Photographic Specialists
Background
The military uses photographs for many purposes, such as intelligence gathering and news reporting. The services operate photographic laboratories to develop the numerous photos taken by the military. Photographic specialists take and develop still color or black and white photographs.
What They Do
Photographic specialists in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Determine camera angles, lighting, and any special effects needed
- Develop, duplicate, or retouch film negatives, photos, or slides
- Maintain photographic equipment
- Select camera, film, and other equipment needed for photo assignments
- Take still photos of people, events, military equipment, land areas, and other subjects
Physical Demands
Normal color vision is required to produce accurate color prints.
Special Requirements
No information available.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to recognize and arrange interesting photo subjects
- Accuracy and attention to detail
Helpful School Subjects
Helpful school subjects include:
- Art
- Chemistry
- Math
- Photography
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Photographic specialists work both indoors and outdoors while photographing their subjects. They may take photos from aircraft or ships. They process photographs in photographic laboratories on bases or aboard ships.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Marine Corps
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for enlisted personnel.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training consists of seven to 24 weeks of classroom instruction, including practice in taking and developing photographs. Length of training varies depending on the specialty.
Course content typically includes:
- Operation and maintenance of photographic equipment
- Photographic processing and reproduction
- Principles of photojournalism
Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian photographic specialists work for photography studios, newspapers, magazines, advertising agencies, commercial photograph developers, and large businesses. They perform duties similar to military specialists. Depending on the specialty, they may be known as photojournalists, aerial or still photographers, film developers, automatic print developers, or print controllers.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 1,500 photographic specialists. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need specialists due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. After job training, specialists work under supervision. With experience, they are given more responsibility and, eventually, may supervise other photographic specialists.