11 Photography Careers to Earn Money With in 2024

This guide will help you understand the top photography careers, from the commercial categories to the field of fine art.

If you want to make money as a photographer, the smart thing to do is to align your passion with your photography skills.

This way, you boost your rates and make work more pleasurable.

After looking at the industry trends and wages, I hand-picked 11 excellent career options.

Let’s find your perfect fit!

Photography Careers List: Top 11 Options

Did you know that death photography was (and still is) a thing?

Yes, you read that right. Some folks actually make a living taking postmortem pictures.

Today, thousands of photographers in the US alone choose to work strictly with pets.

There are also medical photographers, storm chasers, and conservationists.

My point here is that there are countless ways to make money as a photographer.

While I definitely can’t list them all, I want to highlight the top options.

1. Commercial Photography

Let’s kick off the list with one of the most widely known career paths: commercial photography.

Now, the term “commercial” is rather generic and covers a few subcategories, from photographing food to taking staff headshots.

Even fashion and real estate photography could be lumped under this umbrella.

However, the career path that comes to mind immediately is product photography, which is in the mid-range salary-wise.

Zippia estimates that the average product photographer in the US earns $37,701, while the average salary for commercial photographers, in general, is $37,027.

That said, it’s possible for an expert in the field to make $80,000 to $100,000.

2. Photojournalism

Photojournalists or news photographers make even more (around $44,800) than their peers in the commercial path.

But the career path comes with higher risks—you might work around accident sites or even in conflict zones.

Of course, there are less risky subcategories to consider. For instance, you could opt to cover sporting events or do lighthearted feature photography.

Just note the pay might drop to around $27,950 for sports photography.

3. Documentary Photography

If the idea of journalistic photography appeals to you, you might want to check out the documentary career path as well.

Technically, photojournalism is a form of documentary photography.

Think about it. Both require capturing unadulterated news, people, or events as discreetly as possible.

However, while a journalistic photographer is focused on a single story, the documentary photographer uses the shots to tell a longer story, usually with the goal of highlighting social issues or driving a message.

In San Francisco, this career path pays an hourly wage of $25. Nationwide, the average salary is nearly $41,100.

4. Event Photography

To make it in the event photography business, you need to be flexible, mindful, and keep up appearances.

Is the payoff worth it?

It all depends on the sort of event you’ll cover.

After all, you can’t expect a large-scale music festival to pay, as well as an award ceremony at a small business.

The location of the venue itself makes a difference as well, with event photographers making the most in places like New York, Connecticut, and West Virginia.

All in all, Zippia puts the pay range at $20,000 to $64,000 annually.

5. Wedding Photography

I know what you’re thinking: Didn’t we just cover event photography?

Well, many people like to think of wedding ceremony photography as a separate career path, and I see where they’re coming from.

Sure, there’s a bit of a skill overlap, especially for taking candids, but it takes dedication and patience to capture someone’s special day.

Wedding gigs are often pricier than regular event photography packages.

That’s because they can be hectic, time-consuming, and even seasonal.

While Zippia estimates that the average wedding photographer takes home $30,550, ZipRecruiter says the annual pay can go beyond $100K in certain states.

The ranges in Nevada, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Hawaii are among the highest nationwide.

6. Family Photography

While cellphone cameras are getting better and more reliable by the day, I assume a good chunk of parents still want their family portraits taken professionally—for holiday cards and special occasions, if nothing else.

This opens the door to a lucrative career opportunity.

On average, family photographers charge $20 per hour.

Some folks like to narrow down their specialty even more and focus solely on newborn photography, with an average hourly wage of $31.

This line of work can be incredibly heartwarming, but you need a bit of prep to avoid disturbing the little ones.

7. Portrait Photography

If you’re a people person with a photography degree, I highly recommend giving this career path a go.

The median salary for a portrait photographer in the US is $27,728, which is lower than the average income for a commercial photographer.

Still, you can earn much more depending on the volume and clientele.

