Photographer: pay, what you do and current jobs
Kaihopu whakaahua
Photographers use cameras to take photos of people, places and things, then edit and process them to create high quality images.
- Typical full-time pay in NZ$50,000–$87,000 a year (up to $122,000)
- Training0-3 years
- IndustryVisual and performing arts
Pay is for full-time work across New Zealand. Part-time and hourly roles are paid by the hour; check each advert.
1 photographer job on ManyJobs now
- Senior PhotographerAuckland Council · Auckland Wide
What you’d do
- set up still or video cameras or related equipment
- determine technical requirements of productions or projects
- convert data among multiple digital or analogue formats
- operate still or video cameras or related equipment
- create computer-generated graphics or animation
- apply finishes to artwork, crafts, or displays
- maintain records, documents, or other files
- maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products
- review art or design materials
- confer with clients to determine needs
Life on the job
Photographers:
- usually work regular business hours, but may work irregular and long hours, including evenings and weekends
- usually work in studios, offices and outdoors in various locations and may travel locally, nationally or internationally
- need to be creative, accurate and communicate well
How to get in
You usually learn on the job to become a photographer and experience and a qualification may be useful.
You usually don’t need specific NCEA levels for this job, but Level 2 may be useful.
You may need:
- experience in photography or fine arts and examples of your work
- a New Zealand Diploma in Photography (Level 5 or 6)
- a Bachelor of Fine Arts
- a driver licence
Also known as: Photojournalist, wedding photographer, fashion photographer, commercial photographer, news photographer, sports photographer, aerial photographer
Get ready to apply
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Career information from Tahatū Career Navigator, Tertiary Education Commission, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Explore more on Tahatū ↗