Photographer
Shoot weddings, events, products, news or portraits — usually as a small business owner.
What the job involves
- Photograph events, people or products.
- Edit and deliver images to clients.
- Run the marketing, quoting and admin of your own business.
School subjects you need
Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy accepted. Confirm the exact requirement with the institution you apply to.
- English
- Visual Arts
- Business Studies
Marks you normally need
- Minimum NSC pass
- National Senior Certificate helps; many courses accept a Higher Certificate pass
- Indicative APS
- Roughly 18–26 where a formal qualification is studied
- Subject percentages institutions look for
- English: 45%+
These are indicative ranges for guidance only. Every university, university of technology and TVET college sets its own admission requirements — check the current prospectus of the institution you are applying to.
Study routes
- Photography diploma or degree1–3 years
Teaches technique plus the business side of freelancing.
- Assisting an established photographer1–2 years
A common informal route that builds skills and referrals.
What you could earn
- Entry level
- R8 000 – R18 000 per month
- Mid-career
- R20 000 – R40 000 per month
- Senior
- R45 000 – R90 000 per month (commercial work varies widely)
Indicative gross monthly ranges from public South African salary sources. They vary by employer, province and experience, and are not guarantees. Compare all careers.
Where you can study this
Public institutions that commonly offer this field. Confirm the exact programme, its minimum APS and the closing date on the institution's own admissions page.
- University of Cape TownUCT · Cape Town
- University of the WitwatersrandWits · Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch UniversitySU · Stellenbosch
- University of PretoriaUP · Pretoria
- University of JohannesburgUJ · Johannesburg
- Rhodes UniversityRhodes · Makhanda
- Nelson Mandela UniversityNMU · Gqeberha
- Sol Plaatje UniversitySPU · Kimberley
- University of South AfricaUnisa · Distance learning, head office in Pretoria
- Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCPUT · Cape Town and Bellville
- Durban University of TechnologyDUT · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- Tshwane University of TechnologyTUT · Pretoria and surrounding campuses
- Vaal University of TechnologyVUT · Vanderbijlpark
Official sources
Questions learners ask
Isifinyezo / Opsomming
isiZulu: Uthwebula imishado, imicimbi nemikhiqizo, imvamisa njengebhizinisi lakhe.
Afrikaans: Neem foto's van troues, geleenthede en produkte, gewoonlik as eie besigheid.