5 ways to make money from portrait photography

Many of us become photographers a little bit by accident. You get a camera, you get obsessed, and the next thing you know, people are asking you to take photos for them. Then you get the bright idea that you could be turning this into at least a side hustle. Well, yes, you can! But it’s no get-rich-quick scheme.

However, there are some pretty decent ways to make money from portrait photography. In this video, photographer Julia Trotti walks us through some of the main ones. They range from the obvious to a couple you may not have thought of.

Like with any genre of photography, its worth niching down at least a little bit. It’s also going to depend heavily on your other areas of knowledge, and where you are based geographically. Huge cosmopolitan cities such as New York City and London let you focus in on one small area of expertise. If you live in a smaller metropolitan area you may need to do three or so different things to earn a living.

Headshot photography

Headshot photography focuses on capturing clear images of a person’s face, typically including the shoulders. These photos are crucial for professionals like actors, models, musicians, business owners, and corporate staff who need to promote themselves and their careers. While starting a headshot business may benefit from access to a studio and professional lighting setups, it’s not absolutely necessary. I started my musician portraits using natural light and shooting in my spare bedroom for example.

I then got a studio, and fashions changed, and I found myself barely using it. Now, I rent a studio when I need to (hardly ever) and shoot on location more often than not. This way, clients get to choose their backgrounds and locations, and I tend to shoot with more environment in the images these days rather than choosing plain, seamless paper. I also have a portable set-up I can bring with me, which makes more sense for shooting office headshots for multiple people in one location than having all of them come to me.

You also may want to add branding and lifestyle images to this niche, as many people need a library of different photos for social media these days. Gone are the days of individuals wanting 2 formal headshots on a white background. There are plenty of perks that go with this, as well. I once photographed a new bakery and did portraits of the owners working. I went home that day very happy, laden down with a huge cake and cinnamon buns!

Getting Started:

• Portfolio Building: Offer free or discounted sessions to build a portfolio.
• Networking: Connect with local businesses, talent agencies, and professionals who may need headshots.

Senior portraits

This one is mostly for anyone based in the USA. To those of us on the other side of the pond, a senior is an older retired person. You can imagine my confusion the first time I heard about taking senior portraits! I was imagining retired couples, although that could also be an interesting niche!

In Europe its common to have annual school photos done, which could be a great opportunity for anyone who loves kids and can deal with the logistics.

The great thing about senior high school portraits is that you can be extremely creative. You need to showcase what the kid is all about, and they are often less inhibited and up for trying out different things. Sure, start with the safe shots that grandma will like, but then get experimental. Just be sure to leave the train track alone. Once again, you don’t need a studio for this.

Getting Started:

• Creativity: Showcase your ability to create diverse and imaginative portraits.
• Marketing: Target young professionals, students, and individuals seeking unique photo shoots.
• Social Media: Share your work on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to attract clients.

Wedding photography

Ah, yes, that one! We all try it, some of do it a few times then realise that wedding photography is not for the faint of heart! It can be extremely lucrative, with some photographers commanding thousands per wedding. Again, it mostly depends on your experience, your ability to sell and market yourself, and your location. The key is to provide exceptional service and stunning photos that capture the essence of the big day.

However, be aware that wedding photography these days requires a lot more skill than just portrait photography. I’d say it’s 80% crowd control and only 20% photography. You will be required to work a 12-hour day, with few toilet breaks or snacks, and you’ll be shooting almost every single genre of photography that exists. Kids and pets may also be involved.

Getting Started:

• Portfolio: Attend weddings as a second shooter to build your portfolio.
• Client Experience: Focus on creating a seamless and enjoyable experience for couples.
• Referrals: Encourage satisfied clients to recommend you to others.

Family, couples, and newborn photography

If you’re a savvy business-person then you’ll combine this with wedding photography. Then you can bag a couple from engagement, right through to their first babies, all the way up to their senior photos. And you can easily market to other family members at the same time.

Do I sound mercenary at this point? Yes, perhaps a little. But the key with portrait photography is to be marketing all the time. Anyone you meet is a potential client, it’s all about building relationships and hopefully you’ll get repeat clients. Just don’t make it creepy.

I’ve even heard of dating app portraits being a thing in some cities. Potentially then, you could go from shooting a single person, right through all the important milestones of their lives. And their pets, definitely photograph their pets.

Again, you don’t need a studio for this. Word of mouth, a strong social media presence, and face to face networking and being a little bit extroverted will serve you well. A good portfolio obviously is key here. If you want to specialise in newborn photography then doing a course in newborn safety is essential.

Getting Started:

• Client Relationships: Build strong, long-term relationships with your clients.
• Package Deals: Offer packages for multiple sessions over time.
• Pet Photography: If you love animals, consider specializing in pet portraits.

Commercial photography

Commercial photography encompasses various specialities, such as lifestyle, fashion, and e-commerce. Fashion photography, for instance, includes campaigns, editorials, and e-commerce shoots, offering numerous creative and financial opportunities. This one isn’t quite so straightforward, and again, it helps if you’re in a large city with creative advertising and branding agencies.

It can be tough to get your foot in the door at first, and having a strong portfolio is essential. This is where a resilient attitude, a plan, and some personal projects will help you. Networking is really important as well, and getting to know other art directors and creatives, hair and make up artists and stylists can definitely be of use.

Getting Started:

• Specialization: Identify and focus on a specific area within commercial photography.
• Team Collaboration: Work with models, makeup artists, and stylists to produce high-quality images.
• Consistency: While high-profile campaigns are exciting, consistent work in e-commerce and product photography can provide steady income.

Show your work

As I mentioned before, even overnight successes usually take around ten years in this industry. However, it’s never too late to start. First, you’ll need a good portfolio. Don’t be put off if you don’t have one yet. You can build a great starter portfolio in 30 days if you plan it carefully and use your time wisely.

Then, you’ll need to actually show your work to people. Everyone and anyone is a good place to begin, but also make a list of people who might actually want your services. This is particularly true for business and commercial clients. Don’t over-rely on social media, although it is also important to have a presence on at least one platform. Aim to connect with potential clients rather than other photographers.

While assisting established photographers used to be the way forward, wedding photography is often the only place you’ll get this chance anymore, aside from in places like New York City. Most of us had to learn the hard way, going it alone.

If you’re good with people and can easily connect with them and put people at ease, then portrait photography could be a good genre for you. There are lots of opportunities, however, the photography side is just one small facet of the job. Photographing people can be endlessly fascinating, I relish the opportunities to meet people from all over the world, and learn a little bit about them and about what they do. You just never know where it will lead. You might even get paid in cake!