How Much Do Photographers Make: Income Range | Factors | Tips

The average photographer's income is $53,380 per year in the United States for those working full-time in the profession.

Major factors in how much photographers make are location, experience, niche or type of photography, and the business model pursued.

How much do photographers make?

This guide breaks down professional photographer earnings with:

• The most recent salary data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Factors affecting photographer salary

• Photography income by niche, such as wedding photography or real estate photography

• Photography income tips for how to increase your photography earnings in a career you love.

Average Photographer Salary

The average photographer's salary is $53,380 annually. According to the latest US BLS photographer income statistics, photographer income ranges from $28,510 per year for the lowest 10% of pros up to $95,741 for the top 10%. Another salary metric is median income, which is the income level at which 50% earn less than that amount and 50% earn more. The most recent data on photographer median income has it at $40,760.

The hourly wage starts at $13.71 to $15.50 per hour for Entry level jobs and about $30.00 to $46.00 per hour for the most successful and experienced photographers. This represents an average increase from the year before of about 6%, just about keeping up with inflation.

Average photographers' salary varies widely by specific photography field, with some professionals earning well over $100,000 per year. Photography salary by field is included below for the most popular niches.

Factors That Affect a Photographer’s Salary

Here are the top 6 factors affecting how much photographers make.

• Specialization or Niche: This is the most impactful factor in photographers’ salaries. Top wedding photographers and fashion photographers make the most money. Those in niches that are less in demand, like wildlife photography, do it for the love of their art, and pay is less important and less lucrative.

• Reputation: Experienced photographers with a reputation for excellence are in high demand – and demand drives the price photographers can charge. The few so-called celebrity photographers enjoy the highest paid photography careers.

• Location: In some cities and states where the cost of living is higher, especially in East Coast/West Coast states, photographers make more money. Their expenses are higher too, so this factor isn’t reliable for determining how much profit you’ll keep.

• Business Model: Freelance photographer income can be higher than the average pay for photographers, but they have less stable income. There’s greater risk and reward in freelance work. Full-time photographer salary may be lower but is steady income. Self-employed studio owners have high overhead costs, but if they have a good reputation that earns them steady business, they can make an excellent income.

• Business and Marketing Ability: Freelance photographers and business owners with sharp business and marketing skills who work hard to promote themselves have higher income than those with less business savvy and drive.

• Skill Set & Equipment: Great skills and superior equipment will usually translate into a better product and higher earnings.

Average Photographer Salary by Industry

This is where we get into the average photographer salary for various niches and disclose the best paying photography jobs.

Freelance Photographer Income

• Entry level: Less than $10,000 to $33,000

• Average Range: $36,400 to $72,400

• Top Income: $95,000 to $125,000+

Freelance photographers charge by the hour, by the session, by the day or by the project – it varies with the type of work they do.

If a photographer has a good reputation, then day rates range from about $1,500 to about $6,500 with an average closer to $2,400.

Note that it is rare for a freelance photographer to have jobs lined up day after day. One to three shoots per week is considered good.

Freelance photographer income varies greatly because the photographer is completely on their own to generate business. In other words, there is great income variability based on clientele and reputation, both of which must be gained with time and experience and growth as a photographer.

Wedding Photographer Income

• Entry level: $26,000 to $37,000

• Average Range: $42,500 to $71,000

• Top Income: $88,000 to $115,000+

Those starting out as wedding photographers earn an average of $1,100 per wedding. Average wedding photographer earnings is $1,600 to $3,100 per wedding for those with an established business, while for top earners the cost charged by a wedding photographer is $5,000 to $10,000+ per wedding.

There are regional variations in wedding photography pricing. Prices follow the cost of living.

Portrait & Family Photographer Income

• Entry level: $21,000 to $29,000

• Average Range: $32,200 to $60,500

• Top Income: $66,000 to $72,700

Seasonal demand affects income in many areas, since family portraits are often taken outdoors, and nice weather is preferred.

Product & Commercial Photographer Salary

• Entry level: $31,000 to $44,000

• Average Range: $46,500 to $63,300

• Top Income: $67,500 to $93,800

This is a competitive market but a lucrative job for those who are successful. Top work is charged by the project, though hourly, session, and day work are options.

