A lot of discussion focuses on how much photography is worth: how much you should charge for a photoshoot, how much you should sell your prints for, and so on. Value, however, relates to your judgment of what’s important in life. It’s different for everyone. So what’s the value of your photography?
Why Value Matters
Value is the foundation of why you photograph. It shapes your approach, your motivations, and what you hope to get out of the experience. Photography holds different significance for different people. It might be about capturing fleeting moments, creating something visually compelling, or exploring the world through a lens. Maybe the process itself is what matters most—the act of being present, slowing down, and seeing the world differently. Some people are drawn to photography as a means of storytelling or documenting, others for self-expression, and some simply because they enjoy the technical challenge. Identifying what resonates with you helps solidify your relationship with the art form and gives it deeper meaning and direction.
Recognizing the value in photography also helps you understand how it fits into your life. If photography is a central passion, perhaps you need to dedicate more time to it. If it’s one of many creative outlets, it might take a more relaxed role. You might realize that investing in better gear aligns with your immediate goals or that simplifying and focusing on technique matters more. Evaluating its importance clarifies how to best nurture your creative growth.
There will inevitably be times when inspiration wanes. If photography is a profession, you may have to push through regardless, but understanding what you value in it can help guide you through creative slumps. If personal fulfillment is at the core of your photography, then a lack of inspiration might signal the need to take a break, explore other interests, and return with fresh energy. Knowing your reasons for photographing helps determine the best approach when motivation is low.
Valuing photography also means recognizing what you want to improve. It could be honing a specific technique, mastering a new editing style, or refining your composition skills. But not everyone needs improvement to be a driving force. If growth isn’t central to why you love photography, there’s freedom in simply enjoying it without the pressure to constantly progress. Letting go of external expectations can make the experience more fulfilling.
Determining Value
There is an easy distinction we can make right away: Is photography primarily a career or a creative outlet? If you’re a professional, the value of your photography is often tied to financial success. The focus becomes enhancing skills to attract clients, deliver on assignments, and grow the business. For some, this remains creatively rewarding, allowing value and worth to work in balanced harmony. For others, having to focus on how much their photography is worth drains a lot of the value that initially attracted them to the art.
To understand the value of your professional work, you will need to ask yourself if you are getting creative fulfillment from your assignments. Do you have enough room to experiment? To try new approaches? Are you being pigeonholed into one genre or style when you would rather practice many different ones? Do you feel stifled or constrained at all? Understanding the answers to these questions will help determine if you should spend more time enhancing existing skills or if it might be worth reestablishing photographic value by pursuing a different subject matter or style as a restorative hobby.
For hobbyists, defining value is more about identifying what photography adds to your life. There is a wide spectrum here. Consider if it’s your primary or only creative outlet. Do you tend to look at your images and think about how they could have been a little better? Are you driven to progress, seeking out new techniques, styles, or genres? Do you maybe aspire to sell some work or otherwise share your output with the world? This is the arena of a true amateur—a lover of the craft. If this is the value photography has for you, you may want to create more space to pursue it. Are there other hobbies or activities that you could remove from your life to free up more time for it? Could you rework your budget to commit more money to trips or photographic education? Don’t hesitate to maximize this value for yourself!
For other hobbyists, photography is more of an escape than a high-minded creative outlet. Are you mostly interested in capturing memories for yourself to look back on later? Do you find it fun to play around with different photographic approaches but aren’t bothered by “success”? Is the camera a nice excuse to get outside, away from your day-to-day life, and maybe snap a few photos of your outing? Enjoying photography without any aspirations for success (whatever that means) or even improvement is absolutely valid! In this case, you probably don’t need to worry about allocating more of your resources to its pursuit. Continuing to enjoy the small pleasures is enough, although you may want to consider what other areas of your life could benefit from a little injection of photography.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, understanding what photography means to you shapes how you approach it. Some people thrive on a carefree, intuitive style—embracing the moment, capturing whatever speaks to them without concern for technical perfection or external validation. Others seek precision and progress. Both are valid, and understanding where the value lies for you will empower you to incorporate it into your life more holistically. If photography is your retreat, there’s no obligation to push yourself in ways that don’t serve you!
For others, growth is a vital part of their photographic journey. Whether it’s mastering new techniques, seeking feedback, or working toward personal or professional goals, continuous improvement drives their passion. Professionals will use photography to build their business further. Professionals and amateurs alike might pursue recognition or simply seek to develop and refine their artistic voice. If this is your path, setting clear goals, freeing up more resources, and actively pushing boundaries will bring the most satisfaction.
There is no single way to approach photography and no universal measure of its value. What matters is defining it for yourself. Whether it’s a means of creative expression, a professional pursuit, or simply a way to see the world differently, understanding its role in your life allows you to engage with it in a way that feels right. Photography’s value shouldn’t be about money—it’s about the meaning it holds for you.
Adam, this is such a thoughtful reflection on what gives photography its value beyond just financial worth. As a fashion and editorial photographer, I often think about how the meaning of my work shifts depending on the project.
Your discussion about whether photography is a career or creative outlet also resonates. It can be both—some paid work, some trade-for-print collaborations. Striking a balance is key, ensuring that the business side doesn’t overshadow the creative fulfillment that keeps us inspired. Photography’s value shouldn’t be only about money—it should also be about the meaning it holds for you and others. Whether it’s a client seeing themselves in a new light, a model gaining confidence, or an audience connecting with an image, photography’s impact extends beyond the photographer.
Paul Tocatlian
Kisau Photography
www.kisau.com
Thanks Paul Tocatlian! I really appreciate you sharing some of the value you see photography adding in your professional work -- especially as it relates to others like your clients or models!
Very interesting point. How much is photography worth these days, when everyone seems to be a photographer in this digital era of smartphones and AI?
I was one of the small businesses that had to close during the pandemic. A few lockdowns and people living in fear cost me my business. Now trying to get back at it and reopen again after doubting myself for the past 3 years I find it hard to put a price on my work, especially since a lot has changed since the pandemic and everything went up. This post simplifies it a bit actually and makes a lot of sense. Thanks.
JM Photography
www.jm-photography.co.uk
Photography, like many endeavors, can easily be undervalued by those doing the "work" or following a "passion" because we believe that if we can do it...anyone can.
We, visualize the final image and make numerous decisions, often unconsciously, to get there based on our knowledge of the process. Time of day, natural light or augmented light, filtration, exposure, framing to include or exclude features, etc.
For black and white film we factor, developer, temperature, time; and for making the prints, paper selection, paper contrasr grade, temperature, dodging, burning-in, localized speeding up small development areas as such as rubbing clouds with the hands to enhance details (body temperature speeds up the chemical process). For digital we consider post processing techniques.
We may even visualize the display method, matting and framing selections.
All of the aforementioned factors are considered from experience which means an investment of time, the one commodity no one can replace at any price.
I read an article uears ago about a professional wedding photographer in Berkeley, CA (an admittedly well-off community). He wanted to retire and was getting follow-on business from the daughters of mothers he had photographed as brides (reminds me of working for a photographer in Michigan in the late 1970s and early 1980s who had been in business for decades).
The photographer began raising his prices, to hopefully, reduce clientele. However,the higher prices were interpreter by customers as meaning better quality and the bragging rights of customers having a high price, "exclusive" photographers, broutht him more customers and he realized he had undervalued his work.
I used to undervalue my photography and Data Analytic skills, because...again,....if I can do it, anyone can do it. But our skills are unique in many areas. At 63 now, I more than doubled my income by merely a negotiating compensation commensurate with my skills based on career market worth, not what I considered the work to be worth.