All About Photographer Jobs on Cruise Ships

Photographers on cruise ships know how to do much more than take pictures. They motivate passengers, show passengers how to have a good time, and they hustle to make the bucks. Professional photographers on cruise ships work either solo or as part of a 6-7 member team under the direction of an seasoned Chief Photographer. In addition to a can-do attitude, friendly personality, and the ability to multi-task, photographers on cruise ships must have the ability to make split-second shots of passengers, process and develop photographs, set the stage if needed, and operate a wide range of cameras.

Photographers on cruise ships work on commission only. A good photographer can earn anywhere from $300 on the low end up to $1,000 on the high end per week. A big part of a photographers job is to catch passengers as the board the ship, shake hands with the captain, walk through gangways, dine in restaurants, leave the ship at various ports, and party. These photographs are placed on display where passengers can purchase them. This means, photographers are constantly on deadline to get the pictures on display, so that they can sell quickly. This part of the job equals big commissions for these professionals.

If you%u2019re interested in becoming a photographer on cruise ships and you have solid, verifiable skills and references, you can get started by choosing several cruise lines you%u2019re most interested in. You can locate the cruise lines%u2019 OFFICIAL website by visiting the Ships and Cruises Directory for official listings. Once you have located the site, visit the website and search around for job postings. Most cruise line websites have a career center or job postings page. If the cruise line lists photography job openings, be sure to follow the application procedure to the letter. Applicants that do not follow directions are typically passed over in favor of those that do. If the cruise line does not list job openings on its site, send a polished cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department. The Human Resources Department is typically located at the cruise lines headquarters. This information is usually listed on the cruise line website as well. It is important to include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.