Photography Can you still make money as a professional photographer?

[Jack]

yes on a small card with a narrative of who I was, what the image was meant to convey and the price

Thanks for the idea Andy Smith . I will give it a try. Maybe this may work for me too.

 

[Jack]

I know several photographers who make very good money in photography. They do it by running workshops; the best specialise in particular subject matters, such as abstract, night photography (milky way, aurora), nature, etc. Some years ago these workshops catered for perhaps 10-12 attendees, but there is a trend to reduce the numbers (4-6 max) with commensurate increases in prices. One proviso: you have to be GOOD and be well-known in your chosen niche.

That's an other problem I would say, because market is over saturated, its very hard to be well known, especially here in UK. But then I'm thinking, to run a workshop may cost lot of money by renting the place for displaying images.

 

[TonyB]

That's an other problem I would say, because market is over saturated, its very hard to be well known, especially here in UK. But then I'm thinking, to run a workshop may cost lot of money by renting the place for displaying images.

I would not say the market is oversaturated. I could name quite a few photographers who run workshops here (in the UK) and overseas, whose workshops are fully booked a year in advance. These workshops usually cost several thousand £££s. These professionals have achieved this reputation by years of hard work and by developing a clientele of followers. I recently looked at a workshop run by a Canadian photographer who specialises in astro photography. That workshop was for 5 days and costs $5500 plus travel. (I didn't subscribe!) So, yes, the opportunities are there for new entrants.

 

[Jack]

These workshops usually cost several thousand £££s.

Is that paying rent ? Never done one, so not sure how these are working.

 

[TonyB]

Is that paying rent ? Never done one, so not sure how these are working.

These workshops are run by full-time professional photographers. I was speaking to one the other day who is organising a photo tour to Uzbekistan for the amazing architecture. It is expensive (for me!), but all travel and accommodation is included plus tuition as needed for camera settings, etc. I have avoided mentioning names (for obvious reasons), but if you are interested, please pm me and tell me the genre that interests you and I will try to help. I am in no way associated with anyone running such courses, just to be clear. Because such workshops fill very quickly, there is a demand and clearly money to spend.

 

[Jack]

These workshops are run by full-time professional photographers. I was speaking to one the other day who is organising a photo tour to Uzbekistan for the amazing architecture. It is expensive (for me!), but all travel and accommodation is included plus tuition as needed for camera settings, etc. I have avoided mentioning names (for obvious reasons), but if you are interested, please pm me and tell me the genre that interests you and I will try to help. I am in no way associated with anyone running such courses, just to be clear. Because such workshops fill very quickly, there is a demand and clearly money to spend.

Thanks T TonyB . At the moment I’m trying to figure out how these workshops are working. is like a travel tour ?

 

[Andy Smith]

Thanks T TonyB . At the moment I’m trying to figure out how these workshops are working. is like a travel tour ?

I have a friend who does this in Iceland for about 4 months of the year, the rest of the time he spends here in Thailand.
He charges a fixed fee (not 100% sure how much) and for that the clients gets, food, lodging, in country transport, and 5 days of travel around Iceland to visit specific pre-determined spots to take their photo's. My friend is a good photographer and provides advice to his clients and tips on equipment, camera settings and such like, but it is not a teaching trip with a famous photographer.

 

[Jack]

I have a friend who does this in Iceland for about 4 months of the year, the rest of the time he spends here in Thailand.
He charges a fixed fee (not 100% sure how much) and for that the clients gets, food, lodging, in country transport, and 5 days of travel around Iceland to visit specific pre-determined spots to take their photo's. My friend is a good photographer and provides advice to his clients and tips on equipment, camera settings and such like, but it is not a teaching trip with a famous photographer.

There's so many ways to make money out of photography. I wasn't aware about what workshops, but then you also need to have a good name, and to be well known for that.

 

[Morexp57]

Some interesting thoughts from a professional photographer.

