Are You Curious How Much Photographers Make?

How Much Do Photographers Make?

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

Photography is桂a桂hobby that many people are able to桂turn into a桂career or桂source of桂secondary income. The barrier of桂entry for桂certain types of桂photography is桂relatively low. Becoming a桂successful self-taught professional photographer is桂a桂viable option, thanks to桂the桂wealth of桂resources available online.

But if桂you�셱e considering becoming a桂photographer, you likely have one important question: How much do桂photographers make a桂year? The answer to桂that question depends on桂several factors. The first is桂how much time you put into your photography career. Part-time photographers will obviously make considerably less than full-time photographers. But the桂type of桂photography you choose to桂pursue can also make a桂big difference.

Some of桂the桂different paths photographers can take include sports photography, wedding photography, 껸꾈삣桂wildlife photography. The average rates 껸꾈삣桂yearly earnings of桂each type of桂photographer are different. In桂addition, expenses for桂things like equipment 껸꾈삣桂travel will cut into earnings 껸꾈삣桂can also vary.

Here is桂an桂overview of桂the桂average yearly earnings for桂some of桂the桂most common types of桂professional photography.

How Much Do桂Professional Photographers Make? Breakdown by桂Category

Before diving into the桂different subcategories of桂professional photography, we桂can quickly look at桂the桂average earnings for桂all photographers. In桂America, the桂 for桂photographers is桂around $41,000.

However, most photographers do桂not do桂photography full-time 껸꾈삣桂make less than that. But even a桂part-time photographer can make between $20,000桂껸꾈삣桂#30,000桂per year.

The earnings potential for桂photographers also varies by桂state, in桂addition to桂the桂type of桂photography. For example, the桂average salary for桂a桂photographer in桂New York State is桂just above $50,000. Meanwhile, the桂average salary for桂a桂photographer based in桂Wisconsin is桂around $35,000.

Cost of桂living 껸꾈삣桂opportunity are the桂main determining factors when it桂comes to桂regional salary differences.

Now here is桂a桂look at桂the桂average annual salaries of桂some of桂the桂different types of桂professional photographers.

How much do桂freelance photographers make?

Working 껸끅桂a桂freelance photographer is桂a桂good way to桂get started in桂the桂photography industry. Freelancers are able to桂choose their projects according to桂their preferences 껸꾈삣桂availability. This also means it�셲 a桂preferred option for桂most part-time photographers.

Freelance photographers can also fit into many of桂the桂different categories mentioned below. 혫Freelance photography혬 does not cover any桂particular type of桂photography but applies to桂the桂photographer�셲 contractual status instead.

Freelance photographers can usually set their own hourly rates. However, the桂national average rate for桂a桂freelance photographer is桂$33桂per hour. Yearly earnings for桂freelance photographers vary immensely between full-time 껸꾈삣桂part-time photographers. Earnings can range anywhere from $19,500桂to桂over $100,000.

Freelance photographer expenses also vary considerably. A桂high-quality professional camera 껸꾈삣桂lenses will usually cost at桂least $3000. But this is桂not a桂continuing investment, 껸꾈삣桂it桂can quickly pay off for桂freelancers.

How much do桂wedding photographers make?

Wedding photography is桂one of桂the桂most high-demand categories of桂professional photography. Everybody wants high-quality, professional photographs to桂commemorate the桂special occasion of桂a桂wedding. As桂a桂result, this is桂often a桂preferred career option for桂photographers.

The trade-off for桂this is桂that wedding photography is桂a桂more competitive field in桂most regions. However, successful wedding photographers are able to桂make excellent money for桂just a桂few hours of桂work.

The average rate for桂a桂wedding photographer is桂between $50桂to桂$55桂per hour. With most weddings lasting between four 껸꾈삣桂five hours, most wedding photographers can make over $200桂for桂a桂day�셲 work. How much you make per year 껸끅桂a桂wedding photographer depends primarily on桂how many weddings you work.

While wedding photography does not require 껸끅桂much equipment 껸끅桂other photography types, photographers still want high-quality cameras. A桂standard camera for桂wedding photographers costs anywhere from $800桂넨늡桂$1000.

How much do桂real estate photographers make?

Real estate photography is桂a桂smaller niche within the桂larger photography industry. But real estate agencies are always in桂need of桂photographers to桂capture 껸꾈삣桂highlight their property listings.

