6 Fast High Paying Side Hustles for Photographers (Entry Level)

Take Wedding Photos ($600-$2,500 per gig)

Wedding photos are some of the most profitable and easy entry level side gigs known for photographers.

I know I know, you might be thinking "Charlee, weddings are hard, there is no second chance if I mess up!" Hear me out. While you might be anxious, someone else out there is just as anxious but doing it afraid, are you really going to miss out on earning a few $1,000 a month? 

Why it matters

The earning potential for wedding photos has a huge range from $600 to $6,000, but you could make some serious side hustle income. I talked to one of my best friends recently, and she is a part-time photographer making quick thousands. 

She told me there is a huge demand in photographers for weddings, and its a great opportunity to not only make extra cash, but to capture sweet moments in peoples lives that only happens once. (like the image below, the photographer is taking in every moment). 

What she does is she basically tag teams wedding with another buddy of hers, and they created a whole system on how they team up and make this happen. 

How it works

To succeed, even as a beginner just follow these steps:

Just so you know, just because you are new at something, doesn't mean you shouldn't try. My friends first wedding photoshoot paid her around $250 (low-baller pay, like what even is that). But once she did one or two more, she started telling me shes making $600 per shoot.

Next thing I know, shes shooting $2,500 worth wedding photos for some high-end couples. I know she has been doing this for about 3 years, which sounds like a lot. But honestly, thats a very short time span for a part-time photographer to start making such big dough. 

Ways to stand out

To start getting yourself really into the market, you first need to have already some portraits ready to show the couple. Maybe you did a couples shoot for free for one of your friends. Any of this is proof of your talent and what you can do. 

Just be as transparent with the couple as you can. Ask questions about what parts they care most about, and if they have ideas. Feel free to also offer your own ideas, as sometimes it really helps create better moments for the couples, and you end up with happy clients (who will give good feedback to their soon-to-be married friends).

Sign up for Concert or Conference Photography Gigs ($200-$650 per gig)

Maybe weddings aren't for you. Which I get it, it isnt for everyone. I personally can't stand weddings. So honestly I would recommend trying out concert or conference photography instead. 

The pay can result very similarly to wedding photoshoots, however you are in a completely different audience. It could be loud, chaotic, or completely professional and straight jacket. If you know they basic dynamics of wedding photography, you will understand the underlined rules of conference photography.

Similar to concerts, however with concerts a badge basically grants you any access at any time (which is cool if you enjoy this type of atmosphere). 

How it works

You will need to either know someone who is into the concert or conference business, or put yourself out there online or in-person. I personally think conferences are bit easier. I used to be a stage producer, and finding conference photographers was super easy. 

A few must haves I would recommend would be:

Ways to stand out

Stand out by asking other photography friends who do this full time if they know of any events. Try to see if you can tag team with them and take a small cut from the earnings (like 15-20%). Once you start making a good portfolio, you could either try to start doing these alone, or continue being an assistant (which is honestly much less stress). 

Sell Prints of Landscapes ($5-$800 per print)

Another really popular way to make money on the side as a photographer is selling prints of landscapes or models. Whether you enjoy to travel and take breathtaking landscape photos, or maybe beautiful skyline photos of cities like New York City, this is your time to shine. 

Your pay can vary, as you set your own prices. Usually beginners go pretty low, starting at $5. Which you could earn your first $5 if you sign up for Freecash, where you can play games in your free time and earn money on the side. Then more advanced photographers will charge much higher, from $100 to even $800 per print. 

How it works

There are a few basics to getting started succesfully selling your prints. The short way around this is to simply post on social media about your prints available to sell. But if you really want to make this a passive income type of business, you will need to do it right. 

Here are the three main must-try methods when selling landscape prints:

There is no magic trick to making this right. A majority of photographers try this side hustle, and it can be a bit time consuming due to edits, and finally gaining a decent stack of customers. You may need to wait a few weeks until you start earning a quick $50.

Give Headshot Photos ($10 per copy)

Almost everyone needs headshot photos, whether for their CV, passport, or other legal documentation. This is a great way to make a little extra on the side, however do not expect too much.

Usually to take professional headshot images, you will need to have a studio or a well lit room with a basic white background. Which is generally not hard to set up. Your client base will also be mainly local only, as most people who need these types of photos do not want to travel far for these types of photos.

Since it is local work, and situated either in your apartment or in a studio, you are limited to how you can share your services. You can usually find clients by:

I do not know anyone who offers this directly, however lots of photographers generally add this as an extra gig on top of larger ones like postgrad photos, wedding photos, etc. 

License Your Photos ($10-$100 month)

Even though the rise of AI is becoming a bit of a push through for photo licensing issues, you can still upload your images and get paid passively for making your images licensable. This can land you from around $10 to quite possibly $100 extra a month.

You will need to provide rather high quality images for you to catch the eyes of clients. Not saying you need to be a professional, but offering good quality is always more purchase worthy than not. So just make sure you have a decent camera and you are good to go. 

If you enjoy taking pictures, this shouldnt take much time extra away from you. Simply upload your photos on platforms like Adobe Stock Photos. 

Food Photography Gigs ($300 per gig)

From cookbooks to offering photography services for food blogs, you can earn decently by taking pictures of food professionally. You can easily practice this at home too to already give yourself free references. 

To get these types of gigs, you will mostly need to search on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, as it is rather specific and most clients go online to find these types of services. The best way to land these gigs is to niche down your profile to food photography. 

While you may also perform other types of photography services, you can create seperate profiles for each.