finish the project based on the clients' specifications and deliverables. They should also have a good grasp of digital marketing to produce impactful videos to the target audience. A freelance videographer/editor must be detail-oriented and have excellent communication skills to coordinate with the production team for content plans and perform adjustments as needed.

Freelance videographer/editors tend to earn a lower pay than photo editors by an average of $14,687 per year.According to resumes from photo editors and freelance videographer/editors, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "adobe photoshop," "photo shoots," and "instagram. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between photo editors and freelance videographer/editors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a photo editor might have more use for skills like "stock photography," "ftp," "art direction," and "edit photos." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of freelance videographer/editors require skills like "training videos," "video content," "video production," and "camera operation. "

Freelance videographer/editors reach similar levels of education compared to photo editors, in general. The difference is that they're 0.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of photo editor

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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