8. Scientific Photography

Scientific photography is such a broad career category.

It covers everything from high-speed shots to forensic documentation of crime scenes and evidence.

Microscopic images fall under this label, too.

Naturally, the pay range for a scientific photographer is also quite broad, but estimates hover around $52,000.

9. Fine Art Photography

Defining what is considered “fine art” is not easy, and one could say that photography is a visual art in and of itself.

However, if you want to become a professional fine art photographer, you need to consider the objective rules set in play by critics and theorists.

The good news is that you have more liberty. Yes, even if you’re commissioned.

Plus, you have a lot of digital image categories to choose from—landscape, abstract, or still-life photography.

The top names in the industry could sell collections for six or even seven-figure deals. But the average pay is set around $40,500.

10. Travel Photography

Travel photography is diverse, and you’ll likely do a bit of everything in this career path—food, street, natural landscapes, architecture, portrait, and more.

In the US, a travel photographer’s salary can be as little as $10,000 or over the $100,000 mark.

11. Aerial Photography

Aerial photography is sometimes considered a technique rather than a career.

Scientific and landscape photographers use the technique now and then. Since affordable drones are becoming popular, landscape and concert photographers are picking up the trend.

But you can also make a whole career out of the technique.

The average salary for a specialized aerial photographer is $80,832, according to Zippia.

Why Consider a Photography Career

Now that we’ve gone through the options, it’s time to pose the question: Why bother getting a career in photography in the first place?

Here are two factors to help you answer this question:

Photography Careers Salary

We saw how the expected pay range changed for each career.

Yet, generally speaking, the income isn’t too bad, even for freelance photographers.

Plus, there’s always room to make more money on the side via courses, online gigs, selling stock photos, blogging, and whatnot.

To figure out the average photography salary, you need to consider the location and industry experience level.

Photography Careers Benefits

Aside from the financial aspect, there are a few other perks that you’ll find in most photography career paths, including:

• Self-Employment: You can always freelance or start your own photography business.
• Self-Expression: No matter what objects or people you work with, you’ll find a way to share your vision.
• Traveling: You don’t have to specialize in travel photography to see the world. Just pick up freelance gigs in different categories as you go.

Getting a Career in Photography: Where to Start

By now, you probably have your eyes on one or two types of photography careers.

But figuring out how to get into photography is still a challenge.

I’d recommend learning the craft first, investing in the right gear, building a portfolio, and then doing tons of networking.

Many professional photographers start out as freelancers or hobbyists. So, look for contract work or fast-track your career with a photography internship.

FAQs

Is photography a good career?

Yes, photography can be a flexible, rewarding, and profitable career if you have the skills and passion for it.

Is it hard to make a living off of photography?

I won’t sugarcoat it. The field can be competitive, but it’s possible to make good money, provided you have talent, dedication, gear, and a bit of luck.

Which type of photography is most in demand?

The trends change regularly, but some types of photography careers are timeless. Think wedding photography.

Other careers, like pet and corporate photography, are on the rise.

What are the top 10 careers in photography that pay well?

Some of the highest-paying photography categories are:

• Scientific
• Fine art
• Medical
• Real estate
• Wedding
• Advertising
• Pet
• Aerial
• Sports
• Landscape

Do you need a degree in photography?

No, it’s possible to make it in the field of photography without formal education.

However, courses, internships, and other educational options might help you work on your photography skill set, which is what matters the most.

What are some alternative careers for photographers?

If traditional photography careers aren’t your cup of tea, you could shift to any of the following alternative pathways:

• Art therapist
• Gallery curator
• Multimedia specialist

What are the careers that have to do with photography?

Some photography-adjacent roles to consider are photo editor, film/video editor, cinematographer, and camera operator.

Where can I find photography jobs for freshers?

Keep an eye on platforms like Thumbtack, Flexjobs, and JournalismJobs.

From there, you can build a network and land better jobs via word of mouth.

Until you find regular clients, try selling stock images.