The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Copywriting Rates Without Losing Clients
Sam Hindman
Published onDemand fluctuates, seasons shift, and one slow month can wreck your cash flow. And in an industry where everyone's trying to book the next gig, you need more than just a good portfolio to keep the money coming in.
The solution, of course, is diversifying your income. But how? Today, we'll show you several ways to utilize your portfolio to start making money long after each shoot is over!
1. Selling Prints: Turn Your Best Shots into Passive Income
You already have the photos, so why not let them work for you? Selling prints is one of the easiest ways to start making money beyond client shoots.
Unlike client work, where your time is tied directly to your earnings, selling prints can bring in passive income long after you've taken the shot. The right audience will pay for landscapes, fine art photography, or even niche themes like pet portraits.
Where to Start Selling Prints
You don't need a fancy setup to start selling. There are plenty of ways to turn your best shots into prints and get them in front of customers.
1. Print-on-Demand Platforms
If you want a hands-off way to sell, print-on-demand (POD) platforms handle printing, shipping, and customer service for you. You just upload your images, and they do the rest. Some great options include:
Society6: Great for photographers looking to sell home décor items like framed prints and canvases.
Redbubble: A solid choice for selling everything from art prints to stickers and phone cases.
Fine Art America: Caters to a higher-end art-buying audience and allows you to set your pricing.
The downside? These platforms take a cut of your earnings, so while they're great for exposure, you might make less per sale.
2. Your Own Photography Website
If you want full control over pricing and branding, selling prints through your own website is the way to go. You can use a platform like ours, Journo Portfolio, to get started. Not to brag, but Journo Portfolio prides itself on being easy to use, cost-effective, and full of incredible features.
To be fair: Having your own site means you keep 100% of the profits, but it also requires marketing effort to drive traffic and convert sales.
3. Art Shows, Galleries, and Local Events
If you're more of an in-person seller, art fairs, pop-up galleries, and local events can be incredibly profitable. Many photographers forget about this option, but it's an amazing way to connect with buyers face-to-face and get your work into physical spaces.
Pro Tip: Create Scarcity with Limited Edition Prints
If you want to sell at a higher price, limit how many prints are available. Offering limited edition runs (e.g., only 10 or 50 copies of a specific image) can drive exclusivity and urgency.
Example: Instead of selling a landscape print indefinitely, offer only 25 signed copies at a premium price. Once they're gone, they're gone, making them even more valuable.
2. Stock Photography Websites
Aside from physical prints, people could get a lot of use out of your old shots for marketing purposes! Stock photography websites are one of the easiest ways to start making money with images you've already taken. Businesses and bloggers are constantly on the hunt for high-quality pictures to use in ads, websites, and social media.
Best Stock Websites to Use
Not all stock sites are created equal. Some offer higher payouts, while others give you access to a broader audience. Here's where to start selling:
1. Major Stock Photography Websites
If you want to reach the largest audience, these platforms are the best places to list your images:
Shutterstock: One of the most well-known stock photography websites, used by brands worldwide.
Adobe Stock: Integrated into Adobe's Creative Cloud, making it a go-to for designers looking for high-quality images.
Getty Images: Higher-end stock photography with premium pricing (ideal for professional photographers).
The catch? These platforms take a cut of your earnings (sometimes as much as 50-85%). But they also have built-in traffic, so you don't have to worry about marketing.
2. Niche Stock Photography Websites
You might make more money by selling on industry-specific stock sites if you specialize in a specific photography style:
Food photography: StockFood
Wedding and lifestyle images: Cavan Images
Medical and science photography: Science Photo Library and Medical Images
Since niche sites cater to specific customers, they often pay higher commissions than general stock platforms.
Best Practices for Selling Stock Photos
Not every photo sells. To maximize earnings, focus on what buyers are actually looking for!
Shoot for in-demand topics: Some of the best-selling stock images fall into categories like business, health and wellness, and lifestyle.
Upload different compositions: A single photoshoot can yield multiple usable images, so upload using different orientations, zooms, etc.
Use detailed keywords: Stock sites rely on search algorithms to match buyers with images. Use descriptive keywords that cover your photo's entire meaning.
Example: Instead of tagging a picture as "sunset," use "golden hour ocean view with pink and orange sky."
