How to make money from photography
Hey there,
Do you have a passion for photography or do you simply want to turn your expertise in taking photographs into a money-making business in 2024?
This guide is tailor-made for you.
In this article, I will show you the different strategies on how you can turn your passion for photography into a source of income in 2024.
You may also want to learn how to make money online for free as a student.
Let’s go!
How to make money from photography
Table of Contents
1. start a freelance photography
One of the most profitable ways to make money from photography is to earn through freelance photography jobs. 
As a freelance photographer, you can take pictures for different occasions like parties, weddings, portraits, houses, or advertisements.
Here is how to become a professional photographer.
What’s most appealing is that you have control over your schedule, prices, and style, tailoring your services to clients’ needs.
However, building a strong portfolio and reputation is necessary for a steady flow of work.
It’s more like turning your love for taking photos into a money-making career.
Average monthly earnings: $500 to $5,000
2. Do stock photography
Stock photography is a great way for photographers to make money with their pictures in 2024.
All you need to do is put your best pictures up for sale on websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images where people get to see and buy them.
However, the money you earn depends on how much people want your pictures and how many times they get them downloaded.
Average monthly earnings: $500 to $5000
3. Create and sell prints and Artwork
you can earn money through photography by creating and selling prints, canvases, or other artwork.
Platforms like Etsy and your website are great places where you can showcase these creations. When people like your pictures, they buy them, and you make money.
Well, if cannot do this, you can check out other options on the latest 55 best business ideas for students
Average monthly earnings: $500 to $2000
4. Start photo workshops and tutorials
If you’re good at taking photos and know a lot about photography, you can teach others and make money from it.
You can write tutorials or guides about photography and sell them on websites like Skillshare or Udemy or create online courses that people can take from the comfort of their homes.
It’s a great way to earn cash while sharing your skills to help others improve their photography.
Average monthly income: $500 to $5000
5. Engage in Documentary photography
Documentary photography is a way to make money through photography by working on projects that capture real-life stories and events.
You can focus on things like important social problems, cultural celebrations, or personal experiences. 
However, as you take these pictures, you’re creating a visual record and people can pay to see it or buy it from you.
Average monthly income: $1500 to $4000
6. Do photojournalism
Photojournalism involves taking pictures that tell stories about important events and news.
In 2024, many news websites, magazines, and online platforms need pictures to show what’s happening.
As a photojournalist, you can take photos that capture moments that can help people understand what’s going on in the world and turn earn money.
Average monthly income: $1500 to $4000
7. Work as a real estate photographer:
Make money through photography by teaming up with real estate agents to capture attractive pictures of properties for their listings
Your job as a real estate photographer is to take nice pictures that show off the best parts of houses or apartments.
This helps make the houses look awesome and helps people decide if they want to buy them.
Average monthly income: $500 to $5000
8. Start product photography
In 2024, one smart way to make money through photography is by teaming up with businesses to take awesome pictures of their products for websites and ads.
These pictures make the product look super cool and attract lots of buyers, It’s like giving the products a special spotlight.
However, as you get better and work with more businesses, you will earn money, while doing what you love.
Average monthly income: $800 to $2,000
9. Engage in travel photography
You can make money from photography by taking pictures during your travels.
These photos can be sold to travel magazines, and blogs, or used to create travel guides.
So, while you explore new places, you can also earn money by sharing your pictures with people who love to read about and see different parts of the world.
Average monthly income: $1,000 to $3,000
10. Be a social media influencer:
You can make money from photography by becoming a social media influencer.
This means you share your cool photos and thoughts on social media and team up with companies to talk about their products in your posts.
They will pay you for that, and it’s a great way to earn money with your photography and ideas.
Average monthly income: $500 to $5000
11. Offer virtual tours and VR photography
You can make money with photography by offering virtual tours. Think of it like showing people around cool places without actually being there.
You can do this for houses, museums, or even places tourists like. People like these tours because they feel like they’re there.
However, since more and more folks are into this kind of stuff, you can earn some cash by giving them these awesome virtual experiences.
Average monthly income: $1,500 to $3,000
12. Do Landscape and Nature Photography
Still, on how to make money from photography, you can make money with your photography by taking beautiful pictures of nature and landscapes. Capture amazing views of nature, animals, and outdoor scenes. 
Once you have these great photos, you can sell them to magazines that focus on nature, or to groups that work to protect the environment.
Another way is to sell your pictures as decorations for people’s homes or offices.
So, it’s more of using your photography skills to show the beauty of nature and make money at the same time.
Average monthly income: $2000 to $5000
13. How to Make Money from Photography – Start food photography
In 2024, you can make money with your photography by taking pictures of delicious food and drinks.
You can team up with restaurants, people who write about food online like bloggers, or magazines that focus on cooking.
They might want your mouthwatering photos to use in their menus, ads, or articles. It’s a tasty way to earn some cash using your photography skills.
Average monthly income: $1000 to $2500
14. Offer Aerial Photography and Drone Services
Make money with photography by using drones to take pictures and videos from the sky, this is called aerial photography.
You can offer this service to different industries like real estate, tourism, etc where you capture cool shots of houses and properties, or construction projects to show the progress.
People and businesses will pay you to use your drone skills to get these unique shots. It’s a fun and creative way to earn money with your photography passion.
Average monthly income: $1,500 to $3,500
15. Start event photography
You can make money with your photography skills by doing event photography. This means taking photos at weddings, parties, or business events.
After taking the photos, you can sell them to the people who were at the event. They might want to keep those memories as pictures.
Doing this provides you with a way to earn money by using your photography talent.
Average monthly income: $1,000 to $2,500
16. Do photo restoration
If you’re still looking for other options on how to make money from photography, photo restoration is a way for you to earn money with your photography skills.
By taking old or damaged pictures that are important to people, and making them look better again, you can make money for yourself.
You can use special tools on the computer to fix problems like scratches, faded colors, and rips, making the pictures almost new.
However, you can earn a good amount of money each month by doing this, and it’s a nice way to use your photography talent to bring old memories back to life.
Average monthly income: $500 to $5000
17. Engage in sport photography
If you love sports and photography, you can earn money by taking awesome action photos during games like football, basketball, or other sports.
These cool and captivating pictures are valuable to sports websites, magazines, and even the teams themselves and they end up paying for it
However, If you keep taking really good pictures, you can become known in the sports world and get chances to earn cash from your photography.
Average monthly earnings: $500-$5000
18. Become a Corporate Photographer:
As a corporate photographer, you can take professional photos for businesses including employees’ faces, events, and more, used for their websites or ads while you get paid.
These pictures make companies look good and help them get more customers.
It’s a cool way to use your photo skills to make money and be part of the business world.
Average monthly earnings: $2,500 to $4,000
19. Make Greeting Cards and Calendars
Making Greeting Cards and Calendars can be a fun and creative way to make money through your photography.
You can create greeting cards for various occasions like birthdays, holidays, or special events and eye-catching calendars using your images.
This can attract buyers who want to adorn their walls with visual treats.
However, the amount you can make depends on factors like the quality of your designs and the uniqueness of your photographs, so make a good impression.
Average monthly earnings: $200-$500
20. Start pet photography
If you’re good at taking cute pictures of pets like dogs, cats, and other animals, you can earn money as a pet photographer in 2024.
People who love their pets a lot might want to have nice pictures of them and they’ll get you paid for taking these photographs.
Additionally, it’s a fun way to make some extra cash doing what you love.
Average monthly earnings: $500-$1000.
Rounding up
There you have it on How to Make Money from Photography.
If there is anything I didn’t touch, feel free to let me know in the comment session.
