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School photographer vs commercial photographer

The differences between school photographers and commercial photographers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a school photographer and a commercial photographer. Additionally, a school photographer has an average salary of $98,357, which is higher than the $37,027 average annual salary of a commercial photographer.

The top three skills for a school photographer include customer service, kids and camera equipment. The most important skills for a commercial photographer are product photography, adobe photoshop, and art direction.

School photographer vs commercial photographer overview

School PhotographerCommercial Photographer
Yearly salary$98,357$37,027
Hourly rate$47.29$17.80
Growth rate9%9%
Number of jobs25,48233,133
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age3939
Years of experience22

School photographer vs commercial photographer salary

School photographers and commercial photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.

School PhotographerCommercial Photographer
Average salary$98,357$37,027
Salary rangeBetween $17,000 And $561,000Between $23,000 And $59,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-Armedia
Best paying industry-Utilities

Differences between school photographer and commercial photographer education

There are a few differences between a school photographer and a commercial photographer in terms of educational background:

School PhotographerCommercial Photographer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorPhotographyPhotography
Most common collegeHarvard UniversityHarvard University

School photographer vs commercial photographer demographics

Here are the differences between school photographers' and commercial photographers' demographics:

School PhotographerCommercial Photographer
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 32.5% Female, 67.5%Male, 73.9% Female, 26.1%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 7.1% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between school photographer and commercial photographer duties and responsibilities

School photographer example 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.
  • Supervise photography team, maintain ENG equipment and develop capital budgets.
  • Demonstrate professionalism and confidence out in the field gaining a greater understanding of photojournalism and photography
  • Show more

Commercial photographer example responsibilities.

  • Manage creative projects from concept to completion; including signs, posters, specialize logos and video documentaries for clients.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.
  • Compile portfolios for multiple photography competitions/certifications.

School photographer vs commercial photographer skills

Common school photographer skills
  • Customer Service, 39%
  • Kids, 30%
  • Camera Equipment, 19%
  • High-Quality Images, 4%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 2%
  • Photographic Equipment, 1%
Common commercial photographer skills
  • Product Photography, 38%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 15%
  • Art Direction, 7%
  • Video Production, 5%
  • Photo Shoots, 4%
  • Lifestyle, 3%

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