Picture Researcher
A Picture Researcher is a person employed to seek out and licence specific images (or types of image) on behalf of a client using their research skills, experience and capacity for lateral thought. It is a fascinating and rewarding career choice, ideally suited for people who enjoy challenges and have a deep love of photography and photographic history.
Picture Researchers may be full or part-time employee of a picture library, picture agency or a specific media organisation. They may also be an independent freelancer.
What is the job?
A Picture Researcher is a person hired to find and licence suitable photographic images for a client. They must find the best images to illustrate and enhance their client's brief, using their knowledge of the picture library's (or libraries) archive systems, technical research skills, the operation of search engines, as well as their capacity for tangential thought.
Picture Researchers are either employed by a picture library to meet client's requests from their in-house material, or by a publisher, advertiser or picture agency who gives the Picture Researcher overall responsibility for putting together the photographic images for a project. In the latter case, the final selection of images is likely to come from many different picture libraries. Thanks to advances in digital technology, Picture Researchers mainly source images online, although some smaller specialist picture libraries may still supply transparencies or CD-ROM's.
The Picture Researcher takes a brief from the client about the type of images required. Sometimes this request may relate to finding images of a person, place or event. However, the brief can also be more cryptic or emotive. For instance, a Picture Researcher might be asked to find humorous pictures of dogs and their owners, or images that communicate a sense of freedom. Researchers must consider whether the pictures will be reproduced in black & white or colour; how much space they will take up; whether landscape or portrait format is required; what audience they are aimed at; the budget available; the anticipated size of reproduction; and the countries and media where the pictures will be published or distributed.
Once the brief has been discussed and agreed - and a fee negotiated, Picture Researchers set about sourcing relevant images using the different libraries' keyword search systems. With so many images available to choose from, they must use their experience to determine the appropriate search words and to select the best pictures, in the appropriate quantity, for their client. It is also the researcher's responsibility to make the client aware of any licensing and copyright restrictions attached to the various images they have selected.
Typical career routes
There is no typical career route to become a Picture Researcher. Most picture libraries seek keen, well-educated candidates for this role who either have a relevant degree or a keen interest in the type of photography held by the picture library.
Since picture libraries and picture agencies often specify the need for prior experience in the sector, it is common for new entrants to agree to undertake some unpaid work to show their aptitude, strengthen their CV and improve their employment prospects. For more information on current regulations relating to work experience, please refer to the Careers section of the Skillset website.
Essential knowledge and skills
Picture Researchers need to be methodical and creative, with excellent IT skills. They should have good administration and organisational skills, as well as excellent visual literacy and visual memory. They must have keen research skills, good communication and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to accurately interpret and interrogate a brief. Good general knowledge, an understanding the history of photography, and interest in the specific area to be researched are also a big plus.
Picture Researchers must be able to multitask, and require detailed knowledge of copyright law and licensing issues. They should also keep records of their search paths and search parameters to enable them to retrace their steps where required.
There are National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Photo Imaging. These give a detailed breakdown of the knowledge, awareness and skills needed to effectively carry out a particular job role. The NOS relevant to this job are listed at the end of this profile.
Training and qualifications
The highest qualification likely to be sought by any picture library or agency is an MA in Archive Administration, but more typically companies ask that Picture Researchers have a degree in a relevant area such as anthropology, art history, botany, history, languages, photography or science.
The British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA) endorse Picture Research courses at the London School of Publishing, the London College of Communication and the Publishing Training Centre.
BAPLA also regularly list job vacancies on their website: www.bapla.org
BAPLA is the biggest online resource of new vacancies for picture researchers, editors, archive managers, retouchers and numerous other positions within the picture industry. New jobs are posted on a daily basis.
Many individual library websites (e.g. Getty Images) publish information on training and job vacancies.
For this information and more, please view the attached PDF. 
Picture Researcher
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