About Documentary Photography Careers

[Reyed Mia (Apprentice, DIU)]

About Documentary Photography Careers

Documentary photographers capture images that truthfully portray people, places and events. Their photographs offer viewers an accurate visual record or history. Unlike fine art photography or images used in advertising, documentary photos do not try to manipulate a viewer's reaction with unusual angles, creative lighting, special effects or staged poses. Documentary photographers use images to convey real stories and facts, and that skill offers them a range of career options.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism, or reporting daily news with images, is a traditional career path for documentary photographers. Photojournalists who work for small newspapers chronicle a wide range of subjects that portray life within a community. They may photograph traffic accidents, political campaigns, church fairs or school activities. Photojournalists for larger publications and news agencies may document significant national and international events, such as wars, natural disasters and scientific discoveries. Most full-time jobs in this highly competitive field require a bachelor's degree and experience, and many photographers rely on freelance assignments to build a portfolio. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2010 median hourly wage for photographers in the media was $20.61 an hour.

Grant Opportunities

Humanitarian organizations and agencies offer grants to documentary photographers whose work is centered on social justice issues. The Open Society Foundations awards $10,000 to $30,000 for innovative photography projects designed to trigger public involvement in human rights issues, as of 2013. Other organizations have more specific criteria. The Aftermath Project awards $20,000 annually to photography projects that document how communities rebuild in the wake of a war. Grants offer documentary photographers an opportunity to establish a professional reputation and may open the door to other job opportunities.

Government Jobs

Federal agencies hire documentary photographers to record government achievements of historical significance, ongoing projects and research subjects. Photographers also generate images of agency events, staff and administrators. As of 2013, a documentary photographer job with the U.S. Department of Transportation required a minimum of one year of professional experience and offered a salary that ranged from $74,870 to $97,333 a year, depending on the individual's work and educational history. The Federal Bureau of Investigation runs a Photographic Operations Program that assists local, state and other federal agencies with photos that document crime scenes and strategic sites.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement offers another option for documentary photographers, and jobs vary according to the agency. Small police departments may hire a freelance photographer to shoot an accident scene or photograph evidence of a crime. Large municipal and state law enforcement agencies may have a photographer as part of their forensic teams. According to the Evidence Photographers International Council, or EPIC, opportunities for documentary photographers are available at law firms, insurance companies, and police departments seeking images for both civil and criminal cases. According to EPIC, the average entry-level salary for a forensic photographer is $40,250 a year.

Source: http://work.chron.com/documentary-photography-careers-16604.html