Explore a possible path

Photographers

Photograph people, landscapes, merchandise, or other subjects. May use lighting equipment to enhance a subject's appearance. May use editing software to produce finished images and prints. Includes commercial and industrial photographers, scientific photographers, and photojournalists.

How does this connect to your interests? →

A look at the work

  • Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
  • Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
  • Determine desired images and picture composition, selecting and adjusting subjects, equipment, and lighting to achieve desired effects.
  • Transfer photographs to computers for editing, archiving, and electronic transmission.
  • Use traditional or digital cameras, along with a variety of equipment, such as tripods, filters, and flash attachments.
  • Manipulate and enhance scanned or digital images to create desired effects, using computers and specialized software.
  • Take pictures of individuals, families, and small groups, either in studio or on location.
  • Enhance, retouch, and resize photographs and negatives, using airbrushing and other techniques.

A selection of source-listed tasks; duties vary by role and employer.

Interests involved in this work

These source scores describe occupational work activities. They are separate from your personal test results.

Hands-on

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

5.5 / 7

Investigative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.2 / 7

Creative

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

5.3 / 7

Helping people

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

1.9 / 7

Enterprising

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

2.3 / 7

Organizing

2026-02 · Machine Learning/Expert

3.4 / 7

Skills to explore

Source-reported importance on a 1–5 scale. Try a course, project or conversation to learn what these skills involve.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

2021-08

3.8 / 5

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

2021-08

3.8 / 5

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

2021-08

3.3 / 5

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

2021-08

3.1 / 5

Plan a small next step

Talk to someone doing this work, look for a supervised activity, and explore the subjects that interest you. Admission, licensing and current program requirements should be confirmed with the relevant institutions.

Source preparation category: Job Zone 3 of 5 · 2021-08. This category describes typical preparation, not your eligibility.

Related study fields

Source crosswalk connections are research leads, not required qualifications.

Photojournalism →

Visual and Performing Arts, General →

Digital Arts →

Commercial Photography →

Photography →

Art/Art Studies, General →

Explore all related study fields →

Source & methodology

O*NET-SOC code 27-4021.00 · Database 31.0 · Retrieved Oct 14, 2026. Dates on individual observations describe their source periods.

How interest exploration matching works →

Data: O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Used under CC BY 4.0. StudyIndex normalizes the presentation and adds exploration features; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions.