How To Make More Money As A Photographer

Let me guess — you wish you were making more money as a photographer. Right?

Listen, what I know about you is this: You are so talented at what you do. You’re passionate about capturing beautiful moments and creating images that make your clients stop with their jaws dropped and say, “Wait whaaaat?! I can’t believe that’s me!”

You know you just nailed that session. You’re proud of the images, and you can already see how thrilled your client is going to be when they receive them.

You send over the gallery, and you’re excited and hopeful. You think, “They’re definitely going to upgrade. They’re going to want all these images—how could they not?!”

But then… crickets.

Maybe a day goes by. Maybe two. You don’t get the upgrade notification, and suddenly, doubt creeps in. You start second-guessing yourself:

“Was my pricing too high?”

“Should I have given them more time to decide?”

“Maybe I should just email them again and remind them…”

Here’s the truth that might sting a little: It’s not that your pricing is wrong, and it’s not that your clients need more time. Actually, it’s the opposite.

A common myth I hear is that the best way to make more money as a photographer is by offering gallery upgrades.

When you deliver an online gallery and leave the decision entirely in the client’s hands, it's passive. You’re hoping they’ll see the value on their own, and crossing your fingers that they’ll take the time to review, discuss, & upgrade on their own.

But, believe it or not, HOPE is not the strategy that will get you (or your clients, frankly) the best possible outcome.

Your clients are busy. They do love their photos, but they don’t always have the time or energy to scroll through the gallery, weigh their options, and make decisions. And the longer you give them to decide, the easier it becomes for them to get swept back into the current of everyday life, forgetting about it entirely.

Here’s the thing: It’s not about giving them more time—it’s about giving them LESS time and MORE guidance.

What to do instead? Position yourself as the expert.

Become the trusted guide that walks them through their options every step of the way. You're not "putting the ball in their court" and expecting them to take action. Rather, you're right alongside them from inquiry to sale.

Another way to close the deal? Make upgrades irresistible.

For 4-figure sales and above, you need to be offering multiple types of upgrades that have a lot less to do with images, and a lot more to do with each client's unique story and needs.

The third route to a no-brainer? Master your messaging.

With love, this hands-off gallery approach is not the way to scale your business to six figures and beyond without burning out.

The good news, though, is that there’s a much, much better way.

In fact, there’s a way to work with your clients so that they’re excited to pay you three times what they paid for the session. A way to serve them at a higher level and build a business that gives you true financial freedom AND time freedom — and not just a packed calendar.

This is the shift that will change everything for you. And it starts with knowing what to say and when to say it.

I hear from my students all the time that since they don’t live in a luxury area, the clients in their market simply won’t pay higher prices. I know successful photographers who charge luxury prices who operate in small towns with corn fields in their backyard! 

These are limiting beliefs that unfortunately are far too commonly accepted in the photography industry. It's almost like a comfort blanket that helps photographers justify playing small. 

Anyone who wants to generate wealth as a photographer must have the courage to say, "You know what? No. I know what I'm capable of, I know I can do this. If anyone can build a successful, profitable photography business, it's me! I'll figure it out. I'll learn from the best. I'll surround myself with people who have done this already."

There is always a solution, always a way to make more money as a photographer, no matter where you're located. If you don't book the luxury clientele, someone else in your area will.