3. Hosting Workshops to Share Your Skills
If you've been in the photography world for a while, chances are you've picked up skills that other photographers would pay to learn. Whether it's mastering lighting, posing, editing, or even the business side of photography, hosting workshops is a great way to monetize your expertise while building your personal brand.
Many photographers hit a ceiling when trying to improve their skills, and they're willing to invest in hands-on learning from someone with experience. That's where you come in.
Workshop Ideas That Sell
There are multiple ways to structure a workshop, depending on your audience and teaching style. Here are some of the best ways to start making money by educating other photographers:
1. In-Person Photography Events
Some people learn best face-to-face, and live workshops are one of the best ways to offer hands-on experience.
You could run:
Portrait photography masterclasses: Teach posing, lighting, and composition for professional-looking portraits.
Landscape photography trips: Host guided shoots at scenic locations, teaching framing, settings, and post-processing.
Studio lighting workshops: Help photographers master flash, strobes, and softboxes for different effects.
Bonus: If you get sponsors (camera brands, local studios, or even photography stores), you can cover some costs and increase profitability.
2. Online Courses & E-Books
Not everyone can attend in-person events, but they'll still pay for structured education that they can access anytime.
Here's what you can create:
An online course: Walk students through a skill like Lightroom editing, off-camera flash, or social media marketing for photographers.
E-books & digital guides: Sell detailed guides on topics like "How to Build a Strong Portfolio" or "Mastering Natural Light."
Pre-recorded mini-courses: If you don't want to run live sessions, sell bite-sized lessons that students can purchase on-demand.
Where to sell:
Teachable: Great for hosting full-length courses
Gumroad: Perfect for e-books, posing guides, or PDF tutorials
Your own website: Use Journo Portfolio's tools to set up a paywall for your courses
Bonus: Make Money Through Blogging or YouTube
Yeah, yeah, I'm sure everyone has beaten you over the head with it by now, but the truth is that content creation is one of the most effective ways to earn money in this day and age. Most photographers focus on client work and direct sales, but if you play the long game, a blog or YouTube channel can become one of your most profitable income streams.
Content Ideas That Work
Not sure what to post? The best-performing photography content falls into three main categories:
1. Behind-The-Scenes Vlogs or Essays
People love seeing how professionals work. Whether it's a portrait session, landscape adventure, or wedding shoot, taking your audience behind the camera builds trust and keeps them engaged.
2. Editing Tutorials and Gear Reviews
Photographers are always looking for better ways to edit, shoot, and upgrade their gear. Tutorials and reviews bring in consistent traffic, and if you add affiliate links, you can earn commissions when people buy the products you recommend.
3. Tips For Growing Your Photography Career
Have any sage wisdom to spare? Whether it's winning photography contests, building a strong portfolio, or pricing your work, educational content is highly shareable and can attract a loyal following.
How to Monetize Your Content Creation
Once you've built an audience, here's how you can start making money from your content:
Ad Revenue: If you have a YouTube channel, you can enable YouTube AdSense once you hit 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours. Depending on traffic, blogs can also make money through Google AdSense or Mediavine.
Sponsorships & Affiliate Marketing: Brands will pay you to review their cameras, lenses, or photography tools. You can also earn commissions through affiliate programs (Amazon Associates, B&H Photo, Adobe, etc.).
Selling Your Own Products: Your audience already trusts you, so why not sell your prints, e-books, or courses directly? Link your website or online store in your video descriptions, offer exclusive Lightroom presets or posing guides as digital downloads, or create a members-only section with premium content.
Build a Sustainable Photography Business With Journo Portfolio
Hopefully, with the help of these ideas, you can utilize your portfolio website to create a much more profitable and sustainable photography business. That said, don't be afraid to start small! Pick 2-3 income streams that align with your skills and interests, and go from there.
And, of course, keep refining your portfolio so it attracts potential clients and buyers. Your best shots should be working for you, not just sitting in a folder on your hard drive. Your online portfolio shows your talent. These income streams ensure your talent pays you, over and over again.
Journo Portfolio prides itself on balancing ease of use and potential for customization, making it one of the best portfolio builders online. It's in the name, after all! Check out our complete list of features, and get started with your free account today.
