How to Become a Photojournalist: 7 Tips from an Expert

Photojournalism is a branch of photography that’s concerned with using images to tell a story. These images may reflect people, events, or even cultures, and they can appear in a wide range of places, from online publications to print magazines and newspapers.

In contrast to becoming a photographer in another domain, becoming a photojournalist requires a good understanding of journalistic principles and ethics. But unlike journalists, photojournalists need to know how to capture images that fully embody and reflect the mood and occurrences at a particular place and time.

Job description and responsibilities

Photojournalists often have to perform the following tasks:

• Take photos
• Edit photos
• Travel to news sites
• Research current events
• Document news stories
• Create informative captions for photos
• Develop and print photos
• Meet deadlines
• Use photo tagging software while taking photos
• Transfer images from a laptop to a file transfer protocol (FTP) address
• Get press credentials for high-profile assignments
• Build relationships with photo subjects

As a photojournalist, your job description may vary depending on who you’re working for and the type of job you’re doing. For example, Focht has photographed everything from crime scenes, drug raids, and high-speed chases to general news, weather, and sports. One job may be more demanding or require a different skill set than another.

Types of photojournalism

Even though photojournalism is already just one professional domain in the broad field of photography, there are several subtypes of photojournalism.

Here are the main specialties you can choose from:

• Feature photography: Providing photo documentation as part of nonurgent, long-term projects for major publications.
• Sports photojournalism: Capturing the action before, during, and after sporting events.
• News photojournalism: Taking photos for spot news (urgent local news), breaking news, general news, or global news stories.
• Travel photography: Taking photos abroad in various countries and regions to capture different cultures, lifestyles, and landscapes.
• War photography: Documenting current war events and tensions domestically or abroad.
• Portrait photojournalism: Taking photos of people, often for newspapers, magazines, online publications, or advertisements.
• Phone journalism: Using a mobile phone instead of professional photography equipment to capture events in real time.
• Video journalism: Videoing a subject rather than using still photography. While considered by some people to be its own separate domain, video journalism may also be considered a branch of photojournalism.

Focht says the easiest niches to get into as a beginner are portrait and sports photojournalism because of the high demand. Spot news and war photography can also be easy routes into the field if you’re in the right place at the right time. On the flip side, she pinpoints travel photojournalism as the toughest subfield to break into because “Everyone wants to do travel photography” and competition is high.

If you work for a newspaper, you’ll generally be expected to do all types of photojournalism, including feature, sports, illustration, and spot news photojournalism. And while you can hone in on a particular niche if you’re working as an independent photojournalist, Focht says you’ll probably have a higher income potential if you’re willing to do many types of photography.

Every aspiring photojournalist needs a few core skills and access to the right photography equipment in order to make it in the industry.

Required skills

There are several key skills that are needed to be a photojournalist. While you may have been born with some, others may take time and effort to develop:

• Photography skills: Since photojournalism involves taking photos, it requires basic knowledge of photographic principles and techniques and familiarity with technical aspects like lighting.
• Flexibility: As a photojournalist, you may have an erratic work schedule. Job opportunities may arise very suddenly, and you may need to drop what you’re doing to do a shoot.
• Creativity: To be a truly great photojournalist, you need to have a creative vision for the places, people, and objects you’re capturing. Your creativity is what will make your photos both appealing and informative.
• Time management skills: You’ll likely face tight deadlines, which means you need to be able to handle time pressure and work efficiently. Otherwise, you may be deemed unreliable by employers.
• Storytelling skills: What separates a mediocre photojournalist from the truly great is the ability to bring a story to life through images.
• Determination: Not every day is a walk in the park. You need determination to overcome obstacles like hazardous shooting conditions, unpleasant weather, or unhappy human subjects.
• Photo editing skills: If you’re working freelance, many clients will expect you to edit the photos you take before submitting them. You should know how to use photo editing software and be able to rapidly edit a large number of images.
• Writing skills: Depending on the assignment, you may be asked to create captions for your photos to add context and details that enrich the story you’re trying to tell.
• Social skills: You’ll likely be working with people during your career as a photojournalist, so you need to have good communication and interpersonal skills to put your human subjects at ease and remain on good terms with other professionals in the industry. Focht says these skills are almost more important than technical skills.

