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The differences between school photographers and 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 photographer. Additionally, a school photographer has an average salary of $98,357, which is higher than the $33,968 average annual salary of a photographer.
The top three skills for a school photographer include customer service, kids and camera equipment. The most important skills for a photographer are adobe photoshop, customer service, and excellent time management.
| School Photographer | Photographer | |
| Yearly salary | $98,357 | $33,968 |
| Hourly rate | $47.29 | $16.33 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 25,482 | 1,772 |
| Job satisfaction | 3 | 4.67 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A photographer is an individual who focuses on the art of taking images with the use of a digital or traditional film camera. They are knowledgeable in the proper utilization and care of high-end cameras. They generally work as a freelancer and often hired to capture memories of unique clients. Some are also in exclusive partnerships with event-related industries in such settings as weddings, graduation, corporate events, and even commercial shoots. Apart from taking pictures, they also may be required to edit and prepare photographs to submit to clients or for publication.
School photographers and photographers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| School Photographer | Photographer | |
| Average salary | $98,357 | $33,968 |
| Salary range | Between $17,000 And $561,000 | Between $22,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Jacobs Engineering Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Professional |
There are a few differences between a school photographer and a photographer in terms of educational background:
| School Photographer | Photographer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 51% |
| Most common major | Photography | Photography |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between school photographers' and photographers' demographics:
| School Photographer | Photographer | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 32.5% Female, 67.5% | Male, 38.3% Female, 61.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |