We surveyed 455 photojournalists to better understand the work environment and required skills of a typical photojournalist. Here are the results.

How much intelligence is required as a photojournalist?

Low

High

Working as a photojournalist typically doesn’t require the use of high levels of intelligence in daily tasks.

Can I learn to become a photojournalist?

Intrinsic Talent

Acquired Talent

A career as a photojournalist typically depends predominantly on qualities you can gain through experience, with a small aspect of skills you are born with.

Is it easy to get a job as a photojournalist?

Easy

Hard

It’s typically difficult to find a job as a photojournalist.

Info

Do photojournalists work full-time or part-time?

46% of photojournalists work in full-time roles while 54% work part-time.

Is being a photojournalist stressful?

Low

High

Stress is not uncommon amongst photojournalists, with daily work sometimes being quite demanding.

Is being organized important as a photojournalist?

Low

High

Organization is not considered a particuarly important part of being a photojournalist.

How competitive is the workplace for photojournalists?

Low

High

Photojournalists tend to see lots of competition in the workplace, with desire to get ahead of co-workers being common.

Does being a photojournalist require frequent time pressure to complete tasks?

Low

High

Photojournalists will have to sometimes face time pressure on the job.

Are photojournalists allowed to express themselves creatively?

Low

High

Photojournalists are afforded a certain level of ability to express themselves creatively, compared to other careers.

Do photojournalists have control over the direction of their work?

Low

High

Photojournalists have high flexibility in the direction of their work, allowing them a lot of freedom in how they accomplish their goals.

Is being a photojournalist physically demanding?

Low

High

Being a photojournalist may occasionally require demanding physical activity, which may make it not a suitable career choice for everyone.

Are photojournalists exposed to a wide variety of work?

Low

High

Photojournalists tend to have a monotonous work routine, with little variety in their day-to-day tasks.

Does being a photojournalist require attention to detail?

Low

High

Attention to detail isn't necessarily required to be successful as a photojournalist.

Does being a good photojournalist require compassion and empathy?

Low

High

The ability to be compassion and empathetic isn't considered fundamental to success as a photojournalist.