Meetings of the Advisory Board: Exploration of Photography's Horizons
In the evolving landscape of the photography and digital creative industries, job seekers are required to adapt to new trends and master essential software skills to stay competitive.
Companies are seeking experts who know their craft, with proficiency in graphic design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign being the minimum requirement. Additional skills in Premiere, After Effects, and similar programs are beneficial but not always necessary. For photography majors, more information can be found on the Digital Photography programs page.
As the digital age continues to dominate, a strong social media presence, such as Instagram, is beneficial for marketing work and building trust with potential employers. If a photographer has enough motion and video content, creating a YouTube channel can be beneficial.
Employers value communication, planning, and the ability to multitask quickly while generating quality work. A clean, focused portfolio geared towards small businesses should be published on Behance and the institution's LinkedIn page.
In advertisements for creative or content marketing positions, a wide range of programs are appearing, including Photoshop, LRC, InDesign, Illustrator, XD, Premiere Pro, Premier Rush, Adobe Aero, Adobe Dimension, Adobe Express, Adobe Portfolio, Adobe Behance, Hootsuite, or comparable posting software schedulers.
Mastering essential software skills involves proficiency with leading photo editing programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, CaptureOne Pro, and emerging AI-powered tools like Skylum Luminar NEO and PhotoDirector. Portfolio formats should be digital and highly versatile, often presented as online portfolios or websites optimized for mobile and desktop, showcasing not only high-quality edited images but also animated or multimedia content where relevant.
For multimedia applications, designers must understand motion techniques such as stop motion, cinemagraphs, time-lapse, and After Effects and Adobe Animate. Many photographers expanded their skills into augmented reality assets and motion graphics during the pandemic.
A new position title, content creator and social media manager, has emerged, requiring training in photography, video production/motion graphics, design, and proficiency in programs like Dimension, Adobe XD, Express, After Effects, Premiere Pro, or Rush.
Employment in photography and digital creative industries has undergone changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, with people-oriented fields initially experiencing a shutdown, while product photography, architectural, and interior residential photography continued to thrive. Motion designers are in demand, with a focus on specific job roles and less of a requirement for a "one size fits all" skillset.
Students are advised to complete an internship during their studies to develop a strong work ethic. Photographers can get involved in the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) as content creators. A print portfolio is recommended for face-to-face meetings, but a fine art portfolio is not in demand. Adobe Express can be used to create a custom portfolio web page for job applications.
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- In their art portfolios, graphic design experts should showcase their skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, along with other programs like Premiere, After Effects, to demonstrate their versatility in the ever-evolving digital creative industries.
- Apart from Essential software skills for graphic design, education-and-self-development may involve exploring technology like XD, Adobe Rush, Adobe Aero, and Adobe Dimension, as these tools are increasingly relevant in lifestyle sectors such as content creation, social media management, and motion design.