On桂average, real estate photographers make less per hour than some other types of桂photographers. The national average hourly rate for桂real estate photography is桂just $17. However, the桂daily work for桂a桂wedding photographer is桂relatively quick 껸꾈삣桂easy, 껸꾈삣桂work is桂always in-demand.

A桂typical real estate photography session will last only up桂to桂two hours, making it桂possible to桂perform multiple shoots in桂one day. The average annual salary for桂real estate photography is桂just under $35,000. Most real estate photographers do桂not rely exclusively on桂real estate photography for桂their income.

Whether it�셲 a桂side job or桂one of桂many photography services they offer, real estate photography is桂a桂reliable source of桂supplemental income.

Real estate photography also requires some additional equipment, like a桂tripod 껸꾈삣桂lighting gear. Equipment expenses for桂real estate photographers are typically between $5000桂껸꾈삣桂$8000 껸끅桂one-time expenses.

How much do桂wildlife photographers make?

Wildlife photography can be桂one of桂the桂most exciting options for桂a桂professional photographer. It桂can also be桂a桂good source of桂income in桂the桂right region 껸꾈삣桂with the桂right opportunities.

The national average rate for桂wildlife photography is桂$21桂per hour, with photographers earning an桂average of桂$43,000桂껸꾈꾈넵껸깜깜꿎. However, wildlife photography also has a桂higher barrier of桂entry than most other photography types.

Becoming a桂successful wildlife photographer requires an桂in-depth understanding of桂wildlife behavior. This means knowing how to桂find animals in桂the桂wild 껸꾈삣桂how to桂capture images without disturbing them.

Wildlife photography equipment can also be桂expensive, costing up桂to桂$20,000桂for桂top-level gear.

You may also be桂wondering, 혫How much do桂National Geographic photographers make?혬 is桂a桂publication known for桂its stunning photography of桂wildlife, nature, 껸꾈삣桂people across the桂globe. National Geographic typically pays its photographers about $500桂per day to桂capture stunning images all over the桂world.

How much do桂sports photographers make?

Sports photography is桂a桂fairly unique niche within the桂photography industry. The potential earnings of桂a桂sports photographer vary greatly based on桂region 껸꾈삣桂job opportunities. At桂the桂highest level, sports photographers for桂professional leagues 껸꾈삣桂teams can make very good money in桂a桂limited time.

For instance, an桂NFL photographer can make over . While that may seem low, an桂NFL photographer will typically only work four games per month (one game every Sunday). Additionally, a桂work day for桂an桂NFL photographer is桂usually about four to桂six hours, including pre-and post-game work. Photographers for桂other professional sports, like baseball or桂basketball, will work longer hours when photographing events.

Professional sports photographers at桂the桂highest level can usually make over $50,000桂껸꾈꾈넵껸깜깜꿎. There is桂considerable variety based on桂the桂types of桂events being photographed, however.

But sports photography for桂youth, high school, amateur, 껸꾈삣桂college sports is桂also an桂option. These levels of桂sports photography earn photographers less money than professionals. But even a桂part-time sports photographer can make $10,000桂annually in桂the桂U.S.

Sports photography requires some unique frames 껸꾈삣桂equipment in桂order to桂capture high-resolution images of桂fast-moving objects. Sports photographers should expect to桂spend at桂least $1,500桂on桂basic equipment.

How much do桂travel photographers make?

To桂some people, travel photography sounds like a桂dream come true. As桂a桂travel photographer, you can get paid to桂travel to桂exciting 껸꾈삣桂exotic places 껸꾈삣桂take pictures. But how much do桂travel photographers make during their travels?

Most travel photographers work 껸끅桂freelancers, giving them some flexibility over their work. The average rates for桂travel photography can range anywhere from $17桂to桂$22桂per hour. However, travel photography rates can vary depending on桂the桂region the桂work takes place.

The earning potential for桂travel photographers also depends largely on桂travel expenses. Most employers will cover at桂least some of桂the桂travel expenses for桂their contracted travel photographers. However, the桂exact amount varies from client to桂client.

Typically, a桂travel photographer can earn over $100桂in桂a桂day�셲 work. The average annual salary for桂travel photographers ranges from $35,000桂넨늡桂$39,000桂껸꾈꾈넵껸깜깜꿎. Typically travel photographers offer other photography services in桂addition to桂travel photography.

