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Press photographer : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
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Case studies

  • Range of typical starting salaries: £12,000 - £15,000; with experience this can rise to £17,000 - £20,000.
  • Range of typical salaries for very experienced photographers: £25,000 - £55,000.
  • Many photographers start on a weekly paper and with experience move on to regional and national papers. The salary reflects the size of circulation of the paper and the experience and reputation of the photographer. Scotland and London pay higher rates.
  • Most newspapers have a small core of staff photographers including senior photographers and a picture editor. Agencies and many newspapers also use regular contract freelancers, on a good daily rate of pay and with guaranteed work. The bulk of press images, however, come from freelancers with regional or specialist knowledge or from agencies whose daily rates vary from around £75 to £180.
  • Negotiating a reasonable freelance fee is complex and new entrants are advised to join the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) , which offers guidance on rates and contracts on the NUJ Freelance Fees Guide  website.
  • Good-quality magazines may offer higher rates. Experienced photographers may earn a flat fee when commissioned to cover a specific event. Advertising work is generally better paid.
  • When calculating fees remember to take into account overheads for equipment, which can be up to £100 per day.
  • Working hours typically include regular unsocial hours including evenings and weekends. Sports photographers, for example, are required to attend evening and weekend fixtures, although time off in lieu is generally given.
  • 80% of photographers are male, but this changes among the under 35s where 52% are female. This is reflected in the rest of the audiovisual industry, where women have been entering in growing numbers in recent years (Skillset 2010). Some areas of press photography, e.g. war and sports photography, are particularly male-dominated.
  • Work is quite widely available in most cities and large towns where newspapers are produced. Detailed geographical knowledge is very useful to local photographers for finding the best viewpoint.
  • Jobs may occur anywhere and at any time, so you have to be constantly available.
  • Work may be stressful if you are recording an accident or people's emotions and may also involve ethical decisions related to intrusion into private lives, and the possible consequences of the publication of photographs.
  • Photographers may experience objections to their photography and, occasionally, be required to deal with conflict.
  • Physical mobility and lifting ability are required to attend the scene and carry photographic equipment.
  • A driving licence is essential, as travel within a working day is frequent. Absence from home overnight may be required and overseas work or travel is occasionally needed.
 
AGCAS
Written by AGCAS editors
Date: 
August 2010
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