Editing Photographer

{{short description|Person who makes photographs}}
{{other uses}}
[[Image:Photographers by Augustas Didzgalvis.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships]] photographer stand.]]

A '''photographer''' (the [[Greek language|Greek]] φῶς (''phos''), meaning "light", and γραφή (''graphê''), meaning "drawing, writing", together meaning "drawing with light")<ref>{{cite dictionary |url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=photography&searchmode=none |dictionary=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]] |title=photography (n.) |first=Douglas |last=Harper |access-date=3 July 2019}}</ref> is a person who uses a [[camera]] to make [[photographs]].

== Duties and types of photographers ==
[[File:Portrait of a Daguerreotypist, 1845 (with Frame).jpg|thumb|A photographer with his [[Daguerreotype|daguerrotypes]], 1845]]
[[Image:Photographer1850s.png|thumb|An English photographer in his studio, in the 1850s.]]
As in other arts, the definitions of [[amateur]] and [[professional]] are not entirely categorical.
[[File:Epifania de Guadalupe Vallejo (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Epifania de Guadalupe Vallejo]], the earliest known photographer active in what is the present-day [[West Coast of the United States]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Palmquist |first1=Peter E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nne4L9h27RsC |title=Pioneer Photographers of the Far West: A Biographical Dictionary, 1840–1865 |last2=Kailbourn |first2=Thomas R. |date=2000 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-3883-5 |language=en}}</ref>]]
An ''[[amateur]] photographer'' takes snapshots for pleasure to remember events, places or friends with no intention of selling the images to others.

A ''professional photographer'' is likely to take [[photograph]]s for a session and image purchase fee, by salary or through the display, resale or use of those photographs.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ySsCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 |title=The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography |first=Grant |last=Scott |publisher=[[CRC Press]] |date=22 May 2015 |page=37 |isbn=9781317618140}}</ref>

A professional photographer may be an employee, for example of a newspaper, or may contract to cover a particular planned event such as a [[Wedding photography|wedding]] or graduation, or to illustrate an [[advertising|advertisement]].  Others, like [[Fine art photography|fine art photographers]], are [[freelancer]]s, first making an image and then licensing or making printed copies of it for sale or display.  Some workers, such as [[crime scene]] photographers, [[Real estate photography|estate agents]], journalists and scientists, make photographs as part of other work.  Photographers who produce moving rather than still pictures are often called [[cinematographer]]s, [[videographer]]s or [[camera operator]]s, depending on the commercial context.

The term professional may also imply preparation, for example, by academic study or apprenticeship by the photographer in pursuit of photographic skills. A hallmark of a professional is often that they invest in continuing education through associations. While there is no compulsory registration requirement for professional photographer status, operating a business requires having a business license in most cities and counties. Similarly, having commercial insurance is required by most venues if photographing a wedding or a public event. Photographers who operate a legitimate business can provide these items.

Photographers can be categorized based on the subjects they photograph.

Some photographers explore subjects typical of paintings such as [[landscape]], [[still life]], and [[portrait]]ure. Other photographers specialize in subjects unique to photography, including [[sports photography]], [[street photography]], [[documentary photography]], [[fashion photography]], [[wedding photography]], [[war photography]], [[photojournalism]], [[aviation photography]] and commercial photography. The type of work commissioned will have pricing associated with the image's usage.

===Photographers===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
Beckenbauer Pressefotografen2.jpg|A group photographing retired footballer [[Franz Beckenbauer]].
Urmas Tartes 2.jpg|[[Nature photography|Nature photographer]] [[Urmas Tartes]] working on an outdoor environment.
Douglas Osheroff photographing along CA-1 May 2011 003.jpg|A photographer ([[Douglas Osheroff]]) setting up a shot with the aid of a [[tripod]].
Photographing a model.jpg|Photographing a model. An assistant is holding a [[reflector (photography)|reflector]].
Photographer (48010186141).jpg|[[Sports photographer]] during [[2019 Pocono 400]]
Parliament Square Ramsey memorial with bibbed photographers.jpg|Sanctioned motorsport photographers identified by individually numbered white [[Bib (garment)#Sports|bib]]s on a road-course in the [[Isle of Man]] with public spectator area behind.
Storformatskamera - Malmö-1985.jpg|A photographer and his [[large format camera]] 1985.
Lucerne Minolta Photographer.jpg|Photojournalist in Lucerne.
</gallery>

