- About this career
- Pros & Cons
- Requirements
- Nature of the Job
- Career
Your guide to become an Photographer in Malaysia
Average Salary
1,900 - 2,400
Job Demand
Who is an Photographer
A Photographer is one who takes beautiful pictures with strong photography skills and the right angle.
Are you capable of telling a story through scenes and people captured through your camera? Do you love to discover the world or see things in a different light? While others prefer to enjoy the beautiful scenery with their naked eye, you prefer to capture the beauty of nature with your lenses and show the world what they otherwise could not see or where they cannot afford to go. A career in Photography is always motivating and exciting as it allows you to be creative throughout the process. In a nutshell, Photography is one of those careers that truly require passion, skill, patience and commitment. If you love taking selfies, do note that a professional Photography would require 10 times the amount of skill and dedication to perfect that angle.
The pros and cons of being an Photographer
- It’s not necessary for you to have an academic qualification to be a Photographer. You only need a technical proficiency to start a career
- Flexible working schedules (in some cases)
- There is opportunity to travel especially for Photojournalists and wedding photographers
- Work conditions can be dangerous (war zones and natural calamities)
- Irregular and long work hours
- Competition is tough; strict deadlines
What are all the responsibilities of an Photographer ?
- Take outstanding pictures in different angles and locations
- Research on a topic before the event
- Understand the pictures that your client requires
- Search for appropriate subjects to shoot
- Use different camera equipment for different settings
- Communicate with subjects of the photo
- Arrange items for better picture composition
- Work with other professionals
- Sort out unsuitable photographs
- Create a portfolio of the work you have done
- Use software to digitally alter photographs
- Manage your resources
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Incase of any queries
What skills do you need to become an Photographer?
Creativity
It’s natural for creative people to venture in a career in Photography but it takes much more creativity than you think. You have to take pictures throughout your career and after 100 different photos, one would naturally run out of ideas. As a professional Photographer, you need to constantly think out of the box. With different shutter speeds, ISOs, angle and lighting, you get to take various unique shots of the same object and still make it turn out beautiful.
Patience
Whether their subjects are animals, people or items, Photographers need plenty of patience. Waiting for a nocturnal animal to come out of its’ hiding place will require every ounce of patience in you. One slight shutter sound would ruin a golden opportunity to win the National Geographic photography competition. Ensuring every strand of hair falls in its place for a bride can also take hours.
Eye for detail
That odd leaf in the middle of the road or the little dust blocking the way could be removed to make the picture look better. Perhaps moving the glass a little to the left or straightening the paper would change the whole landscape. What we’re trying to say is, every detail in the picture counts.
What field(s) of study should you choose to become an Photographer?
- Broadcasting
- Drama, Theatre & Film
What are the requirements to be an Photographer?
No specific qualification is needed to apply for this job. It would be good to obtain a degree in Photography when applying for a job in a big company. Photography is more focused on skill, meaning that with the proper skills, you can become a good Photographer. You also need to have the knowledge to use designing and editing softwares such as Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop and the like.
What are the working hours of an Photographer
Full-time: Portrait photographers under a company typically work from 8am to 5pm.
Freelance: Irregular work hours as it depends on the demand for certain photographs and the deadline.
Note: Be prepared to take photos under all kinds of weather.
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Quote
“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.”
Destin Sparks
(Photographer)
Who are all the top recruiters for Photographer in Malaysia?
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