How many members make money in some way through photography? I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members...

isokc Loc: Tacoma, WA

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

If one has to guess what other do, it makes no sense at all.

You may want to rephrase this to something like: 'Who makes any penny out of a photograph?'

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

I do it for my own enjoyment. I shoot what I want to shoot when I want to shoot it. I have no interest in getting caught up in a situation where someone else is telling me what to shoot or when.

Jim Bob

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

One or two.

ptcanon3ti Loc: NJ

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

I've made some pennies off of photography. I won't give up my day job though. :lol:

But the best way to make money from photography is to sell ones gear. :)

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

I'm a professional videographer--that's my day job, and that sometimes involves doing stills. I'm a member photographer of the Photonica stock photo agency, and I used to make a decent amount of pocket money that way. I still occasionally sell images through them. I had an image on the cover of a bestselling paperback--"The Island" by Victoria Hislop, which I recently resold for the British and Russian 10th anniversary editions of the book.

Singing Swan

I make a dime or two when I photograph, then frame, local scenes or a fancy flower or two, sometimes kitchen things framed in a set. The frames come from yard sales etc and I make the prints myself. They get sold at local stores or sometimes by word of mouth. Nothing fancy like being a photographer, but it makes me feel as if my 'funtime' isn't wasted time.

I make photos of odd things for people, too; like a photo of their pet or their favorite car they just sold and want a remembrance. The print will only cost them a dollar or two (maybe three :) ) There are also calendars and stationery, postcards and birthday cards I use my photography for, and although sales are never overwhelming, it makes another dime or two

I also use my photography as references for paintings and sell those, although I'm not certain if that quite fits your criteria. There are many ways to make a dollar that don't involve studios and lights.

tinplater Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

My family pays me to not take pictures....

DerBiermeister Loc: North of Richmond VA

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

I'll take a stab at it. Kind of like guessing the number of jelly beans in a big jar.

First off, this forum does not list the membership -- at least I can't find it. So, based on the number of folks who are online at any given time (it looks to be hundreds), I would estimate the number of UHH members to be in the thousands. I'll say 3,000. I am going to arbitrarily pick a percentage of 2% for those that make a profit from their work. That equates to 60 members.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

I am hoping to get into making some $ on a small scale - doing portraits (like for my wife's many lady's groups) and small venues; possibly selling a few prints here and there. Not there yet, but that's a goal. No illusions of making lots of money, just some extra pocket change to offset the cost of the occasional GAS attack.

My Daughter-in-Law's Dad (who just retired as a "Brown" driver) has made some decent money selling his wild life photos to nature / outdoor magazines.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

Not me. I am a true amateur and do it for the satisfaction and enjoyment.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

I used to make very occasional pocket change, but now I am purely a hobbiest

Bill_de Loc: US

Back when I was in college I made some money with photography. I shot political stuff mostly, from campaign shots to conventions. It paid for my camera gear and in part for my schooling. I also had a full time job.

After I graduated I decided to keep my hobbies and work endeavors as far apart as possible. Aside from taking some job related (evidence) pictures, I have not taken a dime for any of my photos in 40 years. That could be because a dime is too high a price for what I produce, but I have fun! :)

--

pixbyjnjphotos Loc: Apache Junction,AZ

I do the photography bit for a retirement hobby and my own personal gratification. I really like post-processing photos to see what I can make from them. I have a lot of fun trying out different programs to see what they do that others don't. I get kudos from many that see my work and occasionally they see a photo that they would like to purchase. When someone comes to me for specific photos or asks if I can do this or that, I try to oblige them. Any money I make is really insignificant. Photography is something I can do in my retirement years that doen't cost me a lot of money. I have some nice equipment but nothing spectacular. Photography helps to pass the time and work the brain a little. My motto is have fun and have a GREAT DAY!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

isokc wrote:

I hear how hard it is to make money in photography and it's very competitive. I'm wondering what percentage of UHH members (take an educated guess if you want)make money through photography. Just for clarification, it can be small amounts, large amounts, money made through selling prints or perhaps in some other way.

Just curious. Thanks for your guesses!

I've had a long career in photography - started out doing architectural work in large format, some for publication and most to add to my clients' portfolios - (architects, engineers, landscape architects, interior designers) - back in the late 60s and early 70s.

I added doing model composites and some portraiture, street photography, landscape, some events, sports and other genres through the mid-70s to mid 80s.

Then I had kids.

in 2000 I bought an advanced Sony P/S camera, and immediately made plans to transition to digital as soon as I was comfortable that the quality was there. That happened in 2006, around the time I added food photography and styling to my list of credentials.

I no longer make much money selling my work other than the occasional fine art print/canvas, and some pet/people portraiture. I am more successful conducting workshops and one-on-one mentoring these days.