The most exciting feature of photography is the variety of jobs available in this field. It ranges from highly specialized technical work to jobs that need visual literacy and creativity. Photography is not just an art but it also requires the practical knowledge of various parameters like types of lenses, aperture, exposure, etc. Professional photography needs the complete photography techniques and the technical knowledge of the cameras.

Course Details and Eligibility

Many institutes offer certificate, diploma, and graduate courses in photography. There are no specific academic criteria for the courses in photography. All the candidates who have cleared the 12th exam are eligible to pursue diploma or certificate course in photography. The aspirants can also learn photography as a part-time course along with their bachelor degree. Other than the diploma and certificate courses, Photography is also offered as an optional subject for bachelor’s degree in Fine arts. A few institutes offer full time B.A course in photography.

Institutes that offer Photography courses

In India, there are several institutes that offer various courses in photography. These institutions teach both digital and traditional methods along with modification of the pictures and photo printing using an image editing software. A few institutes in India that offer photography courses are listed below.

• Asian Academy of Film and Television, Noida
• National Academy of Photography, Kolkata
• Academy for Photographic Excellence, New Delhi
• Bangalore School of Arts and Photography
• Delhi School of Photography
• Fortune Institute of Communication and Television, New Delhi
• Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
• Mass communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia
• National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad

Career Opportunities

A fresher can begin his/her career in photography as an assistant of professional or senior photographer. This will help him/her to learn more about photography. Some of the areas of specializations for the Photographers are commercial and industrial, scientific, news, portrait, advertising, wildlife photography, fashion, etc. Various career options possible within the realm of photography are mentioned below.

• Fashion Photographer
• Industrial Photographer
• Press Photographer
• Portrait Photographer
• Feature Photographer
• Wildlife Photographer
• Scientific Photographer
• Freelancer
• Forensic Photographer
• Digital photographer

Personal characteristics

The aspirants must be creative individuals with the ability to think and communicate in visual terms. This profession basically requires an observant eye and a perceptive mind. The candidates should have a sense of colour and light. They should also have the capacity to work under pressure, in complicated conditions and irregular hours.

Salary Package

Photography is really a profitable career for the experienced ones in this field. A beginner in the career of photography will get a starting salary ranging from Rs. 4,000/- to Rs. 7,000/- per month.  An experienced and qualified photographer will get a salary up to Rs. 25,000/- per month.