7 Income Streams Every Photographer Needs to Hear About

If you’re tired of only making money when you’re behind the camera or editing on your laptop at 2am… this is your wake-up call.

As photographers, we’re sitting on goldmines of opportunity beyond just booking clients. I’m about to break down seven proven ways (plus a bonus!) to expand your photography business that could literally transform your income.

1. Sell Prints To Clients

Let’s start with the easiest way to make more from what you’re already doing.

One of the secrets of boutique photography is selling prints and framed wall art. It’s how they get the ability to charge those boutique prices! Some photographers, like Sarah Petty, will ONLY sell prints to their clients (digital photos are taboo to her, but to each their own!).

Most clients aren’t going to order prints themselves. Not because they don’t want them, but because they don’t know how or they don’t understand the significance of printed photos.

Plus, as a society we’re just used to getting photos on our phones, posting it on social and moving on with life. Family photo albums aren’t that common anymore, so it’s a great upselling opportunity to make some more money after a session.

You’re the expert. Make it easy for them. Show samples and walk them through the options for printed products. If you’re on Pixieset, you could connect your clients’ gallery to Pixieset’s store. And if they purchase anything, you’d get a percentage of whatever they pay.

Let people see what their photos could look like on the walls of their home. Maybe have a few framed pieces in your studio if you have one. Presentation builds perceived value, and perceived value leads to higher sales.

2. Sell Prints as Artwork

Now that first option was about upselling prints and framed wall art to your clients.

But if you’re not the type of shooter who photographs people, like landscape or product photographers, the other option is to sell your photos like it’s art. The same way artists sell prints of their artwork, you could sell prints of your photography as artwork!

Some examples could be:

• Travel
• Wild Life
• Landscapes
• Street Photography

To make your printed work even more valuable, make them limited edition! If this is something you’d like to get started in but not sure how, look up universal themes to get some inspiration for your photos.

3. Upsell After Mini Sessions

If you do mini sessions, always have a strategy in place before promoting them. Figure out how you can make the most amount of money from your mini session clients. One way would be to upsell.

Plan these out like campaigns. Set a date, offer limited spots, figure out what will set you apart from other photographers and create urgency around it.

And build an early access list so your best clients get first dibs. I’m not a huge fan of offering mini sessions, I’d much rather focus my attention on full 1-3 hour sessions because the payout is better. But for mini sessions, when you do it right, you can make thousands in a weekend with a lower time commitment.

One tip I have for you is to become a better salesperson and upsell every client you get for mini sessions. Give them an offer they feel stupid saying no to. For example, rather than only giving them 5-15 images that come with their mini session, upsell your client by offering them all of the photos you shot from their session (with minimal editing) for one set price of X amount.

4. Teach What You Know

Now I know this one gets overlooked a lot… but if you know how to shoot in manual, how to pose clients, how to build DIY photoshoot sets, or how to build a content calendar using photography—you can teach that.

Courses, workshops, guides, digital downloads, pick a format that works for your audience.

You don’t need to be a “guru.” You just need to solve a real problem. And you will always know more about a subject than the next person.

You could sell a $27 lighting guide, a $97 beginner camera course, or even offer one-on-one coaching.

Start small, build as you go. That knowledge in your head is valuable, so don’t sleep on it!

5. Retainers and Subscriptions

This one right here is GOLD if you work with small businesses or influencers.

Instead of one-off brand shoots, offer a monthly subscription-based service of creating content.

Example: 30 photos a month for Instagram. Or seasonal product photos. Whatever you decide, I suggest incorporating social media videos as part of your offer.

Video is the main type of of content people consume now. So rather than getting left behind in this world of content creation, pick up a new profitable skill of recording social media or YouTube videos for people.

Now you’ve created predictable income. And your client gets fresh content every month without scrambling.

Make it easy for them to say yes. Offer clear packages and pricing—and call it what it is: monthly marketing support.

6. Stock Photography + Licensing

This is the “slow and steady” income stream, but over time it builds up.

Take the photos sitting on your hard drive and phone album—flatlays, travel, people, objects—and upload them to stock sites.

You’ll earn a cut every time someone downloads your work.

Also think about licensing to brands. If you’ve shot something original. Like textures, backgrounds, or unique product shots. Those can be licensed for campaigns, websites, even packaging.

7. Sell Presets & Digital Products

If your edits are fire and people ask how you get your look, monetize that!

• Build a posing guide.
• Sell Lightroom presets.
• Create Canva templates for other creatives.

Digital products are low-maintenance once you set them up. You make it once and sell it forever.

Host them on your site, or list them on platforms like Etsy or Creative Market. Bundle them to increase value.

The hard part, though, is consistently promoting your offer on social media.

Posting about it once or twice won’t cut it! It takes a person to see something 7 times before buying it. That’s why there’s a McDonald’s on every corner. So imagine how much you need to be talking about your products and services on social media when your content isn’t even seen by all of your viewers and followers!

BONUS #8. Photo Editing Services

If you enjoy editing as a photographer, you’re different lol. But in a good way!

The majority of photographers out here do not like editing. We’ve all stayed up until 2am editing photos at some point in our careers. So if we could hire someone to get it done for us, I’m sure many of us would!

Time to Take Action!

Now, I’m not saying you need to do all of these at once.

But pick ONE and commit to it for 30 days. Build it. Promote it. And see what it does for your business.

Because if you want freedom, more income, and the ability to work smarter—this is the path.

What income stream are you going to try first? Drop a comment below and let me know which one you’re most excited about!

Frequently Asked Questions About Photography Income Streams

How can photographers diversify their income sources?

You can branch out in several ways. Try offering photo editing services to other photographers. Create and sell online courses teaching your skills. Partner with brands for sponsored content. Sell prints of your work online or at local markets.

Each new offering adds another income stream to your business.

How important is it for photographers to have multiple income streams?

It’s very important. Having different ways to make money protects you if one area slows down. For example, if weddings are slow one season, you can focus on selling prints or teaching workshops.

This keeps money coming in even when bookings are low. It also lets you try new things and find what you enjoy most.

Can teaching photography workshops boost my income?

Yes, workshops can be a great income source. You can teach in-person classes on topics like lighting or editing. Or create online courses people can take at any time.

Many photographers find teaching rewarding and profitable. It lets you share your knowledge while making extra money.

Is stock photography still a profitable side hustle?

Stock photography can still make money, but it’s gotten more competitive. You need to upload lots of high-quality images to see good results. Focus on in-demand subjects and stay on top of trends.

It takes time to build a portfolio, but stock can become a steady passive income stream. Just don’t expect to get make a lot of money from stock photos alone.