Seven ways to earn income as a photographer!

We are living in an era where everyone is a photographer. At no time in history have more pictures been snapped. The Internet Trends Report estimated that in 2014 alone, an average of 1.8 billion digital images were uploaded every single day to social media.

That means 657 billion photos per year! Digital photography and advancing camera technology have made picture-taking more accessible than ever. But, there is a difference between a selfie-snapping traveler, a hobby photographer, and a professional.

You might be in the middle category, a hobby photographer, pondering whether you are ready to - or should - make the jump into a photography career. 

If you are thinking about making the jump into professional photography, you should know that there are several ways to make money in the profession. They will all require skills, effort, and time - but some require more of this than the others.

In some cases, you might be able to keep your day job while moonlighting in the evenings or weekends, at least initially. Check out our blog post on how to launch your photography business. 

Here are seven ways to earn income from photography:

1. Event photography

Event photography is a good entry into the world of professional photography and making money using your photography talent. A lot of event photographers start in this genre as a side gig. This allows them to build a client base before they make the jump to full-time event photography.

Also, because many events are held in the evening or weekends, it can be easier to do it as a side job. Events can be anything from nonprofit events to company parties or birthday parties.  

2. Portrait photography

Portrait photography is a popular genre. Still, it will mean a minimal investment on your part as you set up a studio or portable studio to shoot on site. You'll need the right cadre of gear to do a professional job. Unlike some other genres, portraits can mean additional income from other products such as albums, framing, etc.

Another advantage with portrait photography, which can include family and children's photography, is the ability to cultivate a relationship with the clients. Many portrait photographers are called back up year after year to update portraits.

3. Wedding photography

Wedding photography can be a tough genre to break into and sustain enough clients to earn a full-time living. Many photographers enter the field slowly and work hard to gain referrals. Even so, keep in mind that this is a densely populated field for photographers to enter.

However, we don't want to dissuade you from entering this field. If you're interested in shooting weddings, it's good to know what you're up against. Most successful wedding photographers network with other vendors in the industry, such as florists and event planners, as a way to earn new business. 

4. Commercial photography

Commercial photography is a rather broad and multi-faceted area. It can include photography for pretty much any business. You could be hired to shoot for the travel industry (think hotels, inside and out), corporate images, real estate, and even small business images for websites.

Product and food photography can be considered part of commercial work. After all, businesses have to advertise their products, and someone's got to take all those pictures.

Typically it's commercial photographers specialising in food or products. We could go on and on. It offers a lot of opportunities to earn income. To succeed, however, you should be a versatile photographer ready to deliver precisely what the clients want.

5. Stock photography

Stock photography could be seen as a part of photojournalism, but not always. Making an income solely from stock photography can be a tough thing. Some photographers submit images to stock websites that they accumulate throughout their other everyday photography. It's a great way to earn extra income from other photography work. Here are more tips on selling stock photography in this blog post.

6. Photojournalism and editorial photography

Most photojournalists break into this genre by way of a program of formal studies such as college or university. However, that's not always required to become a photojournalist. Plenty of self-taught photographers have made it. It can depend on where you live and the demand and requirements for photojournalists in your area.

Photojournalism can be the most challenging of all - think of war photographers, for example. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding and have global implications. Photojournalists can be freelance or work directly for a news organization. 

7. Sports photography

In many ways, a sports photographer is a photojournalist. They are documenting sports events and, often, life as it relates to the sport on or off the field. Your best shot of breaking into this field? Get in with an organization or agency in need of a sports photographer! You'll need superb sports shots. Also, think about big and small opportunities. Sometimes a local school sports teams will hire you. Work your way up from there to the big leagues!

To sum up

If you want to start earning income from your photography, be as skilled, knowledgeable, and versatile as you can be. You will need to work very hard, as you will be competing with a lot of photography talent already out there.

You might want not to specialize right away. Be open to shooting across several genres (that's the versatility we just mentioned). As we said, food photographers are often also commercial photographers.

Lastly, establish a network of contacts in the industry you want to break into. Your contacts, along with your grit and skill, can help you build clientele and earn a stable income. Good luck!