Photojournalism isn’t just about taking impactful photographs, it involves telling a story, and conveying different perspectives and emotions. Projects or contracts vary from those that are fairly routine to the exciting and unpredictable.
We’ll take a look at how you might be able to break into this competitive line of work including the sort of skills you need to develop and the various routes you might take. We’ll also provide some career tips and hear from Amy Romer, a talented photojournalist based in Canada.
What does a photojournalist do?
You may be commissioned to provide articles or come up with your own proposals. Photojournalists often specialise in areas such as newsworthy events, travel or sports, or develop an interest in particular issues of social, cultural or ethical concern.
Photojournalism involves:
- Coming up with original ideas and seeking out interesting stories suitable for publication
- Taking high-quality photographs to capture a story
- Collecting information for the story around your photographs – this might involve interviewing key people and research
- Writing captions and stories to go with your photographs
- Purchasing and maintaining photographic equipment – you’ll need a decent camera, lenses, filters, a tripod etc, as well as suitable hardware and software to edit and store your photographs
- If freelance, dealing with the financial, administrative and marketing side of your business
- Conforming to high professional standards – your information needs to be accurate, protect the privacy of the people you profile, and avoid bias or manipulation. You also need to understand legislation concerning things like copyright and national security
We asked Amy about her role. “As a self-employed photojournalist I’m the creator, administrator, operations director and marketing manager of my business! Currently, I work on a retainer with IndigiNews, an indigenous-led journalism outlet in British Columbia. I mentor and support marginalised writers and photographers for a street paper called Megaphone Magazine, kind of like The Big Issue but in Vancouver. I’m producing a podcast for the first time. It’s about ecological grief and will be distributed by a major Canadian media outlet. IndigiNews aside, I freelance for other newspapers and magazines, as both a photojournalist and writer, and I also undertake photo projects with various clients – mostly non-governmental organisations.”
TIP: Initially there’s no need to spend a fortune on your photographic kit. Make sure you do your research on the best camera etc for your budget and look out for second-hand equipment.
Where could I work as a photojournalist?
Photojournalists may find work with magazines, newspapers, websites and through media agencies. Many, particularly in the early stages of their careers, work as freelancers or independent photojournalists. ‘Staff’ jobs (i.e. employed roles) don’t come up very often.
Freelancing may involve offering work to clients or having regular contracts with various magazines or newspapers. Some photojournalists, like Amy, are ‘stringers’ – retained by a publication or agency to photograph topical events in a certain locality.
Would I suit a career in photojournalism?
Photojournalists have a combination of creative, journalistic and technical skills. You obviously need to be an excellent photographer, skilled in composition, lighting, editing and so on, but talent alone isn’t usually enough as sound business and marketing skills are necessary to find and maintain work.
With such a lot of competition – including from highly skilled and experienced photojournalists – to make a living from photojournalism you must be confident, self-disciplined and committed to your work. To earn money while you are getting established, or in addition to photojournalism, it makes sense to develop a range of skills and to be as flexible as possible, perhaps willing and able to work in different formats (e.g. videojournalism) or with different genres.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills will help you win contracts and get people to cooperate so that you get the best photographs possible. As you provide words for your pictures, good research and writing skills are also important.
Photojournalism can be tough physically and emotionally. There can be pressure on you to get the right shots, to come up with original material and to develop your own style. Also, you might find yourself in uncomfortable and possibly risky environments, perhaps where there is conflict, disease or natural disasters. For all these reasons you need stamina and resilience.
You need to be in the right place at the right time. This can involve lots of travelling, periods away from home, long, unsocial hours and waiting around. You must be prepared for this type of lifestyle.
Amy’s TIP: “You need compassion, empathy, patience and determination. Keep pushing at the doors that look interesting to you and one of them will eventually open.”
How can I get into photojournalism?
There’s no set route into a career in photojournalism. It’s possible to start by training in photography or journalism through a relevant college or university course or an apprenticeship. Some photojournalists are self-taught and/or develop their expertise whilst working alongside those with experience.
