Photography Instructors

Job opportunities for photography teachers (along with all art teachers) should be fair. Employment for all high school teachers, regardless of specialty, is expected to decline by 1 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Art education programs are often the first to be eliminated when state or local education budgets are cut. At the college level, employment for art teachers is expected to grow about as fast as the average (4 percent) for all careers through 2033, but the number of photography instructors is relatively small, and competition for jobs will be strong. Average employment growth is also expected for self-enrichment teachers through 2033.

In community centers, demand for photo instructors will depend on the institution's budget. Traditional photography (which uses silver-halide film cameras) is an expensive art form because of high equipment, film, paper, and chemical costs. In addition, not all schools have the space for a student darkroom. However, most schools and centers that currently host photo programs should continue to do so and will need qualified instructors to lead classes. Digital photography requires less financial outlay, and the field is attracting students who might not have been able to afford traditional photography classes. This development suggests that demand should be good for skilled photography instructors—although most positions are part time.

The digital movement that has revolutionized photography will ensure a continuing need for instructors that are skilled in computer imaging and printing processes. Students of future classes should not only be taught traditional darkroom film developing methods, but also know how to download and edit images with software programs.