12 Photography Business Ideas to Make Quick Bucks

Calling all the passionate photographers looking to start their own photography business! You must be constantly looking for resources to get lucrative photography business ideas.

Glad tidings! We have come up with breathtaking ideas about the photography business. We will introduce you to some unique photography business ideas that are not only money-making ideas but also brand-establishing ones.

That’s not the end! These photography businesses can also be a cracking avenue for you to hone your photography skills.

You may also read- Future of Photography

12 Killer Photography Business Ideas

Tons of photography business ideas are there but not all of them are profitable. Apparently, some of them are lucrative but in reality, they are non-profitable.

This round-up, however, has brought together 12 enticing and profitable photography business ideas that will keep money flowing. Let’s check them out…

Consider Ecommerce/Product Photography

Product photography has always been a lucrative business for photographers. Especially, ecommerce website vendors have a continual need for product photos. So, you can approach them with a strong portfolio to offer your services.

Apart from that, kick off in the brick and mortar stores in your local area to offer product photography services to post online.

On top of that, some customers also seek product photos like cups, plates, t-shirts, pants, bags etc. With the right equipment and more experience, you can offer this service. Bear in mind, the opportunities for product photography are many; you just need to grab the opportunity.

Not only product photography, but your target customers can also even be artists who want photos of their work for selling online. Besides, antique dealers and eBay sellers require custom photography on a regular basis.

• Starting Costs: Initial startup cost is low, under $50 if you have camera and accessories. Go for low-cost business cards and also make a simple DIY website to keep cost low.
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? –No

Stock Photography can also be a Cool Choice

This concept of this business encompasses selling your photos through popular online stock photo sites like Shutterstock and Getty Images. To put it simply, stock photography is when you sell your photographs to a marketplace or platform.

All types of photos are required for stock photography sites, including, website content, blogs, social media, brochures, books, etc. To generate high sales, you can experiment with different photo subjects and elements, right from buildings, to people, to nature.

This will give you an idea of which ones sell better and from that, you can adjust your photography strategy and maximize profit.

Shooting stock photography is primarily meant for magazine publishers, newspaper publishers, website designers, graphic designers, and bloggers who require image publishing. Once you submit your photos to paid stock photography sites with all the details, the stated professionals will buy them as they need.

• Starting Costs: You don’t have to pay any hefty amount at the start, under $0-$25 if you have camera and accessories. Choose low-cost business cards and also get a simple DIY website designed to keep cost low.
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? -Yes

Opt for Portrait Photography

The demand for portrait photography is paramount, especially, in family events, engagement, pregnancy announcements, and also for new babies. Take these programs as an opportunity and offer your portrait photography services.

Of course, this business comes into question if you enjoy photographing people and taking portrait shots. However, a wealth of competition exists in this space, so you will need to offer umpteen products and potentially even branch out into different types of portrait photography.

Take family portrait photography for example. To nail and make the photography fruitful, keep the business simple and smooth. Instead of hiring a studio, offer short photoshoots at the client’s home in order that the kids are comfortable with the surroundings or at a nearby park or forest.

While shooting, bear certain points in mind. Pick up a couple of LED panels as your key lights and capture with a short zoom lens. Maintain consistency in your shots with the same photo poses and camera settings. You’ll be able to batch edit your photos should the lighting is the same throughout saving time.

On top of that, bundle the photoshoot along with a number of edited hi-resolution digital images so the client knows exactly what they will get later.

• Starting Costs: The starting cost is low, below $50 if you have camera and other gear. Opt for low-cost business cards and don’t go for a fancy website to keep cost low.
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? -No

Go for Photography Courses

Newbie photographers always aspire to learn from experts like you about how to brush up their photography skills and make bucks from their hobby. Not a bad idea to consider taking photography classes locally at your library, community center, or even virtually.

However, the key to teaching photography courses is to study the course options of photo specialty based on your particular expertise like fashion photography, model photography, portrait headshots, travel photography, and so forth.

If you have the necessary gadgets and long experience, you can consider running your own photography courses and help others hone their photography knack too. Make sure you offer multiple courses so you attract customers at a larger scale. 

• Starting Costs: The startup cost isn’t that high, under $50 if you have camera and accessories. Get a simple DIY website designed to keep cost low and also avoid spending excessive money on business cards.
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? -Yes

Pet Photography is Ideal if you are a Pet-lover

Pet market is leaping globally, and so is pet photography. Many people own pets and treat them more like children every day. This also boosts the demand for creative pet portrait photography.

Different types of pet shots can take, right from traditional portraits to whimsical ones with funny pet costumes or even action shots of animals at play.

Don’t forget to create a business card (or postcard) with a lovely-looking pet portrait printed on it and dish it out in veterinarians’ offices, pet stores, and dog parks.

Pet owners love having their pets photographed. If you're an animal lover with an advanced knack for photography, pet photography could be the photography business idea for you.

• Starting Costs: The startup cost is moderate, under $100 if you go for low-cost business cards
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? -No

Fashion Photography Has High Demand

If you are looking for a high-paying photography business idea, consider fashion photography. It’s one of the highest-paid in the industry. Just to mention, magazine photographers work decades to become the best in the industry, whereas, you can kick off your fashion photography business right away.

Begin by shooting local fashion shows, fashion designers’ collections, red carpet sessions, and local boutiques to leverage on their e-commerce websites and social media. Another way is to sell photos for models’ portfolios.

Don’t forget to target all market segments, including children, men, and fashion items. Remember fashion is something that’s not constant. What’s in vogue now may not be in vogue after some days. Hence, it’s always a killer idea to capture fashion industry and show how it evolves.

• Starting Costs: If you have camera and accessories, the starting cost will be $50, which is low.
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? -No

Don’t Ignore Wedding and Event Photography

Another lucrative photography niche is wedding and event photography. Keep the option of becoming a wedding photographer and help preserve the happy couples’ memorable moments with your photography craft.

Don’t shy away to incorporate video services and possibly aerial event photography to amplify your profits and make your company stand out among your competition.

Not just weddings, events of other types hire professional photographers too like family reunions, birthday parties, and retirement celebrations.

If you feast on the magic of weddings and you're a seasoned photographer with a good eye for action shots, this could be a potential photography business for you. In order to ensure you get sufficient clients, you can always partner with wedding venues.

• Starting Costs: With under $50, you can start the business if you have camera and other equipment.
• Is it Home-based? -Yes
• Can be a Part-Time Side Hustle? –Yes
• Is Online Operation Possible? -No