 

[panos_adgr]

Such a nice topic! Such a pity I didn't check in earlier....
Well in my country there is still room for photographers and they make good money. Wedding photography costs only for photo shooting and getting the files with basic edit about 1000-1500€. There are cases of photographers who charge the least 750-800€ but with no receipt and not with proper professionalism. A moderate charge is 1500€ and above. A complete work with a printed album, video, and drone shots can reach to 3000 - 3500 and even more depending on the client request.
There also a lot of part time photographers who shoot in nightclubs they print and sell the photo on the spot with 5€ at least per printed photo.
Christening photography is also popular but charged a bit less.
There is also room for object or food photography.

Now about the stock sites. It needs a looooot of research before you start and a looot of effort with time.
Stock sites such us Shutterstock or Alamy are not for fine art... It is more for just simple images that could be used for commercial reasons.

Picfair, Smugmug, pic-time and Behance are the places where you can set up a proper personal gallery to promote and sell your work with prices that you can set and good margins. But you need to have a good social media amount of followers to promote it and start selling....

As we say, we are not discovering America in our age, so to stand out a lot of effort is needed with high quality work, very well selected, and if it is conceptual and innovative at some level at least, it will help to stand out in a world oversaturated of photographers who are also very good!

 

[TonyB]

Thanks T TonyB . At the moment I’m trying to figure out how these workshops are working. is like a travel tour ?

Yes, perhaps a bit of clarity is needed. I am using the term 'workshops' in a generic way. Some are classroom based where the theory and practice of a photographic genre (say, macro) is presented as a taught lesson. However, the most profitable are those that are location based. Another member has posted re an Iceland-based workshop (or photo-tour if you wish). In this case, as in numerous others, the 'professional' has done all the research, collaborated (perhaps) with local guides, visited the locations at their own cost to do a 'recce' and then offered the tour to photographers via normal advertising channels. So what do you get for your several thousand $$$'s or £££'s? You are taken to the photogenic locations, instead of doing your own research and hopefully finding them yourself. You avoid the hassle of hiring a car. Accommodation will usually be included. Advice will be on-hand for preferred equipment, as will some tuition re camera settings in the field. If the weather is adverse, your professional should be able to adjust the itinerary accordingly because he/she knows the locations. Importantly , especially for 'singles', is the group experience; you are sharing your hobby with like-minded photographers. Is it worth it? Only you can judge.

 

[Jack]

Yes, perhaps a bit of clarity is needed. I am using the term 'workshops' in a generic way. Some are classroom based where the theory and practice of a photographic genre (say, macro) is presented as a taught lesson. However, the most profitable are those that are location based. Another member has posted re an Iceland-based workshop (or photo-tour if you wish). In this case, as in numerous others, the 'professional' has done all the research, collaborated (perhaps) with local guides, visited the locations at their own cost to do a 'recce' and then offered the tour to photographers via normal advertising channels. So what do you get for your several thousand $$$'s or £££'s? You are taken to the photogenic locations, instead of doing your own research and hopefully finding them yourself. You avoid the hassle of hiring a car. Accommodation will usually be included. Advice will be on-hand for preferred equipment, as will some tuition re camera settings in the field. If the weather is adverse, your professional should be able to adjust the itinerary accordingly because he/she knows the locations. Importantly , especially for 'singles', is the group experience; you are sharing your hobby with like-minded photographers. Is it worth it? Only you can judge.

I guess you need to be well established to make some profit out of it. Or huge spending on advertising. Sounds interesting, and I was thinking about that a while ago, but gave up. Time consuming, I would say.

 

[lightmuncher]

My wife and I went out for a coffee in a pub not far from here. God knows why we pay for crap coffee really, but its just an excuse to break routines in our lives. My point here as we went out I saw a pile of photo's mounted, but not framed. All taken by a local photographer, and apparently he does sell a few there. Not sure on what terms, but just another avenue Jack for you to add to the list.