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What is a school photographer and how to become one
A school photographer takes pictures of students and other school staff for yearbooks, school IDs, and for the school's personal use. Often, they work on a freelance basis, moving from school to school.
The duties for this profession include taking pictures of the students and staff, providing digital copies for students, organizing photo shoots at school, handling budgets, editing photos, and taking orders from parents or students who require a personal copy. A high school diploma or a GED is the usual requirement; however, what is worth more is the experience in handling the camera and knowing how to use its functions. Moreover, knowledge of computer software such as Adobe Photoshop and similar programs will prove beneficial for this. The profession will require travel from school to school and flexibility.
The average hourly salary for this profession is $12.97, which amounts to $24,902 annually. The main requirement for the profession is that applicants be enthusiastic for photographing.
What general advice would you give to a school photographer?
Susan McSpadden
Marketing Photographer, Johnson County Community College
Avg. Salary $98,357
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.20%
Asian 7.09%
Black or African American 6.41%
Hispanic or Latino 15.48%
Unknown 5.28%
White 65.54%
Genderfemale 67.49%
male 32.51%
Age - 38American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 38Stress level is manageable
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is very poor
6.4 - fair
School photographer career paths
Key steps to become a school photographer
Explore school photographer education requirements
Start to develop specific school photographer skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 39.38% Kids 30.49% Camera Equipment 18.58% High-Quality Images 4.12% Adobe Photoshop 1.77% Complete relevant school photographer training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New school 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 school photographer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real school photographer resumes.Research school photographer duties and responsibilities
- Coordinate and manage providing and dressing the customers with old western costumes in preparation of taking their photos.
- Provide a contact point between Lifetouch and school staff.
- Apply technical knowledge for setup and operation of DSLR cameras and lights for traveling studio-like setting.
- Act as a representative of Lifetouch and handle on-site communication- including re-booking schools for the following year.
Prepare your school photographer resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your school 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 school 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 school photographer resume templates
Build a professional school 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 school photographer resume.
Apply for school photographer jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a school photographer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first school photographer job
Are you a school photographer?
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Average school photographer salary
The average school photographer salary in the United States is $98,357 per year or $47 per hour. School photographer salaries range between $17,000 and $561,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do school photographers rate their job?
School photographer reviews
Opportunity for development of photographic skills
Unpredictable schedule, high stress without necessity, lack of work/life balance
In control of your own time.
For a freelance photographer it's all or nothing, so financially it can can be a little scary.
I love capturing memories that will last for lifetimes.
I do not like when my customer is not happy.
Updated January 8, 2025
