Careers in photography have opened up tremendously in the last 15 years with the advent of digital cameras and software tools that make taking better pictures easier and offer more options to manipulate and enhance images. Those with additional artistic and technical skills will find a wealth of opportunities as photographers and in related work, especially if they earn an online photography degree. Whether you are interested in opening your own photography studio, wish to work for a company that provides photography services, or plan to pursue a career in specialized photography (sports, nature, news, etc.), an online degree in photography will give you an edge in your field.
Online Education Options for Degrees in Photography
There are online educational options for people interested in photography at multiple levels. Course work typically includes classes on the history of photography, lighting, digital manipulation, etc. Students also typically spend a lot of their course time focusing on computer-related photography technology, since print photography skills are in far less demand than their digital cousin.
Online education options in photography include the following:
- Online Certification in Photography and related fields
- Online Associate degree in Photography and related fields
- Online Bachelor degree in Photography and related fields
- Online Master degree in Photography and related fields
Degrees in Photography Career and Salary Information
There are multiple career opportunities for people who have earned an online degree in photography, including advertising photography, architectural photography, documentary photography, fashion photography, fine art photography, photo illustration, and still life and product photography. Additionally, people in this field are often self-employed or freelancers. Moreover, photography jobs are projected to grow by more than ten percent in the coming years.
A photography degree salary can vary widely in the field based on factors like geographic location and specific career field. Median hourly wages based on years of experience for photographers break down as follows: 1-4 years, $8.70 - $12.49 ($450 annual bonus); 5-9 years, $10.32 - $15.44 ($574 annual bonus); 10-19 years, $10.73 - $18.97 ($1429 annual bonus); 20+ years, $13.05 - $23.19 ($600 annual bonus).
The most popular states for photography jobs are California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas.