Photo Technician
Job in about 50 words:
Everyone thinks they're professional photographers these days – even if every photo they take is as blurry as those faked UFO sighting pics. It's your job to help convince customers they're truly talented, even if they need a little help (taking the lens cap off is a good start). As a photo tech, you will be developing film, managing photo orders, filing and cataloguing materials, etc.
Job skills/requirements:
The good news is that your training will teach you everything you need to know to succeed on the job. But here are a few skills you should have from the get-go, plus some job requirements:
- Great communication skills: If you thought people were picky about ordering their food, then you ain't seen nothing yet. Whether customers want to get rid of Aunt Edna's red eyes or edit out their ex-boyfriend from vacation photos, you need to be professional, articulate and responsive.
- Computer savvy: The days of dipping photo paper in buckets of smelly chemicals are quickly being replaced by digital photo processing machines. Don't worry though; these user-friendly contraptions are similar to the computer you already use every day.
- Good multi-tasking skills: As a photo tech, you'll play many roles, including photo developer, cashier, customer service and salesperson. If you're working in a drug store, you might also need to know where the Tums are located and what's the best cure for chronic snoring.
- Creativity: You don't need an art school diploma and your own photography blog to make it as a photo tech, but you should be able to field basic questions about photo borders, colors, editing and everything in between. You also will be helping with displays around your photo area, and creativity can help!
- Organizational skills: It takes a lot of organization to follow, track and find the thousands of photos you'll likely be responsible for. And scribbling notes on your hand in erasable pen just isn't going to cut it.
- Age requirements: Because you will be working with machinery, employers might require you to be at least 18.
Expected hours:
Your hours will most likely depend on the hours of the retail store you're operating in. Some drug stores and other businesses offering photo developing are open 24 hours. You can expect to work on weekends, nights and holidays. That's a lot of opportunities to make some quality dough.
Dress the part:
Typically, you'll be provided with a company polo/button-down shirt. Sometimes, you'll even get to wear a white lab coat, protective glasses and gloves, depending on the type of work you're doing. At least you'll have everything you need for your “mad scientist” Halloween getup.
Job myth:
You need to be a photography wizard to become a Photo Tech.
Not true! You'll get all the training you need to succeed on the job. And you'll learn everything from how to process different films and digital photos to what types of tips to give amateur photographers. This doesn't mean that photography experience won't help.
Career path:
- Store Manager ($50,000 a year)
- Biomedical Photographer ($60,000)
- Fashion Photographer ($100,000)