When it’s time to snap the group selfie, your friends always hand you the camera! Some even ask you to shoot weddings, graduations, and parties.
These experiences have made you think that a photography career suits you — but you still need to know whether it offers good earning potential as a full-time gig or side hustle. So here’s the full scope as far as photographer earnings potential to help you decide.
How Much Can Photographers Make (& Where They Make the Most)
Professional photographers make anywhere from $40,000 to $99,000+ a year. Factors that affect your profits include niche, location, experience, and customer demand. For example, wedding photographers make the most because of location and demand.
However, industries like photojournalism, commercial photography, and nature photography can open the doors for more freelancing opportunities and career advancement — such as becoming art or creative directors or photo editors.
How Much Photographers Make on Average
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for photographers is $40,760, and the median hourly wage is $19.60. Data from sites like Indeed and ZipRecruiter show an average annual salary of $42,345 to $53,392 and an average per-hour rate of $20 to $21.48.
But those numbers don’t tell the whole story — for one thing, where you work, what type of photography you do, your experience, reputation, credibility, marketing, capabilities, style, and more all impact your earning potential.
Next, take a peek at photographer salaries across different industries, such as photojournalism, real estate, weddings, and so on. We rounded up all of the data surrounding photographers’ salaries below using ZipRecruiter and Indeed. Salary estimates like these change periodically, but were accurate when this article was published.
Wedding Photographers
A wedding photographer’s average salary is $99,199 and (just a hair less than) $48 per hour. The number varies widely from state to state, however, and you can expect to make more doing wedding photography in urban and upscale regions.
Here are the top states for wedding photographers’ annual salaries:
- Washington – $112,320
- Massachusetts and
- New York – $108,160
- Alaska – $106,832
The states where it’s less lucrative to specialize in wedding photography are Florida ($74,131), West Virginia ($76,797), and Arkansas ($81,120). While far lower than the top-paying states, remember that most have a lower cost of living as well, showing that across the U.S., wedding photography is a good gig – the data shows it’s the specialty where you can make the most!
Check out more wedding photography statistics and trends.
Studio Photographers
Studio photographers photograph subjects in studio settings and are responsible for directing and making subjects feel as comfortable as possible to get optimal photos of them. They shoot people, animals, fashion items, artwork, products, and more for headshots, portraits, advertisements, commercials, and more.
A studio photographer’s average salary is $56,888, or $27 per hour, with the top cities for studio photographers listed as:
- Nome, AK $70,570
- Berkeley, CA $69,656
- Sitka, AK $68,532
Keep in mind that cities with a higher cost of living usually mean you can charge more for your services. So your take-home pay will depend a lot on where you live, what/who you photograph, and overhead, like how much you pay to rent your studio.
Photojournalists
Photojournalists are responsible for capturing candid shots of local, national, or international news stories or events in their community. Photojournalism could be your cup of tea if you have a knack for following the news, traveling, and meeting new people. You could work as a staff photojournalist or freelancer for several companies.
On average, photojournalists earn $21 per hour, which comes out to about $43,680 per year. Photojournalists earn the most in these cities, two of which are in Alaska:
- Nome, AK $55,412
- Berkeley, CA $54,695
- Sitka, AK $53,812
While photojournalism may not seem lucrative, it varies by the publication. A magazine photographer’s salary can range from $57,000 to $64,000, depending on the publication and their experience.
You can also create a side hustle as a freelance photojournalist and simultaneously shoot stories for different online news sites and magazines. This experience also opens doors for photo editor or art director roles with a salary of $45,000 to $79,000.
Learn more about becoming a photojournalist.
Real Estate Photographers
Real estate photography is a niche commercial photography field, but it’s a niche with a market everywhere. Real estate photographers are responsible for taking photos of for-sale and for-rent properties that will appeal to prospective buyers and renters. In a role like this, your photos could appear on real estate websites such as Zillow, Redfin, Homes.com, RE/MAX, and more.
