Snuggle Diaries is a venture by Durga Chincholi, an ex-army captain, that aims to provide real, raw and authentic photography and film services for maternity, newborn and families to preserve the special, irreplaceable moments for a lifetime. The company’s focus is to give them heir-loom worthy photos and films as a ticket back to moments wished to be treasured. While most of the newborn and maternity photography is held at a studio, Durga’s Snuggle Diaries holds its sessions wherever the parent and/or child are most comfortable at allowing her to capture moments with true emotions and documenting perfectly imperfect families.
A career as a Photographer is a blend of technical and artistic acumen. Photography is an art, and it needs a lot of practice and perseverance. Photographers produce images/ pictures that tell a specific story, give an internal message or record an event. With the rapid growth of the advertising and media sectors, the employment opportunities in photography witnessed a tremendous boost.
The major responsibility of Photographers working with various agencies like advertising agencies and magazines is to click the images on different themes. Photographers in different sectors have different motives and aims.
Responsibilities of a Photographer
Here are some of the well-known responsibilities that a Photographer has to perform in his/her job profile.
- Setting up photographic equipment.
- Choosing and setting up locations.
- Taking pictures.
- Promoting the business, especially if a freelance photographer
- Editing and retouching images.
- Reproducing and framing photographs.
- Researching and making contacts.
Types of Job Roles Photographer
Apart from the required qualification, photography needs certain skills. After attaining the necessary skills and training, photographers can fit into various roles and positions that match their skills. The different roles that Photographers can take up are listed below.
Advertising Photographers: Photographers working in various advertising agencies who take photographs for a particular commercial are called advertising photographers. Advertising photographers click the photographs we see for various commercial advertisements.
Event & Concert Photographers: These photographers will have to present at any event like parties, launching of certain products, ceremonies, etc. These photographers are responsible for taking photographs of a big concert with thousands of people.
Photojournalists: Photographers who cover social issues and send them to various newspapers are called photojournalists. These journalists can also work as freelancers.
Wedding Photographers: A photographer who is responsible for taking photographs of wedding occasions is called a wedding photographer. These photographers should have complete knowledge of different cameras and modes of handling a camera.
Wildlife Photographers: Photographers who are associated with various channels and magazines that cover various aspects of wildlife are called wildlife photographers. These photographers need to take pictures of different kinds of birds, animals, etc.
Fashion Photographers: Photographers who take photographs of models and catches the beauty of a person in the camera are called as a fashion photographers. These photographers also work in studios and outdoor locations. They work along with Stylist and makeup artist
Aerial Photographers: These photographers take aerial photographs of places, buildings, landscapes, terrains during natural disasters, war, or under similar situations through drones for use in news, business, industrial or scientific.
Food Photographers: They specialising in making food more appeizing by stying and using beautiful props along with studio and natural light. It is usually done at hotels, cafes onsite.
Industrial Photographers: They click photographs of workers on the job, machinery in the industry, etc. for use in company publications or advertising campaigns
Employment Sector/Industry for Photographer
Photographers can find a variety of jobs in different sectors. They can also start their studio by proving a varied range of services in photography. Some of the top sectors that hire photographers including the following:
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Advertising Agencies
- Studios
- Press and Publishing Houses
- NGOs
- Industries and Medical Institutes
- Event Management Organisations
- Freelancers
Payscale/Salary of Photographer
There is nothing like senior or junior Photographers. The profession depends upon the skills of a photographer and his/ her vision. Unlike other professions, it is difficult to compare the salary of Photographers based on the seniority levels. For instance, Wedding Photographers are paid per day or hour depending on their popularity. The average salary earned by a Photographer is around Rs. 3,66,376 per annum. The range of earnings of photographers in different sectors is elaborated below:
Wedding Photographer- Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 1,00,000 per day
Newspapers and Magazines- Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 2,00,000 per month
Fashion Photographer- Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 6,00,000 per month
Wildlife Photographer- Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 3,00,000 per month
Advertising Photographer- Rs. 25,000 – Rs.2,00,000 per month
Essential Skills & Qualities
Artistic ability: This is, without a doubt, the most important skill any photographer should have. You’ll need a good eye for creating a memorable image. The ability to use color, shadow, shade light, and distance to compose an amazing image is second to none.
Business skills: Photographers must be good entrepreneurs; although their talent can ‘speak for itself, with so much competition they need to be able to market themselves effectively and attract prospective clients to keep their profits high and their business running.
Computer skills: Most photographers do their postproduction work and must be skilled at using photo editing software. For instance, Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Creative Suite are great programs that allow snappers to alter lighting, blemishes, and other imperfections.
Interpersonal skills: You have to be a ‘people person to succeed in this demanding industry. You’ll be dealing with several different personality types daily and will need the skill and patience to handle difficult clients.
Attention to detail: To be successful in this profession, you need to deliver pure perfection, meaning that everything before, during, and after the shot has to be flawless.
Working Hours & Conditions
Hours can be long and unpredictable and will be led by busy periods and seasons. Wedding photographers, for example, will be at their busiest during spring/summer when it’s the peak wedding season. They’re also being expected to work long hours and on weekends.
Challenges Faced
- The temptation to follow trend
- Equipment expenditure
- Brands wanting a free shoot
- Somebody always ready to shoot for exposure
- Unstable income
Ways to Overcome Challenges
- One should hire equipment instead of buying it at the start.
- One should learn marketing like Running Ads, writing blogs, SEO, making a website.
- Concentrate on your journey as an artist and improve each day.
- Work on being able to be seen in front of your ideal client.
Photography is a constantly evolving art form, and you need to adapt to it. Even the best photographers like to improve their skills continuously to get better at their craft.
More About Durga Chincholi
Durga believes in living life to the fullest, and she indeed does. Prior to becoming a full-time photographer in 2018, Durga started her professional journey as a corporate employee with IBM. Later, she moved on to serving our nation and rose to become the Captain, where she served on the western borders and counter-insurgency areas in the Northeast part of the country. Durga was even the Academy photographer in her army training days in Chennai.