How to Become a Photographer after 12th: Careers, Entrance Exams, Top Colleges, Skills, Benefits, Salary

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A photographer is a skilled professional who captures moments and tells stories through the art of photography. They use cameras and creative techniques to frame events, people, landscapes, and concepts, translating emotions and narratives into visual masterpieces. Portrait photographers, wedding photographers, wildlife photographers, and street photographers are prominent in India, each specializing in capturing unique aspects of life and culture.

The average annual salary of a photographer in India is INR 5 to INR 6 LPA with the highest salary being INR 10 LPA. The monthly income of a photographer in India ranges between INR 25,000 to INR 40,000. Some of the top recruiters of photographers are National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Conde Nast, The Times of India, Flipkart, and Amazon.

Table of Contents

How to Become a Photographer after 12^th: Quick Facts
Eligibility to Become a Photographer after 12^th
Steps to Become a Photographer after the 12^th
Photography Courses after 12^th
Top Photography Colleges
Skills Required to Become a Photographer
Benefits of Becoming a Photographer
Salary of a Photographer
How to become a Photographer after 12^th: FAQs

How to Become a Photographer after 12^th: Quick Facts

Eligibility	Class 12
Qualifications	Diploma/ Certificate/ Bachelors degree
Starting Salary(INR)	3 LPA
Average Salary(INR)	6 LPA
Highest Salary(INR)	10 LPA
Top Recruiters	National Geographic, Discover, Flipkart, Amazon

Eligibility to Become a Photographer after 12^th

The eligibility criteria for photography courses are identical to those for other undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the field of creative arts. The requirements for candidates interested in pursuing the course are mentioned below.

A student must pass his or her (10+2) examinations from a recognized board with at least 50% in order to pursue a BFA or B.Sc. in Photography.
Candidates seeking admission to the MFA in Photography or M.Sc. in Photography programs must hold a BFA in Photography or B.Sc. in Photography or a relevant degree.

Steps to Become a Photographer after 12^th

Candidates interested in becoming a photographer can apply directly to colleges or photography training institutes. Candidates can pursue certification or diploma programs, as well as full-time degrees. The following are the general steps that can be taken to become a photographer:

Choose any specialization: Photographers are creative specialists that capture one or more sorts of subjects. Before starting a career as a photographer, candidates need to choose their specialization to operate as a professional.
Skill Development: Pursuing a degree or associated courses is one approach to enhancing technical art, aesthetic, and photography skills. Employers may not require a degree in the subject, but getting an education can help candidates build a strong portfolio.
Keep Practicing: Practice is one of the most crucial aspects of becoming a photographer since it helps to acquaint with equipment, hone abilities, and discover the style of preference.
Create a portfolio: Portfolio is a compilation of the best work that demonstrates abilities to clients and companies. Candidates should include a selection of images that relate to the area, they want to pursue.

Photography Courses after 12^th

Photography courses after class 12 typically consist of certificate and diploma programs in which students gain knowledge in many parts of the photography profession. Full-time programs such as B.Sc, M.Sc, BFA, MFA, and PGD are also available in the field of photography.

The detailed courses are mentioned in the table below:

Degree	Bachelor of Fine Arts	Masters of Fine Arts	B.Sc in Photography	Post Graduate Diploma in Photography
Eligibility	Class 12	Bachelor of Fine Arts	Class 12	Bachelor's degree in relevant field.
Entrance Exams	FADEE	Merit-based	Merit-Based	Merit-Based
Top Colleges	Osmania University, DU, BHU, etc.	DU, BHU, Jamia Milia Islamia, etc.	CMR University, Delhi College of Photography, etc.	HITS Chennai, Singhania University, etc.
Course Fees	INR 30,000 - INR 3,00,000	INR 20,000 - INR 2,00,000	INR 10,000 - INR 7,00,000	INR 65,000 - INR 5,00,000
Average Salary	INR 3 - INR 6 LPA	INR 3 - INR 9 LPA	INR 2 - INR 5 LPA	INR 3 LPA

Top Photography Colleges

There are around 56 top colleges in India that offer various photography-related programs. Some of these colleges along with their average fees are mentioned in the table below.