Commercial and product photography salary depends on experience, reputation and the portfolio put together over time. Shooting products has the potential for the highest pay since it requires creativity, as well as artistic and technical skill.

Real Estate Photographer Salary

• Entry level: $30,800 to $44,200

• Average Range: $55,600 to $72,000

• Top Income: $77,200 to $91,500

Breaking down real estate photography income, the price charged for photographing a property ranges from $175 for a small home to $2,000 or more for a large, expensive home. Shooting commercial property brings a range of $400 to $3,500.

Drone photography and creating 3D video tours of the properties increase earnings.

Editorial & Fashion Photographer Salary

• Entry level: $39,000 to $44,000

• Average Range: $52,800 to $75,100

• Top Income: $90,000 to $130,000+

Editorial and fashion photographers typically have significant experience before being offered work by a major site or publication. As a result, the salaries are higher than average for all photographers.

Well known fashion photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Steven Meisel can be found in these niches, and sometimes the name of the photographer is the most important component of the shoot.

Event Photographer Salary

• Entry level: $26,500 to $37,900

• Average Range: $45,500 to $66,800

• Top Income: $73,000 to $81,000

Event photographer rates range from $400 to $4,500 per event depending on the size of the event, how much time is involved and whether it is private or commercial. They shoot sports, concerts, private parties, corporate events and similar events.

Image from Istock

Stock Photographer Salary

• Entry level: $0 to $16,000

• Average Range: $22,800 to $33,000

• Top Income: $41,000 to 60,000+

Stock photography earnings generally come from taking photos to license on Adobe Stock, Shutterstock or similar sites. It is a challenging way to earn a salary, but as a hobby and to provide limited passive income for photographers, it can be a money-maker.

Gross Income Vs. Net Income

Keep in mind that the salaries for photographers are gross income, which is the total amount of salary they earn or income made through freelance work or as a business owner.

Photographers can have significant overhead because camera gear, lighting, and software are expensive, effective marketing requires a significant budget, travel costs can mount up, and studio set up costs plus rent is high in desirable locations.

Employed vs. Freelance Photography Income

Being employed by someone else as a photographer provides a steady but not spectacular income. On the other hand, being a freelance photographer means that you might not succeed or it means you might become a celebrity photographer. Reality is somewhere in between, but freelancing definitely is higher risk with potential for greater reward.

In-house photographer salaries average from $33,000 to $68,000 per year depending on the size of your employer and the scope of the work. Some entry-level positions earn less – as low as $21,000. Most experienced in-house photographers earn between $70,000 and $95,000. Being a photographer for a small publication doesn’t pay well, while shooting for a major news site can be a lucrative career. Photographers in this niche often work for media companies including those with print publications and e-commerce retailers.  

Freelance photographer, also known as self-employed photographer salary, starts at $0, since there is no guarantee of work. An average salary for those who gain steady work is around $54,000 per year, and those who experience success providing high-demand photos earn in excess of $95,000 per year.

Image from Pexels

How to Increase Your Photography Earnings

You can grow your photography income with these photography income tips.

Build a Strong Portfolio

When starting out, add to your portfolio by doing work for free or for little cost, if that’s what it takes – and always do your best work regardless of what you get paid for it. The reason to do this is that the excellence of your past work will be your best advertisement for gaining future contracts. Showcase your work on a dedicated website and on social media.

Expand Your Services

Extra services like offering prints, photo books, and videos or providing over-and-above post processing services such as extensive use of Photoshop can increase your profits. Do you enjoy helping others learn? If so, offer classes and tutoring. 

Network and Market Your Services

Add an SEO-optimized blog to your site. Use social media. Consider Google and other paid ads. Partner with area or online businesses and influencers. Give discounts and bonuses for referrals. All these serve to get your name and services better known.

Invest in Quality Gear

You’ll need an excellent camera, selection of lenses and accessories to serve the needs of diverse clients. And the better your gear, the better the final product. And with great work comes the ability to charge for your work.

Choose Competitive But Profitable Pricing

You have to turn a profit, but a pricing strategy for photographers needs to be competitive too. Consider tiered pricing for packages such as Budget, Standard and Premium. Offer discounts or a subscription price for repeat or ongoing work.