Industrial/Commercial Photographer

Also known as:

Commercial Photographer
Photographer, Industrial/Commercial

Introduction

Industrial/commercial or corporate photographers provide photographs for industrial and/or commercial purposes. These may include close up photographs of machinery, time lapse photography of industrial processes and photographs for company publications and training materials.

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Work Activities

Photographers who work in industry or commerce often have to fulfil a wide range of functions. They may be employed in one of the following areas:
• manufacturing
• research and development
• architecture and construction
• business
• education.

Their work differs according to the nature of the organisation they are working for.

Industrial photographers may use their skills to help solve research problems that arise in such areas as engineering, and for quality control purposes. Commercial photographers may take photographs for use in publicity, or may be involved in producing materials such as videos or slides to support training or enhance presentations. Photography departments located within organisations are often expected to be self-financing by providing services to outside organisations.

Self-employed or freelance photographers may be involved in similar kinds of work, but usually concentrate on the commercial aspects of the work, such as marketing goods or services. Some photographers may have a specialism, such as aerial photography or architecture, which influences the type of area they are employed in.

Photographers must be creative, but also technically minded and extremely accurate. The photographer's technical expertise needs to cover lighting, equipment and techniques such as electronic imaging and computer-aided manipulation of photographs, which is popular for marketing. Industrial photographers may have to make a photoelastic stress analysis to reveal stress in materials; or use macrophotography that gives close up photographs with high magnification; or photomicrography which is photography through a microscope. This work often overlaps with the work of the scientific photographer.

Industrial/Commercial photographers need a driving licence because they need to travel to various locations. Industrial/commercial photographers travel locally, nationally and even internationally. Photographers working on location may have to work in hostile conditions, such as on an oil rig.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must have good communication skills and be able to get on with a range of people, especially if their work is disrupted to take photographs.

You must be interested in the company or industry you are working for to represent them professionally. For marketing materials you need to understand your client's business, brand, values and the message they want to communicate.

Creativity and flexibility are needed to constantly adapt techniques and equipment to new and different surroundings. You need a good knowledge of electronics and the latest digital imaging software.

Stamina is necessary because of the constant use of heavy equipment, and good eyesight is essential. You also have to be aware of health and safety issues.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for industrial/commercial photographers vary depending on the sector of photography they work in, and whether they are employed or self-employed.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Industrial/commercial photographers earn in the range of £15,000 - £17,500 a year, rising to around £22,000 - £28,000. Higher earners can make around £39,000 a year. Photographers' assistants earn in the range of around £210 - £350 a week.

Working hours can vary. Some photographers work regular office hours over a 37-hour week, Monday to Friday. Others work irregular hours, which may include early starts, late finishes, and work at weekends and on public holidays.

Industrial/commercial photographers find work in the Civil Service, universities, museums, commerce and industry. While some companies and organisations offer permanent employment, most photographers are employed on a contract or freelance basis.

There is a lot of competition to enter this work.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

This is an extremely competitive field. Relevant skills and abilities and a professional portfolio are usually required. Some photographers start their working careers as a photographic assistant.

Photography can be studied on a full- or part-time basis, or it can develop from a leisure interest.

It is useful to update your skills by taking short courses in photographic techniques and methods.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses.

Relevant courses in photography, at various levels, are offered by a number of centres, by distance learning.

Universities and colleges of higher education (HE) will usually consider applications from candidates who do not meet their usual entry requirements, especially those with relevant experience. You should check the admissions policy of individual universities and HE colleges.

• 41% of people in occupations such as industrial/commercial photographer are self-employed.
• 9% work part-time.
• 7% have flexible hours.
• 5% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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