What type of photographer makes the most Money?

Hi all,

 

I have heard mixed things about this topic. I was hoping that you'all could help shed some light on the

issue. I was just curious (generally speaking of course, prodigies aside) which type of photographer

makes the most, at the end of the day (Commercial, Nature, Fashion etc. ect.)?

 

 

F Stop

The one married to the doctor

It's definitely based on the business & marketing capabilities rather than photo skills. Then, you need to ask who makes the most over the long term, as some fashion & commercial people get 'bounced' when a new style comes along every few years.

 

The real answer to your question is: great photogrphers who are dead. Their work rarely becomes valuable until it is irreplaceable.

 

Whatever the answer, you need to follow your heart's desire. If you go into a field you don't love, you will fail. You can't make a fortune in fashion for example, unless you love working with highly egotistical people. just my opion.

 

Doug

Top fashion shooters command in excess of 20K per day who shoot for top magazines and agencies. Herb Ritz got up to 60K a day. Each field has it's top shooters, just as in any other field of work.

As Doug said, it's the one that is the most aggressive salesman regardless of skill level.

Dead ones.

As opposed which specific phtogrpahersmake the most money, there is more money in

weddigns and portaiture, if you market well, than in other areas.

 

A very few big time photographers in advertising do very well. But keep in mind that as with

any skill making the big money is not an overnight thing.

Hugh,

 

I'm married to a doctor, and do not make the most money.<BR><BR>

If you look at dollars per hour, probably fashion or something of the same. But if you make 20K per shoot, and only shoot 3 times per year, then the photographer that makes 5K per shoot, and shoots twice a week ends up ahead at the end of the year.<BR><BR>

I agree Ellis, making big money is not an overnight thing, because no matter how much you read, most will learn marketing by trial and error. Perfection takes time.<BR><BR>

You got it Wigwam. You might try starting the rumor that you died prematurely in a plane crash and then start feeding a print dealer "newly discovered posthumous work" to sell for you, and then add at least one zero to whatever price you were previously charging. Or get busted by the FBI for pornography and have it thrown out by the supreme court, and then add three zeros. Half kidding.

Yes, have to back up the dead photographers. Dead fine art photographers, to be more exact. I think Adams and Weston prints make more than the yearly earnings of living photographers in any field. Unfortunately, being dead violates a lot of perks the flesh jobs have, such as life insurance and such. But hey, if you want the money...

Yeah, most artists don't seem to find great monetary success until they die.

From what I understood, most pros spend more time on marketing than on photography, at least, the first 5 years so that the world knows that you exists.

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Like all marketing, it's selling with a story and personality.

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Here are a few success stories in a few types of photography:

<li>wedding: Marcus family $multimillions operation

<li>bird: Arthur Morris $300K+ as of a few years ago

<li>wildlife: Tom Mangelsen: $multimillions operation

<li>street photography: Henri-Cartier Bresson --- he did not need the money (inheritance) but got quite a lot from it anyway

<li>Landscape: Ansel Adams --- breakthrough when a business school student helped him market his portfoilio.

The photographer who has the best head for marketing makes the most money. That rule applies in every industry, not just photography.

*Playboy Photographer* ;-)

The average photographer in any segment / speciality doesn't make much money. It's too easy for anyone to become a "professional photograpeher" and it's SOOOO much fun, lots of people try it. That brings the averages way down. I'd say that fashion shooter may make more than most, but that's because there are fewer of them. I live in decent sized city (Pittsburgh) and I don't know of ANY Fashion shooters. Here, in the bergh, I think that commercial shooters make the most, compared to wedding shooters. But I may be wrong. (ask my wife)