College Name	Location	Average Fees
Jamia Milia Islamia	New Delhi	INR 74,000
Amity University	Noida	INR 30,000
Lovely Professional University	Phagwara	INR 86,500
KIIT	Bhubaneshwar	INR 2,35,000
Osmania University	Hyderabad	INR 5,00,000

Skills Required to Become a Photographer after 12^th

Candidates need to have a particular skill set to be good photographers. The skills needed by a candidate for pursuing photography as a profession are listed below.

Creativity	Networking Skills	Teamwork	Technical Photography Skills
Observation Skills	Artistic Skills	Organized	Adaptability

Benefits of Becoming a Photographer after 12^th

Photography is one of the emerging professions and carries immense scope. The benefits of pursuing photography as a career include:

The rise of social media and advertising has taken the photography career to new heights. Candidates can create social media profiles and can get recognized by sharing their work on the platform.
Candidates can work as wildlife photographers, fashion photographers, wedding photographers, travel photographers, commercial photographers, and many other different types of photographers.
Photographers can work in the advertising industry for newspapers, magazines, and other publications. Food photography is a relatively new concept that is growing in popularity.
A photographer can even open his or her own studio or work as a freelancer. They can instruct photography classes and mentor interns and graduate students. Photographers have numerous job prospects abroad.
When photographers do what they love, creating photographs that will be passed down through generations, they may have a high degree of professional satisfaction.

Salary of a Photographer

In India, the average annual income of a photographer is INR 6 L. With experience, it has been observed that the salaries of photographers improve in the majority of firms. In India, the starting wage for a Photographer is INR 3 LPA, with the highest income being INR 10 LPA.

The table below lists the salaries of various job profiles of photographers.

Designation	Average Annual Salary
Digital Image Specialist	INR 4 L
Photojournalist	INR 6 L
Event Photographer	INR 4 L
Still Photographer	INR 5 L
Portrait Photographer	INR 4 L

How to Become a Photographer after 12^th: FAQs

Ques. What is the distinction between the BFA photography course and the B.Sc. photography program?

Ans. The Bachelor of Fine Arts, or BFA, is the most prestigious degree to pursue in the visual arts profession. A B.Sc. in photography is also a recognized degree. The curriculums of the two may differ slightly, yet they both aim to polish the skillset for becoming a photographer.

Ques. Where can I work after earning a degree in photography?

Ans. After earning your degree in photography, you can find work in a variety of settings, including academic institutions, event management organizations, e-commerce companies, photographic studios, artifact shops, advertising agencies, new channels, and print media.

Ques. How can I start a career as a photographer?

Ans. An internship at the beginning of the course is beneficial. This will allow you to master the skills, obtain industry experience, and apply what you've learned. After finishing the course, contact firms or begin your own freelance photography career.

Ques. What are the courses available for studying photography?

Ans. BFA in Photography and B.Sc. in Photography are undergraduate courses for studying photography in the arts and sciences, respectively. Similarly, MFA in Photography and M.Sc. in Photography are post-graduate programs.

Ques. Where can we find work as photographers?

Ans. You can get work in newspapers and magazines, advertising agencies, studios, press and publishing houses, industries and medical institutes, event management companies, and freelancers.

Ques. Why should I pursue a profession in photography?

Ans. A professional photographer's job is exciting and imaginative. Your reason for choosing photography as a career should be your creativity. So, if you have a creative drive and a passion for photography, you can pursue this career.

Ques. What are the best colleges for a photography diploma?

Ans. Light and Life Academy Ooty, AAFT, World University of Design Sonepat, Institute of Photography Excellence Ahmedabad, and Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communication, New Delhi are among the top colleges.