How To Make Money as a Travel Photographer

do you want to learn How to make money as a travel photographer?

Photography is an attractive way to earn money for your travels. If you love photography and traveling, this could be your dream job. There are many people who like to see photos from different places. You may also be able to share the photo.

Traveling full time for almost 10 years has been an amazing experience for me. I was able to visit beautiful places, meet new people, and take lots of photos. I also met so many travel photographers, from National Geographic freelance photographers to YouTubers and travel print sellers.

If you love visiting new places and taking great photos, becoming a travel photographer could be a great way to make money.

The best way to make money as a travel photographer

Below are the best ways to make money as a travel photographer.

Recommended reading: 25 Best Travel Jobs to Travel the World and Make Money

1. Sell stock photos

Selling stock photos is a great way to make money as a travel photographer. Upload your best travel photos to popular stock photo websites.

These sites allow people to buy your photos and use them in their own projects. You get paid a commission when someone buys your photo.

Popular stock photo sites include Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, iStock, Depositphotos, and Getty Images.

Most of the photos in this blog post are stock photos, and like any business, I use stock photos all the time. Very helpful!

Recommended reading: 18 ways to get paid to take photos

2. Elopement photographer

Becoming an elopement photographer is a fun way to make money with travel photography. An elopement is a small, intimate wedding ceremony, usually held in a beautiful location such as a beach or mountains.

As an elopement photographer, you capture the special moments of couples in beautiful locations.

First, create a portfolio that showcases your landscape and portrait photography skills. Couples want to know about your ability to capture both the natural beauty of a place and the emotion of the day. It’s also a good idea to research popular elopement destinations and become familiar with them so you can recommend the best places for couples.

Pricing often covers transportation and services, so be sure to consider location when setting your rates.

I follow several travel wedding photographers online and am always amazed at how beautiful their photos are.

Recommended reading: How to make $20,000 a month as a family, maternity, and newborn photographer

3. Holding a photography workshop

Photography workshops are a great way to earn money as a travel photographer. You can share your skills and knowledge with others who want to know how to take better photos.

I know several people who have taken in-person photography workshops, and I’ve also taken online workshops myself. So I know how helpful they are.

Photography workshops you can teach include:

• camera basics: Teach participants how to use camera settings. Many people have cameras but don’t make the most of them (cameras these days have a lot of buttons!).
• lit: Learn how to manipulate natural light, use reflectors, or set up artificial lighting to improve your photos.
• portrait photography: Learn how to pose your subjects and use natural backgrounds to capture stunning portraits, whether in the studio or outdoors.
• travel photos: Focuses on photographing landscapes, cityscapes, and cultural elements during travel. Talk about how to tell a story with photos.
• Night and low light photography: Learn how to shoot in environments with difficult lighting conditions, such as at night, during a concert, or in a dimly lit room.
• Building a photography portfolio: Shows participants how to curate their best work, create a coherent portfolio, and market themselves to potential clients and opportunities.
• Edit travel photos for social media: Teach participants how to edit travel photos for platforms like Instagram and blogs.

We recommend thinking about what you’re good at and what your audience would want to know. By tailoring these topics to your audience’s interests, you can create a workshop that is useful and sells well.

4. Start a travel blog

I’ve been blogging for over 10 years, so I’m no stranger to starting a blog. When I first started, I had no idea it would be such an amazing journey to travel around the world and share my experiences. Blogging has given me the opportunity to connect with people who share the same interests and has also allowed me to make money doing what I love.

If you want to learn how to make money as a travel photographer, starting a travel blog is a great option. Share photos and stories with people who love exploring new places.

To become a travel blogger, choose a blog name that is easy to remember and that describes what your blog is about. Set up a blog using a platform like self-hosted WordPress, share your best travel photos and blog posts, and focus on creating great content (at least once a week to keep your audience engaged). Please make sure to post at least once every day).

Once you get more visitors to your blog, you can make money in a variety of ways. You can use affiliate marketing (such as linking to travel products on Amazon), write sponsored posts, or sell photography services or prints. If your blog has great photography and content that fits their needs, travel companies and tourism boards may also be interested in working with you.

Recommended reading: How to start a travel blog and make money

5. Sell your prints online

Selling prints online is a great way to make money from your travel photos. Many people love to decorate their homes and offices with beautiful travel images.

If you want to learn how to sell travel prints and become a travel photographer, start by creating an online store to showcase and sell your best travel prints. Platforms like Shopify and Etsy make setting up your shop quick and easy.

I have many friends who sell prints from their travels. I specialize in animal photography, landscape photography, and urban photography. In fact, I recently purchased a print from one of them to hang on my living room wall.

Pricing is important and you can get an idea of ​​how much you should charge by looking at what other photographers are charging for similar prints.

Don’t forget about shipping costs. When setting your price, be sure to factor in packaging and shipping costs. I want to protect my prints during shipping.

6. Collaborate with brands and tourism boards

You can earn money as a travel photographer by collaborating with brands and tourism boards. These groups tend to need great photos to showcase their products and locations so they can get more customers/visitors.