If you have A level/Higher or equivalent-level qualifications, you could consider taking a suitable higher education course. Check entry requirements through UCAS and with individual universities. Listed below are examples of specialist full-time degree courses, some of which are available with a foundation year for those who don’t have the necessary entry requirements for direct entry:
- Photojournalism and documentary photography at the University of the Arts London: London College of Communication, the University of Bolton or the University of Gloucestershire (also available on a part-time basis)
- Documentary and editorial photography at Falmouth University
- Documentary photography at the University of South Wales
- Documentary photography and visual activism at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (this course can also be taken part time)
- Journalism with photography at Plymouth Marjon University
There are also a few postgraduate programmes in photojournalism and related subjects. These are aimed at graduates or those with sufficient experience or professional qualifications.
TIP: Research the content of courses carefully. Find out what links the universities or other providers have with employers and the kind of work former students have gone on to do. Any opportunity to get experience is valuable – the course at Falmouth, for instance, can be taken with a year’s professional placement. Also look out for courses that are accredited by organisations such as the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) or The Association of Photographers (AOP).
On more general photography and journalism courses at different levels you may be able to take optional units in photojournalism or develop your interest in other ways. The NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism, for instance, has relevant elective skills modules.
Regardless of your route, it’s essential to develop your photography skills to a very high standard and to build up a portfolio of original work to show potential employers. Setting up a website or blog will make this accessible. Getting some of your work published, even if for little pay, is worthwhile. You need to build up a network of contacts and ensure that when you are ready, you submit your ideas and samples of your work to the right people, e.g. picture editors. You can also register your details on freelancing platforms in order to target those looking for the kind of work you do.
TIP: Think of ways you could make money to live on while you are establishing yourself, such as through other types of photography or journalism. Also look out for grants and other funds; some are listed on the Photo Contest Guru website. Whilst many of these awards are international, attract a lot of applicants and provide limited amounts of money, it’s worth a try and success would look great on your CV.
Amy told us a little about her career journey. “After bailing on a photographic arts degree at the age of 19, I eventually circled back to uni in my mid-20s. This time I took a degree in press and editorial photography at Falmouth (now called documentary and editorial photography) as I felt it would better lead me towards a stable career. During the course the penny dropped that I wanted to tell stories about the challenges that people face, using my camera as a tool. I graduated in 2016, moved to Vancouver with my partner and figured it was a good time to start something! I worked for two years in a lens-based media gallery before feeling confident enough to take a calculated leap of faith into self-employment. The catalyst was a grant I received from the National Geographic Society to work on a story that would take me a year to create. The pandemic was tough, but I’ve recovered and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and where I am, and I’m excited for what might lie ahead.”
What opportunities are there to progress in photojournalism?
As an employed or freelance photojournalist, it may be possible to progress from working on a small-scale magazine or local newspaper to well-known, national or international publications. Some freelancers manage to find staff positions.
TIP: Becoming a member of a relevant professional body/union for photographers or journalists can give you opportunities to network through events etc and to further develop your skills. You could, for instance, become a member of the AOP, BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography), the British Press Photographers' Association (BPPA), The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ), the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and/or The Royal Photographic Society (RPS).
How can I find out more about careers in photojournalism?
Career profiles on photographers and journalists can be found on the Prospects site and on the various national careers service websites – the National Careers Service for England, Careers Wales and My World of Work (in Scotland).
You might find it helpful to look online for information about photojournalism in general and to take a look at the work of some well-known photojournalists.
Finally…
Despite the challenges involved, photojournalists can gain great satisfaction from their work and some make a positive impact on society. Amy says, “I face very human challenges: self-doubt, imposter syndrome and financial worries. As a white settler working with Indigenous peoples on their territories, I’m constantly thinking about the ethics of my work – how to make sure that my stories are told in a way that isn’t extractive or exploitative, but that positively impact the communities I work with. It’s incredible to be able to build relationships with people who have fascinating stories to tell.”
Debbie Steel, August 2024
With a background working with apprentices and teaching in further education, Debbie was employed as an in-house careers author before establishing herself as a freelancer. As well as co-authoring numerous careers books, Debbie has produced resources and web content for a range of high-profile clients. She is a member of the Careers Writers Association and Career Development Institute, and an enthusiastic proponent of impartial and reliable careers information.
