Is it possible to make 6 figures as a Portrait Photographer? Yes! Here's how!
Is it possible to make six figures per year as a photographer? Yes! 100%, yes it is possible!
But is it possible to make six figures without photographing weddings and only photographing portraits?
When I started my photography business 12 years ago, I thought the only way to make any real and steady income with photography was through weddings. So I did wedding photography for a few years and got burnt out. So I shifted into portraits. Though wedding photography can be lucrative and fun if it's what you truly enjoy, it is not the only way to make six figures as a photographer.
In fact, since I shifted out of weddings and into portraits, I work a lot less hours while simultaneously earning more.
So my friend, if you want to solely focus on portrait photography, know that it's completely possible to make six figures with it. And here's how:
1._Ensure you have profitable pricing and upsell with products.
Though this may not always be the case, you'll have a much easier time of reaching six figures as a portrait photographer if you do not include all the digitals within your session fee. Instead, offer your clients the ability to purchase prints, albums and wall art of the portraits you take. In other words, do In Person Sales. This allows you to increase your average sale while also serving your clients at a higher level.
Personally, it's not uncommon for me to have portrait sale orders of $3500, $4500 and beyond and that does not include the session fee! If you'd like a little extra help figuring out a profitable pricing structure for yourself, I'd love to gift you with our free Profitable Photographer's Pricing Calculator. Comment PRICING below and I'll send it your way!
2. Market consistently.
I know, I know! Marketing is one of the biggest challenges for many photographers! There are so many marketing strategies that it can often feel overwhelming. But here's the deal: if you want to reach six figures as a portrait photographer, you will need a consistent flow of leads. Leads and clients are the lifeblood of any business. If you don't have leads, you want have clients. If you don't have clients, you will not make money. It's as simple as that!
There are dozens of ways to promote your photography both organically and via paid advertising. The best places for you to show up will be dependent upon who your ideal client is. Attending networking events, building my website's SEO, creating a high school senior model program and Facebook Ads have been instrumental in helping me reach six, and even multi six figures, in revenue. Find out where your ideal clients are hanging out in real life and virtually and then show up in the spaces where they are already present.
3. Focus on getting repeat bookings and offering your current clients a different kind of session.
Admittedly, this is less talked about in our industry, but it is so vital in creating a sustainable business. It's going to take you more time and energy to convince someone who has never heard of you to book you than it is to invite a past client back in for a future session. In theory, your past clients are already familiar with your process and pricing, they already trust you, hopefully you gave them a great experience so it gives them an opportunity to work with you again.
This showed up most commonly for me with my high school seniors. I would heavily promote and book senior sessions for the summer and fall. Come that following spring, I would offer those senior families an opportunity to book a family portrait session before their senior daughter heads off to college later that year. Numerous families took me up on that offer, which meant that I booked two sessions with one client, often times making $8000-$10,000, from one client within a 12 month time span.
The same principle can be applied to maternity and newborn photography and offering additional sitter sessions or one year cake smashes. If you focus on brand or boudoir photography, often times, your client may also be interested in a family portrait session. Chances are your clients will need more than one photography service per year. Find out what that is and then offer it to them.
Creating six figures and beyond as a portrait photographer is possible. And you do not need to run yourself ragged, work crazy hours or neglect your family or sleep in order to achieve it. If you create a profitable pricing structure, focus on a few key marketing strategies consistently and invite past clients in for future sessions, you'll be well on your way to breaking six figures in your photography business!
Cheering you on!
Heather