I’ve worked with many brands and travel boards/companies over the years and I think it’s a great way to make money with travel photography. One of my first side jobs through this blog (the one you’re reading right now) was contacting resorts in the Caribbean and pitching them how I could improve their websites. Not only did they pay me, they also offered me a free resort stay (so I could take photos and be an expert on the area).

You can wait for them to contact you, or you can contact travel agencies, hotels, and tourist boards yourself. You’ll want to show them your best work and tell them how they can help.

7. Start Instagram

Instagram is a great way to make money by sharing your travel photos. Start by creating an account and posting your best photos.

To keep your followers interested, you need to post frequently. It is generally recommended that you post at least once a day, especially at first.

You can make money on Instagram by collaborating with brands, where they can pay you to take photos of their products, and you can also get paid to share photos of hotels and travel companies.

As your account grows, you can also sell your own products. This could include printing photos or editing presets.

I don’t make a lot of money from my Instagram account (it’s not my day job), but I’ve made thousands of dollars from it over the years. This is a fun way to earn money and inspires you to take better photos.

8. Create and sell Lightroom presets

Creating Lightroom presets is a fun way to make money as a travel photographer. Presets are like filters that make editing your photos easier and faster.

I personally purchased Lightroom presets from a travel photographer and love how easy they are to use for my personal travel photography.

People buy presets because they save time and help create a consistent, professional look in their photos. Presets allow people like you and me to apply popular aesthetic styles with one click, making it easy to stay on trend without the need for advanced editing skills. It’s also a great learning tool for beginners who want to improve their photo editing skills.

To create a preset, first edit your photo in Lightroom. Experiment with settings until you’re happy with the look. Then save these settings as a preset.

You may want to use presets to share your photos on Instagram or other social media sites. When your photos become popular, your followers are more likely to ask about your presets. This seems to be a question asked all the time.

Once you’ve created some presets, sell them. You can sell on your own website or online marketplace for photographers.

We recommend providing before and after photos so buyers can see the functionality of your preset. This will help you decide whether to buy or not.

9. Sell your photos to magazines and travel magazines

A common way to find travel photography work is to sell your photos to magazines and travel publications. This can be a small travel website or a large website like National Geographic.

Magazines and travel publications are always looking for great photos.

Start by researching different magazines and publications to find one that matches your photography style and travel destinations.

Each magazine has specific rules for submitting photos, so take the time to review the guidelines. You should follow these rules carefully to increase your chances of acceptance.

When you’re ready, contact our photo editor. Send a quick email with some sample images attached. Keep it short and sweet.

If they like your work, they may request more photos. You may also be asked to photograph a specific location or event.

Now, remember that this can be a difficult way to make money with travel photography, so patience is key. It may take some time to hear back from the editor, but don’t be discouraged if you get a rejection at first (because you’re likely to get a “no” the first time).

10. Start a YouTube channel

Starting a YouTube channel is a great way to make money as a travel photographer. Share your adventures and photography tips with a global audience.

I follow a lot of travel YouTubers, including sailors, RVers, adventurers, and people looking to visit countries around the world.

Travel YouTubers are fun to watch as they take us on exciting trips to beautiful places. They will guide you to destinations you have never seen before and share their own stories, tips and experiences.

Recommended reading: How much do YouTubers earn?

FAQ

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about how to make money as a travel photographer.

Can you make money with travel photography?

Yes, you can make money with travel photography. There are many ways to earn money by taking photos while traveling. You can sell your photos to stock websites, partner with brands, sell prints, or start a travel blog.

How difficult is it to start travel photography?

Getting started in travel photography takes effort, but it’s not impossible. You need to practice your skills and build a strong portfolio. It’s also important to network and market yourself. With time and effort, you can break into this field.

How can I make money as an adventure photographer?

Adventure photography is a fun niche. You can sell your action shots to outdoor brands and magazines. You can also sell prints, start an adventure blog, or work with a tourism board.

How much does a travel photographer make?

Travel photographers earn a wide range of incomes because travel jobs vary widely. Some photographers earn around $40,000 a year. I know elopement photographers who make over $200,000 a year. Others earn more or less.

What steps should I take to start a career in travel photography?

If you want to start a career in travel photography, we recommend taking a photography course and improving your photography skills, including learning how to use the camera and all its features correctly. We also recommend building a strong portfolio of your best work, including creating a website to showcase your photography.

What skills should I learn to earn money as a travel photographer?

The skills you need to learn to make money as a travel photographer include not only practicing photo editing, but also becoming proficient with a camera (such as studying composition and lighting).

Is it possible to make a living just by taking photos while traveling?

Yes, it is possible to make a living as a travel photographer. But it usually takes time to earn a full-time income. Many travel photographers combine different sources of income, selling their photos, leading tours, and writing about their travels.

How to make money as a travel photographer – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to make money while traveling with photography.

If you love taking photos and traveling to new places, becoming a travel photographer may be the perfect job for you.

For over 10 years, I have been traveling full-time, earning money by capturing beautiful moments on the road, and have met many successful photographers who pursue their passion in this profession.

There are many ways to make money while traveling as a professional photographer, including selling photos online, taking photos at elopements, and teaching others how to improve their photography.

Interested in learning how to make money as a travel photographer?

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