Picture editor

Picture editors are responsible for the look of final photo­graphs to be published in a book or periodical or that are posted on the Internet. They make photo assignments, judge and alter pictures to meet assignment needs, and make sure all deadlines are met. They work for publish­ers, advertising agencies, photo stock agencies, greeting card companies, and any employer that relies heavily on visual images to sell its products or services.

The duties of a picture editor include, but are not limited to:

• Consulting with the editorial team and brainstorming creative concepts.
• Coordinating photography assignments and allocating projects to in-house photographers.
• Hiring specialist photographers and negotiating fees, if relevant.
• Obtaining rights to photographs, as well as permission to shoot at designated locations, when required.
• Selecting photographs that complement the text in the way envisaged by the editorial team.
• Editing and artfully positioning photographs to accompany texts.
• Submitting photographic designs for approval in a timely manner.
• Obtaining feedback from editorial teams and making relevant changes, when required.
• Keeping track of industry trends and advancements in the field of photographic editing.

Picture editors generally work indoors, full time, on set schedule. They often have to travel on a daily or a weekly basis as a part of their job.

Sometimes, they may have to work extra hours to meet deadlines. Because these deadlines are often daily, the role is quite competitive and stressful.

The following job titles also refer to picture editor:

photograph editor
image editor
picture selector and organizer
photo editor
picture selector and organiser

A high school diploma is a minimum to work as a picture editor. However, many employers prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree in photography, communication, journalism, or a related field. Courses in photography, digital media, and graphic design constitute assets for a career as a picture editor.

In certain fields, photographers may need a photography license to work in certain fields.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Picture editor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to picture editor.

editor-in-chief
magazine editor
broadcast news editor
desktop publisher
crime journalist

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of picture editor.

• Photography: Art and practice of creating aesthetically appealing images by recording light or electromagnetic radiation.
• Editorial standards: The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
• Graphic design: The techniques to create a visual representation of ideas and messages.
• ICT software specifications: The characteristics, use and operations of various software products such as computer programmes and application software.
• Multimedia systems: The methods, procedures and techniques pertaining to the operation of multimedia systems, usually a combination of software and hardware, presenting various types of media such as video and audio.
• Post-processing of photographs: The characteristics of software and techniques used in post-processing photographs.
• Press law: The laws concerning the licensing of books and the freedom of expression in all products of the media.
• Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

These skills are necessary for the role of picture editor.

• Edit negatives: Use different software products and techniques to process photographic negatives and adapt the images to the desired specifications.
• Select photos: Review sets of images and select the best work.
• Consult information sources: Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
• Adapt to type of media: Adapt to different types of media such as television, movies, commercials, and others. Adapt work to type of media, scale of production, budget, genres within type of media, and others.
• Meet deadlines: Ensure operative processes are finished at a previously agreed-upon time.
• Perform image editing: Edit various types of images such as analogue and digital photographs or illustrations.
• Consult with editor: Consult with the editor of a book, magazine, journal or other publications about expectations, requirements, and progress.
• Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
• Supervise work: Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.
• Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
• Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists: Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.
• Build contacts to maintain news flow: Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc.
• Negotiate exploitation rights: Negotiate with the creator the rights to communicate a work to the public and to reproduce it.
• Edit photographs: Resize, enhance and retouche photographs, using airbrushing, editing software and other techniques.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of picture editor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Motion graphics: The techniques and software for creating the illusion of motion such as keyframing, Adobe After Effects, and Nuke.
• Desktop publishing: The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of picture editor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
• Participate in editorial meetings: Participate in meetings with fellow editors and journalists to discuss possible topics and to divide the tasks and workload.
• Create online news content: Create and upload news content for e.g. websites, blogs and social media.
• Set up photographic equipment: Choose the best position and orientation of the camera to capture the scene, along with other necessary equipment.
• Apply desktop publishing techniques: Apply desktop publishing techniques to create page layouts and typographic quality text.
• Perform video editing: Rearrange and edit video footage in the course of the post-production process. Edit the footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as colour correction and effects, speed effects, and audio enhancing.
• Select camera apertures: Adjust lens apertures, shutter speeds and camera focus.
• Hire new personnel: Hire new personnel for a company or organisation payroll via a prepared set of procedures. Make staffing decisions and direct selection co-workers.
• Edit digital moving images: Use specialised software to edit video images for use in an artistic production.
• Determine image composition: Determine image composition, select and adjust subjects, equipment and lighting to achieve desired effects.
• Select photographic equipment: Select appropriate photographic equipment and background properties, and adapt it according to subjects, materials, and conditions.
• Maintain photographic equipment: Execute maintenance tasks to keep photographic equipment functioning properly.
• Use photographic equipment: Use analogue or digital camera equipment, along with a variety of accessories such as tripods, filters and lenses.
• Perform backups: Implement backup procedures to backup data and systems to ensure permanent and reliable system operation. Execute data backups in order to secure information by copying and archiving to ensure integrity during system integration and after data loss occurrence.
• Create editorial board: Create the outline for each publication and news broadcast. Determine the events that will be covered and the length of these articles and stories.
• Search for a suitable location: Search for locations suitable for film or photo shoots.
• Check stories: Seek out and investigate stories via your contacts, press releases and other media.
• Follow the news: Follow current events in politics, economics, social communities, cultural sectors, internationally, and in sports.

2642 – Journalists

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References

1. ESCO
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. Photo Editor Career Information – iResearchNet
4. Photo Editor Job Description – ClimbTheLadder
5. Photo Editor Job Description – BetterTeam
6. Featured image: Photo by Michael Burrows from Pexels