How to hire a photographer, editor

How to hire a photographer, editor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step photographer, editor hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a photographer, editor job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new photographer, editor
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a photographer, editor do?

Post a photographer, editor job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The photographer, editor hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A photographer, editor's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, photographers, editor from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents photographer, editor salaries for various positions.

   Type of Photographer, Editor	Description	Hourly rate
   Photographer, Editor	Photographers use their technical expertise, creativity, and composition skills to produce and preserve images that tell a story or record an event.	$17-34
   Freelance Producer	The responsibilities of a freelance producer are so broad that they can be tricky to define. Broadly, a freelance producer is responsible for finding, launching, and completing a project... Show more	$15-54
   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... Show more	$16-47

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Video Cameras
   • Digital Photography
   • Adobe Premiere
   • ENG
   • News Stories
   • VO
   • Color Correction
   • Edit Video
   • Adobe Creative Suite
   • Adobe Lightroom
   • Digital Images
   • Graphic Design
   • Post Processing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
   • Photograph original artwork on copy stands using DSLR's.
   • Complete assignments for weekly deadline using personal Nikon SLR film camera system.
   • Edit photos using Lightroom, and Photoshop to create special effects in post-production
   • Train to learn all types of digital cameras from the small point and shoots to the larger more advance DSLR cameras.
   • Create PowerPoint presentations and publication quality images using digital input devices, photo-editing and graphic arts software.

   More photographer, editor duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your photographer, editor job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A photographer, editor can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, photographers, editor' average salary in nevada is 54% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level photographers, editor 49% less than senior-level photographers, editor.
   • Certifications. A photographer, editor with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a photographer, editor's salary.

   Average photographer, editor salary

   $51,131yearly

   $24.58 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level photographer, editor salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average photographer, editor salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$75,468	$36
   2	California	$64,220	$31
   3	Massachusetts	$63,097	$30
   4	Utah	$58,085	$28
   5	Illinois	$56,703	$27
   6	Texas	$54,398	$26
   7	New Mexico	$53,835	$26
   8	Kentucky	$53,655	$26
   9	Colorado	$51,657	$25
   10	Arkansas	$51,121	$25
   11	Wisconsin	$51,086	$25
   12	Virginia	$50,880	$24
   13	Alabama	$50,319	$24
   14	Georgia	$50,042	$24
   15	Hawaii	$46,562	$22
   16	South Carolina	$46,234	$22
   17	Arizona	$45,130	$22
   18	Louisiana	$45,095	$22
   19	Michigan	$43,584	$21
   20	Florida	$42,991	$21

   Average photographer, editor salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	University of California-Berkeley	$66,788	$32.11
   2	Entravision Communications	$61,884	$29.75	9
   3	Univision Communications	$61,533	$29.58	19
   4	TEGNA	$55,847	$26.85	39
   5	Sinclair Broadcast Group	$55,317	$26.59	109
   6	University of Michigan	$55,182	$26.53
   7	DCH Health System	$53,791	$25.86	1
   8	Boston University	$51,412	$24.72	2
   9	ActionLink	$49,345	$23.72
   10	CreativeDrive	$49,214	$23.66
   11	Paramount	$48,557	$23.34	64
   12	RWS Entertainment Group	$48,244	$23.19
   13	Rue Gilt Groupe	$47,831	$23.00	1
   14	Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC	$47,812	$22.99
   15	United Heritage Credit Union	$46,918	$22.56
   16	Evolution Digital	$46,885	$22.54
   17	Nexstar Media Group	$45,358	$21.81	147
   18	WMSN FOX 47 News, Madison	$45,130	$21.70	119
   19	Colonial Williamsburg Foundation	$40,893	$19.66
   20	Gray Television	$40,704	$19.57	62

4. Writing a photographer, editor job description

   A good photographer, editor job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a photographer, editor job description:

   Photographer, editor job description example

   KTLA Channel 5, located in the heart of Hollywood California, is looking for our next top performer. We require an experienced News Photographer and Live Truck Operator. This is a Union position, and all new hires will be responsible for joining IATSE Local 600.
   
   This role will be responsible for daily newsgathering and working with a reporter using their experience to shoot and edit video to tell a story of news events in a fair, unbiased, and accurate manner. They will edit material to match script prepared by reporter, producer, or associate producer using in-house or field locations as needed. The photographer will work with the reporter to get complete stories and suggest how a story should be produced. The Photographer will keep assigned equipment and/or vehicle in good working condition and file all required paperwork. Ability to set up live remotes to allow transmission of all forms of media feeds for live-from-the-scene reports back to the station.
   
   Requirements: Minimum of five (5) years' experience in News ENG Photography, Editing, and ENG/SNG live truck operation. Requires a valid California driver's license, as driving a news vehicle daily to and from stories is an essential part of the daily routine. Detail-oriented, able to follow directions, great attitude, perform duties and make independent decisions under extreme pressure. This position will need to work Holidays, Weekends, Overnight, Early Morning, Late Evenings, etc. This is a 24/7 news operation.
   News Photographer Responsibilities:
   Shoots video for news reports Confers with other personnel to discuss assignments, logistics, and shot requirements Set up, composes, and executes video shoots Maintains video equipment Edits video clips for television broadcasts and media content Operates live microwave and satellite trucks in remote situations Performs other duties as assigned
   
   Requirements and Skill:
   High school diploma Proficient in Adobe Premiere ProFluency in EnglishExcellent communication skills, both oral and written Minimum of five years' experience operating video recording equipment Proficiency with computers, mobile apps, telephones, and other office equipment Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize assignments and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, Time Management is crucial.Flexibility to work any shift
   
   KTLA will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find photographers, editor for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any photographers, editor they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level photographers, editor with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your photographer, editor job on Zippia to find and recruit photographer, editor candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting photographers, editor requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new photographer, editor

   Once you have selected a candidate for the photographer, editor position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a photographer, editor?