Making a living from photography is a common dream, but the path to achieving it isn’t always straightforward. While it’s possible to generate your entire income through photography, many professionals diversify their income streams to maintain financial stability. Whether through additional creative ventures or traditional investments, it’s important to understand that your role as a photographer isn’t defined solely by your income source.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino with Tin House Studio, this candid video addresses a critical question: can you make a living solely from photography? In this practical and grounded video, Choucino shares his experience of earning a living not just from photography but from a combination of ventures. His biggest revenue source remains photography, but he also earns from YouTube, workshops, and representing other photographers. For him, diversifying income streams has provided security and flexibility, something that’s especially important in an unpredictable industry.
One point Choucino makes clear is that most people, even those with traditional 9-to-5 jobs, have multiple income streams. They may have rental properties, stock investments, or a side hustle. This is no different for photographers. The video challenges the idea that to be a “real” photographer, you must make all your income from photography alone. You can be a photographer while holding other jobs or having different revenue streams. It’s about how you define yourself and where your passion lies, not the exact percentage of income that comes from taking photos.
For those considering whether they can make a full-time living from photography alone, Choucino explains that while it's possible, the choice to diversify income offers a more comfortable and stable life. By spreading his focus across multiple ventures, he reduces the risks associated with industry fluctuations, such as economic downturns or pandemics. Choucino also highlights the importance of staying busy, explaining that he thrives on a packed schedule. From managing his studio, taking on clients, to keeping active with other creative projects, it’s clear that his varied income sources also keep his days productive and fulfilling.
Choucino encourages viewers not to feel pressured to replicate his exact path. He reminds you that many photographers, especially those represented by agents, focus exclusively on their photography without juggling multiple businesses. His approach works for him, but it’s not the only way to succeed in this industry. If your passion is photography, and that’s how you spend your time and energy, then you are, without question, a photographer. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
I think you can if you live in the right place where there's a decent population and a custom base that you've built up but where I live it's very small town of about 35,000 people and a number of very well established photographers including myself and we all chip away and get little bits of the pie but to actually survive full-time would be almost impossible here also the demographic of people that live in the place is low so economic so they can't afford $500 for a shoot. People here do not spend $5000 on wedding photographers. But I sell some landscape works. I do bits and pieces and I get some other work but I've kept my day job which is four days a week eventually I'd like to increase my Photography time but it takes time. You would need at least two years salary in the bank before you even think about, turning full-time and it's a huge risk. It's not so much about the quality of your work sure your work needs to be good. It's actually doing all the marketing the hustle chasing invoices and getting the work when people are spending less and less on Photography. In fact people are now buying their own cameras and doing their own families either with cameras or smart phones.
A friend of mine lives in Wenatchee and does very well, and I mean very very well, and that is a community of just 40,000. The key is to not try to make your living shooting weddings, portraits, senior photos, etc., but rather to shoot commercially for the businesses, brands, and corporations that are in your area. Look into what the bigger corporations are that are in your community and then try to get work shooting for their ad campaigns, social media posts, etc. It's a whole different world than trying to shoot for regular people, and you can do far far better financially shooting that stuff.
Yeah I have done a few weddings probably about 10 and I do about six or seven a year and I just kind of don't want the stress of them but I do actually enjoy them and my wedding. Photography is very much a storytelling aspect that I love doing but I've come to the conclusion that you don't necessarily need to be a full-time pro to be recognised in the industry. My day job still pays me really well with a car as well so financially I'd be taking a massive risk and I could see myself doing it. I would have to hustle chase invoices and so on and I just don't know if it's doable and look. My work is pretty good as you've seen on this page but it is a risk especially when you've got two teenagers and a mortgage, there's other people at stake as well. But I appreciate the example and the enthusiasm as well. There's a number of really good photographers here already too