How To Become A Lead Photographer: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lead photographer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted Expert

Susan McSpadden

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a lead photographer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $17.3 an hour? That's $35,976 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 11,200 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a Lead Photographer?

Susan McSpadden

Marketing Photographer, Johnson County Community College

I think the job market for photographers is tough right now, in the same way it is for many other professions. Companies are either holding steady with their current workforce or making cuts to stay afloat until the pandemic is under control and the economy starts to consistently improve. We've had quite a few members of our organization, the University Photographers' of America Association, lose their jobs, take a pay cut, or be furloughed for an extended period. It's challenging for seasoned photographers with a solid resume to find work. For recent graduates in the field, who don't have experience on their side, it has to be exponentially more difficult. The good news is that companies, organizations and publications have an easier time hiring a freelancer than a full time employee, so if you're self-motivated, with your own gear, there are good freelance opportunities out there.

ScoreLead PhotographerUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $35,976

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

4.5

Growth Rate 9%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 6.99%

Black or African American 6.29%

Hispanic or Latino 15.06%

Unknown 5.69%

White 65.73%

Gender

female 51.81%

male 48.19%

Age - 38

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 38

Stress Level

4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

6.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

1.9

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a lead photographer

Explore lead photographer education requirements

Most common lead photographer degrees

Bachelor's

62.8 %

Associate

20.4 %

High School Diploma

8.7 %

Start to develop specific lead photographer skills

Skills	Percentages
Adobe Photoshop	22.76%
Photographic Equipment	20.00%
Portrait Photography	7.32%
Customer Service	6.58%
Photo Shoots	4.32%

Complete relevant lead photographer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead photographers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead photographer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead photographer resumes.

Research lead photographer duties and responsibilities

Manage different operating processes and goals for photography team, creating success for office and limiting inaccurate paperwork and improve product.
Run and upkeep the business' Facebook page.
Resolve operational problems of camera lens, tripods and external flash units.
Advance knowledge of photo management and editing software, DSLR cameras and relate equipment.

Get lead photographer experience

Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a lead photographer. The most common roles before becoming a lead photographer include photographer, sales associate team lead and internship.

Prepare your lead photographer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead photographer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead photographer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Lead Photographer Resume templates

Build a professional Lead Photographer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Lead Photographer resume.

Apply for lead photographer jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a lead photographer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do lead photographers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Lead Photographer reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2024

Pros

Opportunity for development of photographic skills

Cons

Unpredictable schedule, high stress without necessity, lack of work/life balance

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

In control of your own time.

Cons

For a freelance photographer it's all or nothing, so financially it can can be a little scary.

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019

Pros

I love capturing memories that will last for lifetimes.

Cons

I do not like when my customer is not happy.

What is a lead photographer and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Lead Photographer?

Lead Photographer career paths

Key steps to become a lead photographer

Explore lead photographer education requirements

Most common lead photographer degrees

Start to develop specific lead photographer skills

Complete relevant lead photographer training and internships

Research lead photographer duties and responsibilities

Get lead photographer experience

Prepare your lead photographer resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Lead Photographer Resume templates

Apply for lead photographer jobs

How Did You Land Your First Lead Photographer Job

Average lead photographer salary

How do lead photographers rate their job?

Lead Photographer reviews