How Much Money Can You Make As A photographer?

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Photography is a lucrative and growing industry and with ever increasing access to high quality cameras and equipment it can be one of the best paying careers in the modern world.

According to the National Bureau of Labor, in the United States there are nearly 55,000 professional photographers with the average salary being approximately $65,000 annually. Average salaries vary widely across the country, depending on location and other factors, which puts the average range of salaries across the country between $50,000-$70,000 per year.

In Alaska the average salary for a photographer is well over the nationwide average at $73,000, in the District of Columbia it’s $72,000 (you can expect to make slightly less in Philadelphia) while in Mississippi it is just above $53,000. These price disparities are due to supply and demand, the industries that already exist in these areas as well as other localized factors.

Location is an important determining factor for the salary of a working photographer however training, work history, certifications, extra skills and years experience are also significant in calculating the final salary of a photographer in the United States.

How much does a photographer make at different points in their career?

Following studies conducted by the New York Institute for Photography these are the figures for photographers at different points in their career, based on the experience, skills, level of training and the personal expertise of the photographer.

• Hobbyist – this is an amateur photographer who takes photos because of their passion for the art. They can usually expect to work for free.

• Amateur Photographer – Someone who is starting their career as a photographer. $25-$75/hour.

• Student Photographer – Someone who is still in training or certified education to become a photographer. Depending on their levels of skill and talent anywhere between $25-$100/hour, or around $25 per image.

• Semi-Professional – These are photographers who have graduated from school and have formal training and qualifications. $50-$100/hour or $50 and upwards per image.

• Full Time Professional – These are highly trained, experienced working photographers who have their own studio and a great portfolio. $75-$250/hour and $75 upwards per image.

• Top Ranked Professional – These elite, well known photographers are in high demand and can charge very good rates that usually begin at around $250-$500 and above/hour and anywhere up to $1,500 per image or up to $10,000 per day.

How does a photographer make money?

The most popular way for a photographer to work is as a freelance photographer or by running their own photography business. Photographers can find employment with large companies, in the fashion, news and magazine industries, in advertising and marketing, however, the most common route to professional photography still remains as a self employed entrepreneur.

Best Ways that you can Make Money from Photography.

If you are a photographer wondering how to monetize your passion then there are many ways that you can start earning good money from your talents. You can work full time, part time or just as a side hustle; but whatever you choose it will be personally satisfying and can be extremely financially lucrative.

• Sell your prints online: It’s easy to set up a website to host your own portfolio of photography that you can use to promote your work and make sales. Be sure to leverage the power of social media to help drive traffic to your site. On your site you can sell prints of your photography using a third party site that will print the images and handle the delivery of them to your customers.

• Wedding Photography: This is a highly paid gig where you take photographs of people’s weddings. Many photographers set up a whole business around this niche and you can too! It can be a high pressure job though and you need to get it right on the day, regardless of the weather, location and conditions so your clients can remember their special day in the best light!

• Real Estate Photography: Real Estate photographers earn very good salaries and with plenty of work to go round you can easily get your foot in the door. You can work with a real estate agent directly or work for clients who are selling their own properties. Rates for a photoshoot for an average size family home start at around $200 but can be a lot higher than that depending on your location, the value of the property and your own expertise.

• Sell Calendars, Posters, Cards and other unique items on your own E-store. You can set up your own E-store on a website or use a platform such as Etsy to sell your photography. You can sell calendars, posters and cards or branch out and create your own line of merchandise selling items such as mugs, T-shirts and a whole range of other options.

• Sell your photography in Galleries: This is a more traditional way to sell your photography and will require that you have good networking skills and can sell your work to the gallery owner. It’s an exciting way to sell your work and will also open up new opportunities as you meet members of the photography community in your area.

• Set up a Portrait business: Setting up a portrait business is a great way to operate as a freelance photographer although you may need your own studio space to make the most of the opportunities available. You can work with companies to take photos of their staff, with families, newly weds and many others! Start by creating a great portfolio of portraits and really hone your skills before you set out to market your services.

• Sell your photography by licensing them on stock photo websites: To sell your work through a stock photography website you simply need to upload them and the site will do the selling for you. Selecting the right categories to work in is important but ultimately the quality of your photography will sell itself! When someone downloads your photo then you get a royalty fee, which varies between sites; on iStockPhoto you receive 15-45% and on Shutterstock you receive 30%.

• Become a Photography Teacher: Becoming a photography teacher is a highly rewarding way to earn your income knowing that you are helping inspire others to achieve their dreams! Ideally you can teach from your own studio but you can also do walking lessons around your city taking photos with your students while giving them advice on techniques, methods and ways to get the best shot.

Freelance Photography.

If you are working as a freelance photographer remember that you don’t have to stick to just one area; you can mix and match different types of photography, doing wedding photography as well as teaching students, working online and offline, full, part time or even seasonally.

You will need a good work ethic, drive and determination, a passion for photography and be willing to continue learning to really make the most of the opportunities available to you.

Don’t worry if you are just starting out because you can also work with a more established photographer to learn the tricks of the trade.

Photography is a Great Career.

A professional photographer that has built up their network of contacts, has a good portfolio and regular clients can make a very good living in the United States and if photography is your passion it’s a wonderful avenue to pursue. Never let your fears hold you back and just do it! You can succeed in this amazing career path and always keep in mind that obstacles are only there to make you stronger, better and more agile!

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