Careers in Portrait PhotographyAn Interview with Krista Blythe

By Lorraine Stratton

Focused Area of Study

Arts & Communication

Courses I have taken:1. Art I

2. Photography

3. Yearbook

4. Keyboarding

CIS Skills Assessment:

CIS Interest Profile

Career:Portrait Photographer

Photographs people some times pets

Photos may be taken in a studio Outside

Portrait Photographer:Krista Blythe

Owner, Krista Blythe Photography

2029 SE Jefferson Street

Downtown Milwaukie, OR

Duties Take photos

Edit photos

Adjust lighting

Manage budget

Pay bills

Supervise assistances

General Skills Math

Budgeting

Computer Use

Troubleshooting

Writing

Creativity, Art & Composition

Dependability

Attention to detail

Flexibility

Decision Making

Technology Skills Computer

PhotoShop LightRoom Data Transfer (sending

images to lab) Spreadsheet

Digital Camera — Canon 5D

Electronic Studio Lights

Flash Meter

Education Bachelor Degree

Apprentice

On the job training

Additional Qualifications Professional Associations

Professional Photographers of America

Reflection

Likes

Using camera

Meeting & working with people

Adjusting lights

Using props

Editing with computer

Dislikes

Creativity limits (what customer wants)

Business requirements

Unreliable pay checks

Long hours

Reflection Digital photography changed

how people view photography

Economy down turn shrunk market

More than photography skills alone are needed

Prefer working as a photographer for a company with a guaranteed paycheck Cruse line Newspaper A firm with a PR staff

Career-Related Learning Standards (CRLS)

1. Career Development

2. Communication

3. Employment Foundations

4. Personal Management

5. Problem Solving

6. Teamwork

Career Development Visited professional

photographer

Researched pay scale

Taking photography class

Communication Wrote notes on interview

Created PowerPoint presentation

Took photographs

Left message

Set interview up over phone

Spoke clearly

Employment Foundations Applied keyboarding

skills

Applied reading/writing skills

Applied technical skills

Arrived on time

Met Deadlines

Personal Management Completed tasks on time

Assumed responsibility

Respectful of employee interviewed

Met Project deadline

Problem Solving Employee wasn’t

available when first called

Called again

Had to make corrections in PowerPoint

Team Work Got ideas from peers for

clip art ideas

Had others review & help edit my PowerPoint

Reality Check

Annual Total:

$30,468With Taxes:

$37,150

Salary CIS Oregon median — $31,230

Indeed.com — $44,000

Simply hired.com — $42,000

General range — $14,800 to $50,000

ConclusionPortrait Photography career

Demanding Competitive Creative freedom limited by clients

Training Required Technical Artistic Business

High overhead

Salary generally equal financial requirements Not always dependable income

ConclusionWould rather work for

company as PhotojournalistCruise PhotographerPublic Relations PhotographerProduct/Commercial

Photographer

ReasonsLess overheadMore reliable paycheckWorking with professionals

Next Steps Examine other photo

careers Photojournalist Cruise Photographer Public Relations

Photographer Product/Commercial

Photographer

Questions?