5 Ways To Make Passive Income As A Photographer
Are you a talented photographer looking to diversify your income streams or create a passive income? In today's competitive photography industry, finding ways to make money even when you're not actively shooting is crucial for long-term success. Luckily, there are several lucrative opportunities available for photographers to generate passive income. In this blog post, we will explore five proven methods that can help you turn your passion for photography into a consistent source of passive income. From selling prints and licensing your images to creating online courses and digital products, these strategies will empower you to leverage your skills and creativity to earn money while you're focusing on your craft. Get ready to discover the possibilities and unlock the potential of making passive income as a photographer!
1. Offer Mini Sessions
While Mini-sessions are not technically passive income, they are a shorter version of a regular photography session that can help increase the number of clients you are able to photograph in one day, which also means you are increasing your revenue as well. Mini-sessions are a win-win for both photographers and clients, as they provide a convenient and budget-friendly option while maximizing your time and revenue potential. By offering shorter sessions, you can attract a larger number of clients who may be looking for quick and accessible photography solutions.
Mini-sessions can be tailored to different themes or occasions, such as holiday-themed shoots, milestone events, or mini-portrait sessions. This flexibility allows you to cater to various client needs and expand your service offerings. With shorter session times, you can book multiple sessions in a day, increasing your earning potential. This is especially advantageous during busy seasons or holidays when demand for photography services is high. By delivering quality images within a limited time frame, you can maintain client satisfaction and build a positive reputation in the photography industry.You can leverage the power of social media, email marketing, and word-of-mouth to promote your mini-sessions and attract a wide range of clients.
Personally I love to shoot Mini Sessions in the Spring and in the Fall. We typically schedule up to 10-12 20 minute mini sessions in one day (5 in the morning around sunrise and 5 in the evening right before sunset) and let's say you charge, for example, $250 for a 20 Minute Mini Session, that's $2500 extra income you can make in half a days time! I love to utilize Mini Session Templates so that I can promote them on social media as well as add them into an email newsletter that I can send out to all my clients to let them know all the details. By offering mini-sessions, you can tap into a market of busy individuals, families, or professionals who are seeking professional photography services but have limited time and budget.
2. Create & Sell Digital Products, Photography eBooks and/or Online Courses
Creating and selling digital products, such as educational ebooks and online courses, can be an excellent way for photographers to earn income. Personally, I have found this to be my favorite method of generating income for my own photography business. In fact, I've shifted my focus from shooting to creating photography marketing products and mentoring other photographers to build successful businesses.
By sharing your expertise through products focused on photography techniques, editing, or starting a photography business, you can provide valuable tips to fellow photography enthusiasts. Not only does this allow you to share knowledge, but it also helps establish yourself as an authority in the field. Additionally, creating high-quality educational materials enables you to generate a passive income stream over time.
Regardless of whether you specialize in portrait photography, landscape photography, or any other niche, there is a demand for learning resources. People are seeking comprehensive ebooks, digital marketing products, or structured online courses that cover topics such as camera techniques, image composition, editing skills, or starting a photography business. Creating and selling these resources can not only fulfill the needs of aspiring photographers but also create a reliable and passive source of income for you as a photographer.
Since this is one of the ways I create an extra income for my own business I'll share some examples for you!
Ok, let's talk educational ebooks. Below I will share a link to a sales page I created in Flodesk that promotes an ebook I created in Canva for beginning photographers to help them learn how to shoot in manual mode on their DSLR.
Learning Your Camera Settings Creating something like this eBook is ideal for the busy photographer who wants to create a stream of additional income but that doesn't have a ton of time to add anything else onto their plate. Why? Because this is an eBook I created once and it sells over and over again on repeat.
Here's another example: I'll share with you a sales page I created for my Wedding Photographer Workflow Template Bundle.
Wedding Photographer Workflow Same thing. I created it one time and it sells over and over again with very little work to do on the back end. Honestly, this is why I LOVE low ticket offers like these because it's something you create one time that keeps selling over and over again.
