How much money do photographers make?
Photographers earning potential: Not what you may have guessed.
by Stare Photography
Interested in knowing the average salary of a photographer? Well the
answer to such a questions is always a little more complex and
therefore requires a little thought before a solid number is able to be
given. First of all, it should be noted that there is a wide discrepancy
between the earnings of photographers. Some make very little money,
others spend more money than they make, while still others make decent
livings, some of whom even make upwards of $100,000 a year. However,
according to statistics the average photographer makes between $14,000
and $54,748 with the median falling somewhere in between those two
numbers.
If you want to be a photographer who makes more money than average
you'll need to be very strategic with how you approach your career.
Below are some tips to ensure that you earn as much as possible during
your tenure as a photographer.
1) Get as much photography education is possible. This industry is very
"status" oriented. The more education you get the better chance you
have of finding someone will want to employ your services.
Photographers with more photography and artistic education will earn
more than those without.
2) Another equally important, if not more important element to a
successful and profitable photography career is to shoot as many great
shots as possible of high profile events or people. Being able to name
drop, or event drop in this industry will ensure you can charge the
best rates in the industry. Try your hardest to get a couple high
profile people, places or things under your belt. To the average person
or business your credibility will automatically shoot up. Imagine you're
looking to get some family portraits done and you have the option of
choosing two different photographers. One of the photographers has
photographed a couple of celebrities while the other hasn't. You will
probably be more likely to want the higher profile photographer. Buying
photography is very emotional just like all other buying. While the
photographer who photographs celebrities isn't necessarily better than
the other photographer, but the public will see it that way. Plus, when
they tell their friends who their photographer is they will enjoy saying
"they are the same photographer that photographed ____________ (insert
high profile name or event here)".
3) Get as much experience as possible and build a breathtaking
portfolio. In this industry you can greatly improve your earning
potential by having a strong eye for detail. Look at other
photographers portfolios and incorporate all of the most eye catching
elements into your own portfolio. Always present yourself in a
professional manner and make sure you get to show people your work and
talk about your accomplishments.
4) A photography career requires a wide degree of creativity. You'll
need to be able to change with the times and quickly change to meet
someone else's photographic expectations. Working as a photographer
means you'll be working in a very competitive environment. This is
because many creative and entrepreneurial people feel passionate about
this industry. You'll need to ensure you separate yourself from the
pact with your own unique style and good sense of creativity. Buy
various style magazines and photography journals. Watch creative movies
and learn as much about fashion as possible. The better your
understanding of style the more employable you'll be.
The above will hold true whether you are like half of the photographers
out there today and self employed or if you are employed by a company
or other institution. Being able to tell a story visually can be a very
exciting thing. Now you just have to find a way to be able to do it and
get paid for it!
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