Royal Air Force

Photograph everything, from equipment and public relations portraits to reconnaissance photographs from the air. 


Photographers support RAF activities worldwide during both peacetime tasks and deployed war operations using modern digital systems. They can also undertake a variety of duties, ranging from identity photographs, photographing engineering faults of ground and air equipment to police photography – even photographing a Royal visit! With the benefit of training and on-the-job experience (gaining nationally recognised qualifications along the way), RAF Photographers can develop the skills to set up and publish their products on computer networks; they can also be involved in the production of films and videos.

Reading the information on the RAF website really helped with understanding what would be expected of me when i decide to go into the service. but i still had a few questions on the process as it doesn't make that clear. 


So i made a trip down to my local Royal Air Force careers office. Doing this backed up my choice of going down this path and made me excited about other prospects that could become available to me. 

Similar civilian jobs:

• Commercial and industrial photographer
• Medical photographer
• Photographic laboratory technician
• TV/film/video photographer

The skills i will gain in the royal air force can possible give me more skills to do any of these jobs out side of the royal air force. Ive been interested in medical photography and had looked into it before. but was disheartened by all the qualifications needed to pursue that choice.


On the website they have stories of photographers in the forces and what they have to do in their daily job. for me this helps but could also give a false opinion of the job. From reading online blogs of people interested in joining the force, there have been some mixed responses, so i have planned to take a year out to think really hard about my decision and my career means everything.