Are Photographers Taking the Biggest Economic Hit During the Global Pandemic?

Are Photographers Taking the Biggest Economic Hit During the Global Pandemic?

A survey of more than 600 people in the U.K. suggests that photographers have been among the hardest-hit workers in the creative industry. The income of 67% of photographers has dropped by 80% or more.

The findings were published by theprintspace, a highly-regarded print lab based in London, U.K. Reaching out to their clients and beyond, the survey sought to discover the impact of the global pandemic on the creative industries. While 46% of creatives report that their incomes have fallen by more than four-fifths, that figure rises to 67% when filtered to only include photographers. 

As you might expect, some of the figures in the report make for worrying reading. 56% of creatives currently have no work booked, not just for the coming month, but in general. A meager 8.59% have work lined up for June when the lockdown in the U.K. is expected to end. Perhaps one promising result is that 64% of respondents believe that their income will recover within three months of confinement being eased.

The survey also asked people to detail what they’ve been doing during the lockdown. 55.7% have been educating themselves, while more than 50% have been working on new projects.

Have photographers been affected more adversely than other creative industry professionals? Do you share respondents' optimism that earnings will be back to pre-coronavirus levels within three months? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Andy Day's picture

Andy Day is a British photographer and writer living in France. He began photographing parkour in 2003 and has been doing weird things in the city and elsewhere ever since. He's addicted to climbing and owns a fairly useless dog. He has an MA in Sociology & Photography which often makes him ponder what all of this really means.

Log in or register to post comments
9 Comments

Maybe they could ask some restaurant workers or cruise line employees. Musicians, theater workers, amusement park employees also may have some opinions.

I mean 1) no, I think the people who are 100% out of work, like restaurant servers, are taking a bigger hit - though they may be eligible for unemployment that photographers might not be (in the USA anyway) 2) in the creative industry, many jobs in the film industry have taken just as big, if not bigger, hit. Crew members (DPs, PAs, grips, etc) aren't working at all.

You’re spot on about the film industry, theater too. Other than a couple editing houses both industries basically don’t exist right now

Some writers are able to work still via Zoom meetings, but yeah, most of the industry is just shut down. Anyone who works in a theatre too - as well as actual stage theatre, like you say.

I’m in London, as an interior photographer I’ve lost 100% of my income over last 40days. However, the chat around is that the projects/bookings are going to explode. I’ve pitched and booked jobs for next couple of weeks and some into June. It’s been tough, and arguably it’s going to be tougher as there’s a lot of photographers now all pitching for same jobs (last two I was up against 6 and 15 photographers) but I’m optimistic it’s going to bounce back reasonably fast.