In an increasingly visual society, photography plays a crucial role. It is an interesting profession that allows many people earn a living from something they have a strong interest in. There are four main areas of photography: Press, commercial, portrait and social. Photography has the ability to record and capture a moment in time and a professional living can be earned through it in a number of fields such as the news or commercial sectors. Photography is a competitive occupation and many photographers work on a freelance basis.
Taking pictures for a news publications, you are trying to capture the mood and emotion of the event through your pictures. This can involve waiting around for long hours in all kinds of weather for an event to take place and stand or walk for long periods while carrying the equipment. An important news announcement, a war situation, the winning goal in a cup final or celebrities behaving badly can fall under the remit of a press photographer’s duties.
Sports action photography is considered a specialism within the industry. Press photographers often work under severe time restricted deadlines.