Spotlight: Travel Photographer

Do you have the travel bug? Are destinations around the world calling your name? Where do you want to go? A safari in South Africa? A trek through New Zealand? Rafting down the Grand Canyon? Winery hopping in Spain? Scuba diving in the Maldives? Skiing in Alaska? Biking in the Bahamas? The world is yours to explore. Why not go out there and see what it has to offer?

No matter where you adventure takes you, bring your camera. Photos tell stories. A simple picture can portray an exotic culture, scenic landscape, extreme sport, mystic people, remote country, brutal protest, or wild animal in a way that words cannot describe. Photos are powerful things. They document the world in a unique way. They bring adventures from around the globe to the armchair travelers and web surfers of the world.

As a travel photographer, your goal is take pictures that captivate people. In order to do this, you have to become one with your camera. You have to see everything through the camera lens.

There is no doubt that you have seen the work of a travel photographer. It may have been in the pages of National Geographic or websites like Matador Network. The images featured in magazines, websites, and books are there because of the hard work of travel photographers.

Travel photographers work hard to develop their eye. They take millions of photos to find the one shot that is worthy of selling. They have to know cameras, lights, scenes, and other dynamics of taking a great photograph. People spend a lifetime and make a living taking photos. Travel photographers travel both near and far. It’s their job to see things that no one else sees. From the volcanoes of Iceland to the penguins of Antarctica, travel photographers are there trying to bring the world and its stories to you.

Learn more about travel photography on JobMonkey.

To break into this field, you have to have a gift for taking photos. You always have to be ready – waiting for the perfect shot. But traveling and experiencing what the world has to offer is an incredible way to make a living. Most travel photographers start out taking photos for fun. You start capturing images of your travels, hobbies, and friends. If you snap a mesmerizing shot, you can try to sell it to magazines, websites, companies, or stock photography sites. If you’re good, eventually the places you sell your photos will pay for you to go on trips to exotic destinations and bring back images for readers and viewers.

Being a travel photographer is one of those jobs where you have to market yourself. Most successful travel photographers showcase their photography portfolio online. The more they sell, the more they make. The bigger their reputation becomes, the easier it is to find assignments. If you can combine your photo skills with writing skills, you are even more marketable.

If you’re interested in being a travel photographer, grab a camera and go. Start local before you global. One great place to learn the trade is via the MatadorU Travel Photography Program an offshoot of one of our favorite websites, Matador Network. These guys will teach you what you really need to know to be a travel photography success.

Sometimes you can find travel photography jobs on the JobMonkey Job Board. Good luck and be sure to share the photos of your travel adventures with us on Facebook.