According to IBISWorld, an industry research site, the photography industry, which includes studio and commercial photography, generates more than $10 million in revenue annually, employs more than 230,000 people, and makes up around 185,000 businesses in the U.S. alone. It is mentioned by Vault, a career and industry insight platform, that the types of jobs comprising these some hundred-thousand businesses include photojournalism, news photographer, portrait photographer, wedding photographer, sports photographer, and advertising and commercial photographer, who may specialize in food, product, fashion, and industrial photography. Other specialties, that if executed perfectly (creating amazing, once in a lifetime shots) can make some serious earnings in this industry, are industrial photography, architectural photography, nature photography (National Geographic photography to be exact), and science photography. Social Media and crowdsourcing have also had profound effects on the photography industry and select businesses, particularly news photography, as many companies now solicit ideas and contributions from crowds of people instead of assigning the work to professionals in the field.
Here are a few powerful visuals from the various fields within the photography industry:
- Photojournalism (This image, titled “Migrant Mother” was photographed by American documentary photographer Dorothea Lange, circa 1936, and can be found on the 7th floor in the Newman Vertical Campus here at Baruch.)
- News Photography ( This image, titled “Straight Voice” which was photographed by Agence France-Presse’s (AFP) Chief Photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba, circa 2019, and who won the 2020 World Press Photo of the Year. This image captures a young man, illuminated by cell phones, reciting poetry while demonstrators chant civil rights slogans during the protests in Sudan, Africa.)
- Portrait Photography ( From left to right – “Close-up Celebrity Portraits – George Clooney” photographed by American/German photographer Martin Schoeller, circa 2008, “Casa de Forte” photographed by Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra, circa 2000, “Lisa Lyon” photographed by New York photographer Robert Maplethorpe, circa 1982, and “Young Man in Curlers” photographed by New York photographer Diane Arbus, circa 1966.)
- Sports Photography (From left to right – “Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Listen” photographed by Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer, circa 1965, “Lebron and Wade” photographed by Associated Press photographer Morry Gash, circa 2010, “The OBJ Catch” photographed by Associated Press photographer Julio Cortez circa, 2014, and “Derek Jeter” photographed by New York Times photographer Barton Silverman, circa 2008.)
- Advertising and Commercial Photography (From left to right – “Clinique Ad” photographed by American photographer Irving Penn, circa 1983, “Asparagus” photographed by advertising photographer Rene De Carufel, and “Guess” photographed by Fashion photographer Shaun Alexander.)