Travel photography does not have a桂high barrier of桂entry 껸꾈삣桂requires minimal professional gear. However, travel photographers should expect to桂spend at桂least $1000桂on桂a桂good camera, lenses, 껸꾈삣桂carrying case.

How much do桂drone photographers make?

Drone photography is桂potentially a桂highly lucrative career option for桂those with the桂gear to桂do桂it. Drone photography is桂quite a桂bit different than other types of桂photography, of桂course. Rather than operating a桂handheld camera, drone photographers must operate an桂airborne drone with a桂camera attached.

As桂you might expect, the桂expenses to桂start a桂drone photography business are considerably higher than other types of桂photography. But the桂uniqueness of桂the桂images drone photography is桂able to桂capture makes it桂a桂highly rewarding field to桂get into.

Most drone photographers earn at桂least $20桂per hour. The quality of桂the桂drone 껸꾈삣桂equipment can affect a桂drone photographer�셲 earning potential significantly. Some drone photographers are able to桂charge north of桂$100桂per hour, for桂instance. Annual earnings for桂drone photographers range anywhere from $17,000桂넨늡桂$100,000. However, the桂national average is桂around $41,000桂per year.

Drone photography expenses can also vary greatly. A桂low-level professional camera drone will cost between $300桂껸꾈삣桂$500. Higher-priced drones can cost $1000桂껸꾈삣桂up.

How much do桂fashion photographers make?

Fashion photography is桂a桂potentially lucrative niche for桂professional photographers to桂pursue. Fashion photographers can be桂hired by桂bloggers, fashion designers, 껸꾈삣桂retailers to桂photograph new fashion items 껸꾈삣桂capture trends.

Fashion photographers are constantly in-demand, 껸꾈삣桂the桂market has less competition than other photography niches. As桂a桂result, fashion photographers can make a桂better hourly rate than other types of桂photographers. The average rate for桂fashion photographers is桂$27桂per hour. Fashion photographers can typically make between $45,000桂껸꾈삣桂$50,000桂껸꾈꾈넵껸깜깜꿎.

Expenses for桂fashion photographers are fairly standard relative to桂other types of桂photographers. A桂top-quality camera for桂fashion photography will cost between $3000桂껸꾈삣桂$5000, but lower-cost cameras can also work. Lighting equipment is桂also very important for桂fashion photographers 껸꾈삣桂can cost a桂few hundred dollars 껸끅桂well.

How much do桂product photographers make?

Product photographers are hired by桂companies to桂take marketing photographs of桂their merchandise 껸꾈삣桂products. This is桂another high-demand niche that professional photographers can break into with relative ease.

Companies always need product photography services for桂new marketing 껸꾈삣桂advertising content. The camera equipment required for桂product photography is桂fairly standard 껸끅桂far 껸끅桂professional photography goes.

Product photographers can usually earn at桂least $20桂per hour, if桂not more. The average annual salary of桂a桂professional product photographer is桂just over $40,000. However, full-time 껸꾈삣桂high-level product photographers can make over $50,000桂껸꾈꾈넵껸깜깜꿎.

Entry-level product photography equipment should cost at桂least $1000, including a桂camera, lenses, 껸꾈삣桂lighting gear. However, higher-quality equipment will cost around $3000桂to桂$5000桂for桂product photography.

Build a桂Professional Website for桂Your Photography Business

Choosing the桂right gear 껸꾈삣桂niche is桂only half the桂battle when it桂comes to桂running a桂successful photography business. Establishing a桂credible brand reputation can also make a桂huge difference, 껸끅桂it桂can attract many more clients to桂your business. In桂today�셲 market, having your own website is桂one of桂the桂best ways to桂stand out 껸꾈삣桂grow your brand. Having a桂website makes it桂easy for桂potential clients to桂browse your work 껸꾈삣桂get in桂contact. It桂is桂also a桂place to桂market your services, share content, 껸꾈삣桂stay organized.

With 붚죕쳔, creating your own professional ecommerce store is桂easier 껸꾈삣桂more affordable than ever. 붚죕쳔 is桂a桂free ecommerce platform that allows entrepreneurs 껸꾈삣桂small business owners to桂build custom websites 껸꾈삣桂manage their businesses online.

Read about to桂learn more about building a桂website for桂your photography business.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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