In addition to the core skills needed to actually practice photojournalism, Focht says you “have to be willing to do what you have to do to be the best.” Since you’re competing against so many people (many of whom are highly skilled in photojournalism), you need creative thinking skills and a bit of gumption to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Required equipment

While you may need specialized equipment for certain types of photojournalism, there are a few key tools you’ll need regardless of what route you choose. Here are the tools Focht recommends for beginner photojournalists:

• Reliable laptop for sending photos
• Durable camera that can shoot well in low light
• Flash
• Lenses (at least one long and one wide lens)
• Photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop
• Software like Photo Mechanic for on-the-spot photo editing, tagging, and sending

Be prepared to have to spend money to get your kit set up. However, don’t stress too much about getting the most expensive equipment on the market. What’s more important is how you use these tools.

Although having a formal education helps, you don’t actually need a bachelor’s or master’s degree to start your career in photojournalism. Here are the exact steps you need to take to break into the field as a complete novice.

1. Hone your photography and photo editing skills

If you don’t already have some basic knowledge or experience in photography, then this is the first thing you should work on if you want to be a photojournalist.

Study the basics of how to use a camera, paying particular attention to building your knowledge in the following areas:

• Photo composition
• Lighting
• Choosing the right camera lens for the subject and conditions
• Using photo editing software

You can study independently, sign up for a short training program like the introductory courses offered on Skillshare, or enroll in longer courses online.

Most importantly, get out there and practice taking pictures. Many professionals will tell you this is the best thing you can do to improve your photography skills. If you have any friends or acquaintances who have experience in photography, you could also ask them for feedback on your work.

2. Familiarize yourself with the principles of journalism

Most types of photography require interpersonal skills and some degree of sensitivity toward others. This is especially true for photojournalism, which often involves human subjects and is deeply rooted in human issues.

Make sure you understand and adhere to the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Code of Ethics, which outlines how to maintain journalistic integrity and protect others’ rights when taking photos that will be published by the press.

Understand that your role is to capture reality as it is and avoid misrepresentation. In Focht’s words, “A photojournalist is a documentary style photographer that is supposed to reflect a community back to itself without opinion intermixed.”

She emphasizes the importance of photographing subjects honestly and without bias, warning that “setting up a photo” or using photo shop to get the shot you want under the pretense of true documentary-style photojournalism is a fireable offense to any ethical news publication.

You also need to understand when to take photos (and when to hold off), how to accurately and respectfully depict your subjects, and when to ask permission before taking photos.

3. Shoot for your local paper

Focht says the best way to get your foot in the door in this competitive industry is through an internship. Ask around at local publications where you live to see if they’ll take you on as an intern. Even if they don’t, there are often opportunities for freelancers—you’ll just need to fight for them.

For example, Focht didn’t have a degree when she got her first ever photo published in a weekly publication in her hometown. Even though it only paid $10, it started her on a path toward establishing herself as a reliable freelancer. Eventually, she started getting calls for all sorts of exciting assignments. She was then able to use that freelance experience to land her first staff job.

She recommends just getting out there and trying to capture photos that publications want but struggle to get themselves. These are the photos that news companies will pay for, and they’ll make great additions to your portfolio.

4. Put thought into your portfolio

All photographers need a portfolio of their work that they can show to potential employers. Think of this as your visual resume. Without any kind of portfolio, you won’t be taken seriously, and people will be hesitant to hire you since they won’t have a good feel for your skills and style.

Thankfully, you can easily create an online portfolio through websites like Squarespace, Portfoliobox, and Adobe Portfolio. Some of these companies even have free options for building your own portfolio website. To take your portfolio to the next level, add captions to your photos and include PDFs or links that showcase news stories featuring your published work.

The most important step is choosing your photos wisely. Focht says one of the biggest mistakes aspiring photojournalists make is including photos that aren’t relevant to photojournalism, adding that “real images of real people in newsworthy situations are needed.” Resist the temptation to include fine art or commercial photos.

