Photography is about more than capturing a moment, it’s about telling stories, shaping perspectives and creating images that connect with audiences.
Across Australia’s creative industries, photography skills are used in media, advertising, fashion, art, events and digital platforms. Whether you’re interested in documenting real life or producing highly crafted visual campaigns, there are more career pathways in photography than many people realise.
Here are 10 photography jobs you can build a career in, spanning editorial, commercial and creative industries.
1. Photojournalist
Photojournalists capture real-world events, cultural moments and human stories. Working across news, editorial and documentary platforms, this role combines technical skill with ethical storytelling and a strong understanding of visual narrative.
2. Documentary photographer
Documentary Photographers create long-form visual projects that explore social, cultural or environmental issues. In Australia, this career often intersects with editorial publishing, exhibitions and independent creative practice.
3. Editorial photographer
Editorial Photographers produce images for magazines, online publications and media outlets. This role requires adaptability: responding to briefs, collaborating with writers and editors, and working across fast-paced creative environments.
4. Commercial photographer
Commercial Photographers create images for brands, businesses and organisations. From product and lifestyle photography to corporate campaigns, this role plays a key part in marketing, branding and visual communication.
5. Advertising photographer
Advertising Photographers specialise in highly crafted imagery designed to sell ideas, products or experiences. Working closely with creative directors and agencies, they combine technical precision with strong creative vision.
6. Fashion photographer
Fashion Photographers work across editorial, advertising and brand campaigns. This role blends photography with styling, art direction and collaboration, and is closely tied to branding and visual identity.
7. Portrait photographer
Portrait Photographers work with individuals, artists, professionals and organisations to capture personality and presence. This career spans editorial, commercial and personal commissions, making it one of the most versatile photography pathways.
8. Content creator
Many photographers now work as Content Creators, producing visual content for social media, digital platforms and brands. This role often combines photography, video, editing and personal branding, reflecting the evolving media landscape.
9. Photo editor or retoucher
Photo Editors and Retouchers shape final images through selection, editing and post-production. These roles are critical across media, advertising and commercial photography, ensuring visual consistency and quality.
10. Fine art or exhibition photographer
Fine Art Photographers develop personal bodies of work for galleries, exhibitions and cultural institutions. While often combined with commercial work, this pathway allows photographers to explore creative practice and visual storytelling at depth.
Careers in photography rarely follow a single path. Many photographers work across multiple roles, combining editorial, commercial and personal projects to build sustainable creative careers.
As explored in the blog Learn from photographers who’ve done it all, real-world experience, adaptability and collaboration are key to long-term success in the industry. Photographers often build careers through relationships, portfolios and ongoing creative development rather than a single job title.
Questions around employability are also common. As discussed in Is a photography degree worth it?, structured learning, industry insight and practical experience can play an important role in preparing photographers for the realities of professional practice.
At Collarts, photography students develop technical expertise, creative confidence and industry awareness, preparing them for careers that evolve alongside media, culture and technology.
Because in photography, the camera is just the beginning.