== Selling photographs ==
{{further|Photography and the law}}
[[File:US Navy 040310-N-0130O-002 Photographers Mate 3rd Class Elizabeth Acosta, from Delano, Calif., documents work being done at a construction site.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A U.S. Navy photographer in March 2004.]]
The [[exclusive right]] of photographers to copy and use their products is protected by [[copyright]]. Countless industries purchase photographs for use in publications and on products. The photographs seen on magazine covers, in television advertising, on [[greeting card]]s or calendars, on websites, or on products and packages, have generally been purchased for this use, either directly from the photographer or through an [[photo agency|agency]] that represents the photographer. A photographer uses a contract to sell the "license" or use of their photograph with exact controls regarding how often the photograph will be used, in what territory it will be used (for example U.S. or U.K. or other), and exactly for which products. This is usually referred to as [[usage fee]] and is used to distinguish from production fees (payment for the actual creation of a photograph or photographs). An additional contract and royalty would apply for each additional use of the photograph.

The contract may be for only one year, or other duration.  The photographer usually charges a royalty as well as a one-time fee, depending on the terms of the contract. The contract may be for '''non-exclusive''' use of the photograph (meaning the photographer can sell the same photograph for more than one use during the same year) or for '''exclusive''' use of the photograph (i.e. only that company may use the photograph during the term). The contract can also stipulate that the photographer is entitled to audit the company for determination of royalty payments. Royalties vary depending on the industry buying the photograph and the use, for example, royalties for a photograph used on a poster or in television advertising may be higher than for use on a limited run of [[brochure]]s.  A royalty is also often based on the size at which the photo will be used in a magazine or book, and [[cover photo]]s usually command higher fees than photos used elsewhere in a book or magazine.

Photos taken by a photographer while working on assignment are often [[work for hire]] belonging to the company or publication unless stipulated otherwise by contract. Professional [[Portrait photography|portrait]] and [[wedding photographer]]s often stipulate by contract that they retain the copyright of their photos, so that only they can sell further prints of the photographs to the consumer, rather than the customer reproducing the photos by other means. If the customer wishes to be able to reproduce the photos themselves, they may discuss an alternative contract with the photographer in advance before the pictures are taken, in which a larger upfront fee may be paid in exchange for reprint rights passing to the customer.

There are major companies who have maintained catalogues of [[stock photography]] and images for decades, such as [[Getty Images]] and others. Since the turn of the 21st century many online stock photography catalogues have appeared that invite photographers to sell their photos online easily and quickly, but often for very little money, without a royalty, and without control over the use of the photo, the market it will be used in, the products it will be used on, time duration, etc. These online stock photography catalogues have drastically changed the landscape of the industry, presenting both opportunities and challenges for photographers seeking to earn a living through their craft. 
{{Clear}}

Commercial photographers may also promote their work to advertising and editorial art buyers via printed and online marketing vehicles.

==Photo sharing==
Many people upload their [[Photo sharing|photographs to social networking]] websites and other websites, in order to share them with a particular group or with the general public.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pVlmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA21 |title=Online Social Networking |first=Carla |last=Mooney |publisher=Greenhaven Publishing LLC |date=12 June 2009 |page=21 |isbn=9781420501933}}</ref> Those interested in legal precision may explicitly release them to the [[public domain]] or under a [[free content]] license. Some sites, including [[Wikimedia Commons]], are punctilious about licenses and only accept pictures with clear information about permitted use.

==See also==
* [[List of most expensive photographs]]
* [[List of photographs considered the most important]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}
* {{Commons-inline|Photographers}}
* [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photographer Photographer] – [[Merriam-Webster]]

{{Photography}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Photographers| ]]
[[Category:Photography]]
[[Category:Mass media occupations]]