/ Why and How to Become a Photographer

What is Photography?

Almost everyone uses a camera these days but few set out to learn the skills and creative techniques that will make their photographs look professional. Learn the tricks of the trade from professional photographers and artists with decades of photography success.

Take your creative spirit to the next level and indulge in the passion that you love. Open Colleges will soon offer inspiring courses and a flexible learning environment to give you the very best in innovative courses that are relevant to the digital world.

Courses will be designed by industry professionals using unique techniques and training modules to cover all aspects of Photography – depending on what you choose to focus on.

Why Study Photography?

Employment for Photographers grew very strongly over the past 5 years and is expected to grow over the next 5 years. Employment in this occupation (13 600 in November 2018) rose to 14300 by 2023.

Photographers have an average proportion of full-time jobs (48 per cent). For Photographers working full-time, average weekly hours are 46 hours per week.

Job Outlook website.

Photographer Age Profile

New Statistics – Creative Industries on the rise

The creative sector – which encompasses advertising and marketing, architecture, design and visual arts (including photography), music and performing arts, software and digital content – is one of the fastest-growing segments of the national economy. ABS - newly analysed data from the 2016 census. 

What Photography Qualification Do You Need?

From the history of photography to advanced skills in Adobe Photoshop, as well as an understanding of current marketing practices, our upcoming course in Photography and Photo Imaging gives you the technical skills and business acumen you need to successfully establish or enhance your career in photography.

Open Colleges now offers a brand new course in Certificate IV in Photography and Photo Imaging. Start a career as a Photographer or enhance your existing skills in digital photography with this course. 

Interview with a professional Photographer

In two sentences, tell us what a bit about your job as a Photographer.

I'm using my gift of photography through the lens to tell my clients’ stories and to change the world – one image at a time! I work by using my passion to try to capture the true potential of all my clients to help them build their online personal branding presence, which I feel is essential.

What does a Photography professional do on a day to day basis?

I start by packing lunch for my four year old son, and then coffee follows very soon after! I'm in daily in-depth consultations with Australia's best entrepreneurs and businesses about their personal brand.

Daily I would check client bookings ahead of my schedule. Then I would contact potential clients, check the various social media statuses, organise all my equipment and make sure it’s cleaned, then I’ll update the database with new client information. After this I might, recheck edited images for meetings with clients, then create invoices and make sure none are overdue. Finally I would check the studios are ready for my new exciting clients!

What are the best parts of the job?

I LOVE my Clients! They are exactly who I want to be dealing with in life, work and play. I also mentor and coach women in business to reach their full potential daily. I write articles on personal branding and I also blog. I'm in on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter sharing my insights about my gig! And then I'm talking to the media about my Social Enterprise - Indigenous Literacy Bookworm Program.

What skills/attributes do potential Photographers need to have?

It’s important to have great people skills, which is even more important than learning how to hold a camera!

What’re your favourite things about working in the Photography industry?

I have to say that I really enjoy the creativity that I bring to my team, my community and all the people around me, especially my family and son.

Thanks Zahrina for sharing your story with Open Colleges.