What Is a Volunteer Photographer and How to Become One
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What Does a Volunteer Photographer Do?
As a volunteer photographer, your responsibilities are to provide free photography services for community events, charity and nonprofit organizations, startup businesses, and others who might need professional images taken for special occasions. Some photographers also volunteer their time to teach others how to use a professional camera to capture images, like landscapes or portraits. To fulfill your duties in this role, you typically need to travel to your clients, so you need a reliable vehicle and equipment that you can take with you. Volunteer photographers have a flexible schedule and may or may not do paid photography work for their primary jobs.
How Can I Get a Volunteer Job as a Photographer?
Volunteer photographers may have the same skills and qualifications as paid photographers, but they offer their services for free. As a volunteer photographer, you do not need formal education, but you do need photography skills, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and creativity. It’s helpful to have a portfolio of past work. You also need computer skills for editing and printing or sending photographs to clients. You can find volunteer photographer work with almost any nonprofit organization, like animal shelters and hospitals, but new businesses might also contract you for help. You can also volunteer your services to businesses and organizations to which you have a personal connection.