The average real estate photographer’s salary comes in at $62,338 or $31 per hour, and you can earn the most in this niche in these cities:
- Soledad, CA $93,252
- Nome, AK $77,330
- Cupertino, CA $76,909
Demand and how you price your services also depends on factors like:
- High-volume real estate areas (urban, suburban, etc.)
- Cost of living
- Additional services (floor plans, 3D mappings, video walkthroughs, and more)
- Seasonality
- Turnaround times — and more
Nature and Wildlife Photography
If you adore the great outdoors, nature and wildlife photography could be your calling. You’ll document animals, insects, plants, trees, and everything Mother Nature offers.
A nature photographer’s average salary is $42,345 or $20 per hour, and this niche earns you the most in these cities:
- Nome, AK $52,529
- San Jose, CA $52,130
- Mercer Island, WA $51,861
Although the average wildlife photographer’s salary is low compared to other specialties, it depends on your location, customer demand, and who you’re taking photos for. You could sell digital images, prints, photobooks, and other merchandise on your website. People love great animal and wildlife photos, especially if you document their favorite animals.
Freelancing is another option. You might pitch your work to National Wildlife Magazine, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Nature Conservancy Magazine, National Geographic, or other publications. Publishers like McGraw Hill, Pearson, and Oxford University Press could use your photos in their public school or higher education textbooks, for example.
Commercial Photographers
Commercial photographers capture ideal images of brands, services, and products for ads that might appear anywhere from social media or a website to billboards, magazines, bus shelters, subway stations, and other locations.
You can photograph any product companies want to sell to the public. Commercial photography could be your true calling if you’re a shutterbug who enjoys shooting photos of different products and brands.
The average commercial photographer’s salary is $37,027, and the cities where you can make the most revenue in this industry are:
- New York $53,456
- Massachusetts $45,685
- Connecticut $45,342
Compared to other types of photographers, the average salary is comparatively low, but remember that you can make more profits depending on your location, the clients you freelance for, your experience and credentials, and more. For example, you can focus on one industry or tackle multiple sectors, such as food, fashion, technology, and so on.
Where Photographers Earn the Most (and Least) Overall
Photography industry wages vary by location due to factors like:
- Demand
- Population density
- Resources
- The cost of living — and more
Keep these factors in mind as you review our data table below that shows where photographers earn the most vs. states where average salaries are lowest:
While Washington has the highest salary of approximately $47,960 and Florida has the lowest salary of $31,644, these numbers don’t reflect your true business revenue. Implementing marketing strategies, publishing customer testimonials, providing offers to first-time and returning clients, and add-on services can boost your income.
Factors That Impact How Much Photographers Make
Starting a photography business comes with challenges, including how much to charge … which obviously impacts how much you can make! Let’s zoom in on some of the factors that will dictate both:
- Reputation: Experienced photographers charge $200-$500+ per hour, whereas beginners charge $50-$100 per hour.
- Word of mouth: Great reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp can fill up your business book quickly, creating demand that allows you to charge more.
- Niche or specialty: Equipment used, traveling, second shooters, rush editing, getting permission from venues and events, and other niche factors can affect how you price your services.
- Credentials: Photography insurance, education, and other credentials stand out over non-credentialed photographers. (See how you can use credentials like insurance in photography marketing).
- Add-on services and products: Prints, frames, rush-editing, wardrobe assistance, and other services/products help you outdo competitors and reap more revenue.
- Overhead and expenses: Pricing models, studio rentals, advertising and marketing fees, and other overhead costs can help you charge more accurately for services.
Ready to get started? Take the first step and write your photography business plan.
Related Questions
How Much Do Full-Time Photographers Make?
Per Indeed, full-time photographers make an average salary of $53,392 annually. However, salaries and hourly wages vary by state, city, demand, experience, credentials, and other factors.
How Can I Raise My Photography Rates?
The best way to raise your photography rates is to increase demand for your services by growing your reputation through visibility and positive reviews. You can also demand a higher rate by becoming skilled in a sought-after specialty or including uncommon “extras” in your pricing bundles.
How Much Do Startup Photography Businesses Charge?
Startup photography businesses can charge between $50 and $200 or more, depending on their skills, niche, location, overhead expenses, and credentials.
