In a recent article posted on Yahoo, Susan Johnston posts the “7 Jobs to Skip College For.” Freelance photographer made the top of this list. While Ms. Johnston fully acknowledges that these aren’t just easy jobs for drop-outs and they do require a specialized degree, from my perspective, this is just another shot at our industry that you really don’t need much more than a camera and a bit of interest and you’ll be making, as the article says, a median salary of $47,800.

Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many photographers, taking home over $45,000. Sure our gross can be several times that but after cost of goods, fixed expenses, equipment investments, employees, taxes and the like, I don’t think many photographers are taking home that kind of money. The ones who are do have at least a degree in photography and many years of experience.

Photography is (or at least was) a craft as well as an art. It takes years to learn and do well. Running a business, is also a skill, to make a living in photography you need a solid business education. Articles like this, in my mind, make light of a serious and challenging profession. Check out the article for yourself and let us know what your background is and if you are taking home this kind of money.