7 Photography Blog Success Stories [2024]
A photography blog business is a platform where photographers can share their work and connect with a community of fellow photographers and photography enthusiasts. The blog can feature various content, including tutorials, behind-the-scenes stories, gear reviews, and interviews with industry professionals.
To run a successful photography blog, it’s essential to provide high-quality content that resonates with your audience consistently. This can be achieved by staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and techniques and experimenting with different content types to see what resonates with your audience.
Another key to success is building a strong online presence and establishing yourself as an authority in the photography industry. This can be done through social media marketing, guest blogging, and networking with other industry professionals.
It’s also important to monetize your blog through advertising, sponsorships, and offering paid content or services such as ebooks, courses, or one-on-one coaching.
To stand out in a crowded market, consider specializing in a specific niche or style of photography, such as landscape, portrait, or street photography. This can help you build a loyal following and attract opportunities from businesses and brands in your niche.
Overall, a photography blog business is a great way for photographers to share their work, connect with others in the industry, and monetize their passion for photography. With dedication, hard work, and a focus on building a strong online presence, founders can turn their blog into a successful and rewarding businesses.
In this list, you'll find real-world photography blog success stories and very profitable examples of starting a photography blog that makes money.
1. CandidShutters ($329K/year)
Pranjal, the co-founder of CandidShutters, came up with the idea for the business after realizing that couples and their families longed for a tangible keepsake of their wedding moments. With a passion for photography and filmmaking, Pranjal saw the opportunity to create custom-designed handcrafted photo albums that would bring these memories to life. Since launching in 2018, CandidShutters has become known for its personalized albums, catering to over a hundred customers monthly through a strong organic presence and word of mouth.
How much money it makes: $329K/year
How many people on the team: 22
CandidShutters co-founder Pranjal started an online-only, profitable business in 2018 creating custom-designed handcrafted photo albums that currently averages over 100 albums per month, serving couples and families seeking to create memorable keepsakes.
2. Stephan & Adriana ($168K/year)
Stephan and Adriana, former professional ice skaters, discovered a passion for photography during their time touring the world. When Stephan missed his deadline to apply for college, he decided to give photography a chance, and the couple started shooting houses, landscapes, and weddings. The pandemic unexpectedly revealed a high demand for smaller, outdoorsy weddings, propelling their business to new heights as they focused on elopements and intimate weddings in breathtaking locations like Yosemite National Park. Their business now brings in an average of 12-18k per month, allowing them to spend quality time with their families in both California and Brazil.
How much money it makes: $168K/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 2
How two ice-skating world travelers built a wedding photography business with a focus on intimate, outdoor weddings, working mainly in Yosemite National Park, where they managed to attract clients almost solely through content marketing and SEO, bringing in an average of 12-18k per month.
3. Sophie Crew Photography ($120K/year)
The idea came to Sophie when she saw how her iPhone wasn't enough to click her new born's picture portrait. She did enjoy the process though, after which she bought an entry-level DSLR camera and began her studio!
How much money it makes: $120K/year
How many people on the team: 0
Sophie Crew Photography, a newborn photography business in San Diego, was started by a former high-school French teacher in 2009, and has developed a strong brand reputation over 14 years through high-quality photography, SEO optimization and word-of-mouth marketing.
4. jonathan is media ($101K/year)
Jonathan discovered his passion for photography at a young age and honed his skills while studying photography in school. He stumbled upon an opportunity to help an Amazon FBA seller with product photography, which sparked his idea to start his own business offering product photography services specifically for Amazon sellers. By focusing on this niche market and delivering exceptional service, word-of-mouth referrals have been his primary source of customers.
How much money it makes: $101K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 0
This case study follows Jonathan from jonathanismedia.com, who started a product photography service for Amazon FBA sellers during his teenage years and now making close to $10k/month in profit, through word of mouth, offering exceptional quality services, and a focus on SEO, paid media, and word-of-mouth as long-term growth strategies.
5. Catherine Nguyen Photography ($99.6K/year)
After a trip to France, Spain, and Vietnam, Catherine Nguyen discovered her passion for photography. She decided to pursue a career in photography after her cousin suggested it, and with her background in design and project management, she was able to start and grow her own photography business. Now, Catherine has a thriving business with a strong client base and an organic Instagram following, and she continues to attract new clients through referrals and publications.
How much money it makes: $99.6K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 1
From freelance photography to six-figures: This case study shows how a Raleigh-based photographer grew her business through organic Instagram growth to gain new client inquiries almost daily, built brand awareness through publications, and hired a marketing firm.
6. PEWDOC ($14.4K/year)
Manthan Gajjar, the founder of pewdoc, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the potential to make money online through blogging. He used his passion for photography and his knowledge of SEO to create a photography blog that offers tips, tricks, and gear reviews for beginner photographers. Through consistent publishing, SEO optimization, and targeted ad campaigns, Gajjar has been able to attract and retain customers, earning $1.2k per month.
How much money it makes: $14.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
How many people on the team: 1
Founder Manthan Gajjar built his photography blogging platform, pewdoc, as a side hustle project and now generates $1.2K per month by publishing trending photography content for newbies. He shares his process of building a blog on a low budget, gaining traffic through consistency and SEO knowledge, and using social media advertising to attract customers and retain readers through newsletters.
7. Cybernium Inc. ($12K/year)
Cybernium Inc founder, Itai Danan, came up with the idea for his flagship online property, Neocamera, when he realized he needed a digital camera for a trip but knew nothing about them. Recognized as an expert in digital cameras, he decided to publish a 4-step Digital Camera Buying Guide to help others, which eventually grew into a digital camera review and resource website that now attracts up to 1.3 million unique monthly visitors and generates around $1,000 per month in revenue.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $350
How many people on the team: 1
A software engineer turned founder started a digital camera review website as a side-hustle which turned into a successful online publication with up to 1.3 million unique monthly visitors, generating around $1,000 per month, attracting visitors through guest posts, focusing on desirable quality content, and through answering popular questions on Stack Exchange, providing helpful advice for other entrepreneurs.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
