the 6 ways to make a living with photography

As far as I know, there are only 6 ways to make a living with photography.

Direct

1) Someone pays you to take photos based on their needs

2) Someone pays you to purchase / use images you’ve taken

3) Funding agencies pay you to complete a project you’ve applied for

Indirect

4) Companies pay you in exchange for your social media followers’ attention (advertisements / sponsors / affiliate links)

5) You sell products derived from photography (educational content, post-processing products, workshops, etc.)

6) You teach photography

I think most people getting into photography are hoping to make a living doing method 1). I often warn prospective photographers that who we see as photography role models may be working in a completely different sphere than what we’re trying to achieve. For example, not all, but many popular photographers on social media make a living with methods 4) and 5). Using them as role models to shape our business may not be the right decision.

I’d like to say a bit more about option 3). Where I live, in Montreal, there are many funding agencies (city, province, and country-wide) who are ready to fund art projects, provided that they’re selected by the agency / a jury. These grants are sometimes based on specific themes, but not necessarily. I’ve had success with funding agencies in the science world, but not yet in the art world. I wanted to mention this category specifically because so many people imagine photographers solely as commercial photographers. Just know that there are non-commercial photographers who can make a living with photography by applying for direct funding.

Take home messages:

• Realize that there are different ways of making a living doing photography

• When you receive business or photography advice, be aware of what types of income the person giving the advice is receiving. They may not be working in the same spheres as what you’re striving to, and their advice may or may not be relevant for you.

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