Hopefully these ideas got your wheels turning on products that you could create yourself with the knowledge you already have! Passive income is so powerful and with tools like social media, Pinterest and Email Marketing it has become so easy to create and share your own products with the world while bringing in supplemental, part time or even a full time income for you and your family.
If you want to learn more about how to create and launch your own digital product for passive income be sure to check out my Ultimate Digital Product Start Guide. It will walk you through each step you need to take to start making more passive income in your photography business!
3. Selling Presets and/or Photoshop Action Sets
Create and sell your own editing presets online for other photographers to use, generating passive income. As an expert in editing and post-processing, you have the opportunity to create and sell your own editing presets online, providing other photographers with a shortcut to achieving stunning and consistent results. By offering your unique style, techniques, and customized settings in the form of presets, you can generate a passive income stream while sharing your creative vision with the photography community.
Professional photographers and enthusiasts are constantly seeking tools to enhance their workflow and streamline their editing process. Craft a diverse range of presets that cater to different photography genres and moods, such as vibrant landscapes, moody portraits, or cinematic wedding shots. You can develop your brand and reputation by delivering high-quality presets that are easy to apply and deliver amazing results.
By harnessing the power of social media, collaborations, and marketing strategies, you can reach a wide network of photographers and build a loyal customer base. With an effective pricing strategy and ongoing updates, you can monetize your editing skills and turn your expertise into another stream of income.
4. Teach Photography Classes or Workshops
As an experienced photographer, you can teach others the art of photography through online or in-person classes. Whether you specialize in a specific photography genre or technique, there is a demand for educational resources in the industry and by offering online or in-person photography classes or workshops, you can help beginner or intermediate photographers advance their skills and achieve their creative vision.
You can cover so many different topics if this is a route you decide to take, such as the fundamentals of photography, including camera settings, exposure, lighting, and composition, or dive into specialized topics such as posing or wedding photography. You can market your classes through photography blogs, social media channels, and relevant photography forums to reach a wider audience.
By teaching photography classes or workshops, you can not only generate revenue from course sales but also develop a loyal following of students who may become future clients as well.
This isn't currently something I do in my own photography business because at this stage in my personal journey my focus is on being a fully present Mama and those lower ticket offers, such as the digital products and eBooks, are more inline with my lifestyle because it requires little to know work on the back end. I've honestly become more introverted the older I get so currently I prefer to be a little more behind the scenes, lol, but I have tons of photographer friends who do online courses and in person workshop and they are thriving! The market of online courses, especially, is in high demand so if this sounds like something you'd love to do then definitely consider this route!
5. Sell prints
As a photographer, you possess a unique talent to capture beautiful moments and create stunning works of art that inspire and captivate. One of the most traditional yet still lucrative ways to make money as a photographer is by selling prints of your work. Here's an example...One of our favorite large framed prints in our home is a photo that I took and everyone who comes over always comments on how beautiful it is! Imagine if you had a print that people raved about on one clients wall and everyone they had over wanted to know where they got it? Yup. Selling prints can provide an excellent source of passive income and enable you to showcase your photographic talent to a broader audience.
Modern e-commerce platforms offer many options to sell prints online through your photography website, third-party platforms, or social media channels. You can offer various print sizes, finishes, and framing options to cater to clients' diverse needs and preferences or you can even sell them as digital downloads that a customer can them download and print themselves. Again, you can promote your prints effectively by leveraging your social media channels, email newsletters, or photography forums.
Share the behind-the-scenes of the creative process and the inspiration behind your photos to connect with your audience and build a loyal following. Sell prints of your popular, award-winning, or themed work to attract clients who appreciate your unique style. With a little bit of effort and marketing, selling prints is a profitable and accessible way to turn your photography passion into a thriving business.
Hopefully these ideas have got your wheels turning on ways you could possibly add in passive income to your own photography business. As always, if you have any questions or need any help with brainstorming ideas please don't hesitate to reach out to me. I am beyond happy to help.
Love connecting with you!