5. Connect with professionals in the journalism field

There’s no better way to learn the ropes than by seeking guidance from experts who have already firmly established themselves in the field of photojournalism. Volunteering to assist a local photojournalist or networking with people who work in journalism can get you hands-on experience and help you make connections that could one day lead to profitable job opportunities.

Look out for social and networking events for photography, photojournalism, or journalism, and use social media to share your photos and connect with active professionals in the field. Focht recommends attending industry events and workshops hosted by the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).

6. Follow the news and current events

Photojournalists are as much reporters as they are photographers. For this reason, it’s important that you stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the world.

This is especially important if you’re starting a career as a freelance photojournalist since you’ll need to identify new photo opportunities yourself as they arise.

7. Apply for photojournalist jobs once you have experience

Finding a full-time staff job as a photojournalist is tough if you’ve got no formal education, but a bit of experience and a strong portfolio will take you a long way. Start by taking photos on your own time, then use these photos to build your portfolio. You can also try to sell them to publications.

Once you’ve got a tangible track record of your photojournalism experience, start approaching publications for work. Check job openings for photojournalists on standard job websites like Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter using keywords like “photojournalist” or “news photographer” to get the most relevant results.

You can also check for job openings on LinkedIn or other social media platforms. You should be able to find in-house photographer gigs, which may be temporary, permanent, full-time, or part-time roles.

Tips for selling your photos to publishers

Plenty of professional photojournalists go freelance and sell their photos to magazines, newspapers, or websites. You just need perseverance and a bit of industry know-how.

Follow these tips when pitching your photos:

• Know your audience: It doesn’t matter how brilliant your photos are if they don’t fit a publication’s style. You’ll save yourself a lot of hassle by researching any companies you plan to pitch to and sending them photos that you think they would actually use.
• Put thought into your pitch: Keep your pitch short and attention grabbing. Whenever possible, address the editor by name, and include a call to action at the end to prompt them to reach out for more information.
• Follow up: If you don’t hear back after a week, send a short and polite follow-up message reminding the editor about your pitch. If you still hear nothing back, don’t bombard them with emails. Instead, brush it off and start the process again with a new publication.

Because of the competition, it can be tough to get started as a freelance photojournalist. However, with enough time and effort, you may be able to build relationships with different publications and get recurring assignments.

Not everybody has what it takes to succeed as a photojournalist, and you’ll need to put in a lot of effort to make it a lucrative side hustle. Before getting started, weigh up the pros and cons of a photojournalism side hustle.

When we asked Focht about her feelings on photojournalism, she said her favorite aspects of the job are that “you have a passport to the world and a front row seat to life” and “the power to change your community and the world with your lens.”

Her least favorite part is the difficulty of maintain a personal life outside of work since you often have to work long hours or work during holidays, weekends, or nights. She also noted that the newspaper industry is in decline, meaning gradually worsening employment benefits for full-time photojournalists.

Focht says that even if you’re working freelance, you need multiple income streams (e.g., from other types of photography) if you want to make a lot of money. Photojournalism might not be the best choice if you’re just looking for a side gig that’ll earn you a quick buck—but if you’re passionate and committed, it can be an incredibly fulfilling career choice that offers you once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and experiences.

How much do photojournalists make?

According to ZipRecruiter, photojournalists tend to make anywhere in the range of $5–$35 per hour. 1 However, the exact amount of money you can expect to make from photojournalism depends on factors like the type of photography you’re doing, your skill level, and whether you work as a contracted employee or freelancer.

For example, Focht says staff photojournalists for a newspaper typically earn salaries ranging from $30,000 to $100,000 per year. While pay rates vary drastically in this field, she says that the greatest rewards of the job are nonmonetary. “People do not get into this business for the money. You get paid in life experience. Getting to witness life from this front row seat is priceless.”

Alternatives to a photojournalism side hustle

If you like the sound of photojournalism but you’re not quite sure it’s the best side hustle for you, consider these similar jobs:

• Photography side hustles
• YouTube side hustles
• Graphic design side hustles
• Blogging

You could also branch out into a completely new sector if you’re not set on doing a creative side hustle. It’s all up to you. There are plenty of ways to have fun while making money—you just need to know what you’re looking for.