Photojournalism is the way of telling important stories through photos. This profession proves that a photo is indeed worth a thousand words. You evoke the emotions of the audience and link them to an event or incident that may not be aware of before. Photojournalism is an extremely powerful tool to send a message to the world. If you consider the photo of the baby girl on the verge of dying out of hunger with a vulture waiting for its death nearby. This Pulitzer-winning photo shook the world and showed the horrific reality of famine-stricken Sudan. If you aspire to be a photojournalist, you are at the right place.
Here is what you need to know about photojournalism as a career:-
Subcategories of photojournalism:-
There are 8 main subcategories of photojournalism, namely Spot news photojournalism, General News Photojournalism, Feature Photojournalism, Sports Action Photojournalism, Sports Features Photojournalism, Personality Photojournalism, Illustration Photojournalism, and Pictorial Photojournalism.
How to take photojournalism as a career:-
First of all, be clear about which subcategory of photojournalism you are going to choose. Start taking photos on your own in that field. Build your network, showcase your work on your website and social networking sites and create a great portfolio. It will draw the attention of the potential clients who will give you assignments. These clients include newspaper or magazine authorities and news agencies.
Qualifications and skills required to become a photojournalist
You must have a strong mindset to struggle in the initial years. You need to be swift with your gears because many times a click-worthy special moment lasts only for a second or two. Needless to say, practice and develop your photography skills as much as possible. You must be willing to work in difficult circumstances. A photojournalist needs to research the context of a subject or setting much more than a general photographer. So, you should be interested in learning about new events throughout your career. There are some courses that you might pursue to become a photojournalist. They are Diploma/BA/MA in Photojournalism, BA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, BFA in Photojournalism, MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, and B.S.V.C. in Visual Communication.
Best colleges in India to study Photojournalism
Delhi College of Photography, Light, and Life Academy, Asian Academy of Film and Television, Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Creative Hut Institute of Photography, International Institute of Mass Media, YMCA Centre of Mass Media, Institute of Mass Communication, and AJ Kidwai Mass Communication Research are some of the top colleges and institutes of India where you can study photojournalism.
Job Prospects
After earning a degree in photojournalism, you can either take a job in newspapers, magazines, news agencies, ad firms, TV channels, etc., or work as a freelancer. You can also go for a career in making documentaries.
5 Inspiring Indian photojournalists to follow
You must follow the work of famous photojournalists to understand their work patterns, skills, and creativity and apply the knowledge to your work. Arati Kumar-Rao, Adnan Abidi, Anil Sharma, Anushree Fadnavis, and Burhaan Kinu are some of the most inspiring Indian photojournalists whom you can follow on Instagram.
Photojournalism is not an easy career to pursue. But if you can endure the struggle period, this career will allow you to bring a significant change into society. As a beginner, always look for interesting scenes to click that tells a story. Because the more you click, the more you learn.
Written By Sanga Basu, Content Writer, WPC.
