• What is this occupation?

Photographic processing machine operators (or colorists) operate machines used in photograph processing's, like mounting presses, motion picture film printers, and film developing machines. Photographic process workers, another kind of colorist, retouch photographic negatives and prints in order to emphasize or correct features.

• What kind of educational background do you need?

There are no rigid educational requirements for this profession, but it helps if one is a high school graduate who has taken courses in art, photography, and chemistry. Most of the skills needed for these jobs are taught in on the job training.

• What is an average salary?

How much someone makes as a photographic process worker varies depending on skill, level of experience, and geographic location. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median hourly earnings are between $7.56 and $12.54. Median hourly earnings for photographic processing machine operators were between $7.06 and $10.56.

• What are the working conditions?

Photographic process workers and processing machine operators typically spend their work hours in clean, well-lit, and well-ventilated offices, photofinishing laboratories, or "1-hour mini-labs." Recently, photo processing is being done on computers rather than in dark rooms. Workers tend to work independently, doing fast-paced repetitive work.

• What is the job outlook?

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the employment of photographic process workers and processing machine operators will show little or no change through the year 2010. The employment of photographic process workers will decline a little. Any new openings in this field will simply be replacement needs. There will not be as large of a need for people with these skills, since digital cameras are easier and less expensive to use.

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This is a picture of some of the tools used in photo processing and development. Newer technology has improved on these items in recent years, making them even more efficient. (Picture from Chemistry in Action. )

Bibliography

Morgan, Nina. Chemistry in Action: The Molecules of Everyday Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.

U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos241.htm, 12/13/02.

Inonesearch.com: Job Profiles: Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators. http://www.inonesearch.com/Business/Jobs/?job=189, 12/13/02.