Diversifying Income Streams in Travel Photography

Relying solely on client work for income can be limiting and unpredictable. Taking control of your opportunities and diversifying your income streams is essential for financial stability and growth in your photography career, plus it’s fun to explore and experiment with various creative ways to use your photographs. Let’s explore various income streams available to travel photographers because in a creative industry, it’s important to not put all your eggs in one basket.

Income Streams and the Importance of Diversity

Every freelance photographer’s income model will vary significantly based on their chosen creative focus, their clients, the time they have to dedicate to photography, and of course, their experience. Some focus on selling prints, while others work on projects with tourism boards and brands, or focus on editorial and commercial work with publications and clients. Identifying the income streams that best suit your lifestyle and goals will help to reveal what could work for you, there may be plenty of ideas you’ve never even considered and the key to longevity as a travel photographer, is to continually be open to new opportunities.

Specific Skills

Do you capture images a certain way, are you a qualified drone pilot, underwater photographer or maybe you’re just a great people person and can capture candid expressive portraits or lifestyle shots of people. If you’ve got a skill that clients need, offer this as a service and package it up so you can produce imagery for them. A lot of us tend to think we’re not good enough photographers, or there are better people out there for various jobs, but also, what’s stopping us from approaching clients that align with our skills?

Image Licensing

Licensing your photos through stock agencies or directly with clients can be a lucrative option, particularly the latter option as stock libraries tend to generate smaller fees. Fees vary widely depending on usage and restrictions however images used in advertisements or commercially are typically licensed, and the photographer is paid a fee. Licensing can be managed via stock agencies or through direct client agreements. Also - you’ll be surprised at how many brands need travel imagery, even brands outside of the tourism industry that may be looking for beautiful visuals to highlight their products, purpose, or brand messaging!

Selling Prints

Utilise print labs offering dropshipping services to sell prints globally and deliver your beautiful images to customers. Effective SEO and marketing are key to running a successful print store. Selling prints involves managing logistics and customer support. However, setting up an online print store can operate in the background while you travel. Research which types of prints sell well and understand your ideal customer to market effectively. The Print Store Launch Pad program guides you through the entire process in a self-paced format, ensuring you’ll have a store, logistics, marketing and sales processes in place. You can also sell via third party sites like Etsy (see image below), the print store program also shares insights on this, and the test I did which saw me grow my store to over $5000 in sales within a year.

Content Creation

Produce user-generated content for brands or partner with them to create bespoke photo packages. Many businesses require a steady supply of content for social media and while some opt for free content created by guests or from hashtags, as a photographer, you can create pitch packages of photographs for brands. You don’t need millions of followers to earn an income from content creation – focus on producing high-quality images that brands can use themselves.

Brand Campaigns

Networking and a strong portfolio are essential for securing these opportunities. This might include photographing for upcoming product releases or experiences. Tourism clients, such as airlines, hotels, and tour operators, often run campaigns requiring fresh imagery. Building connections and keeping your portfolio updated are vital for landing these roles. The Freelance Travel Photographer Course is designed to set you up to be ready for these opportunities, with industry insights, steps to take, and real world advice to help you find your first client and land those exciting projects.

Publishing

Getting your work featured in magazines and publications can be both rewarding and profitable, particularly if you strike up a great relationship with editors. Ensure your images are professional and print-ready. Seeing your work in print is one of the most satisfying experiences for a photographer and to start working with publications, I always suggest researching where your photographs will fit, what the publication needs and then start pitching ideas. Pitching is an art form on it’s own, so if you’re keen to do it right the first time, I’ve got templates and tips inside the freelance course that will guide you through your first pitch.

Photo Walks and Tours

You don’t have to be an experienced professional to guide certain tours (some tours yes, and it’s important to manage expectations if you’re not confident with settings etc), however offering local photo walks for other photographers, showing your favourite photo spots on a guided tour can generate income in a fun way. You’ll have to check things like permits and insurance if you’re offering paid services and experiences, but you’ll find there are always tourists or photographers who are keen to tap into local knowledge, especially if you’re a fellow photographer and photograph similar subjects and scenes!

Retail Products

Your images can be used on so many physical products, think of all the places you see photographs and you’ll realise just how many potential paths there are to take. Things like postcards and prints are traditional avenues for tourist areas and souvenir stores, then there are fridge magnets, greeting cards, calendars, t-shirts, yoga mats, home decor and so on. With print on demand companies making it far easier than ever before to print and package your products, it’s worth exploring this option, particularly if you have imagery from tourist destinations that could be valuable for visitors.

Diversifying your income streams helps ensure a stable and resilient photography career. Explore different avenues that align with your interests and strengths. For more in-depth strategies on diversifying income, consider our comprehensive photography courses or join The Travel Photography Club to chat with the community and take advantage of the monthly resources.