“You can’t make money from photography” is one of the biggest misconceptions you’ll hear. Unfortunately, it also stops many people from pursuing their interest in this field and turning it into something bigger.

If you’re willing to think outside the box, you can make money from photography in many ways. Even better, you can—as you grow your experience—potentially surpass any income that an unfulfilling office job could have provided you with.

So, what are some of the best ways to make money from your photography? Let’s take a look.

1. Do Photography Work for Clients

Photo of a person holding their camera to their face

Perhaps the most obvious way to make money from your photography is to take pictures for others. Companies need corporate headshots, and couples about to get married want people who can beautifully capture the biggest day of their lives.

Networking is your most crucial asset if you’re interested in becoming a freelance photographer. Get to know people in your local area; you can go and say hi to people in person, along with sending emails and connection requests on LinkedIn.

Marketing is also a good idea. Consider creating a website that specifically outlines what you can offer and try to rank in local search engines. Once your income is consistent and comfortable, you can switch to a genre you find more interesting.

2. Start a YouTube Channel

Becoming a YouTuber is an excellent way to potentially make money from your photography. To begin with, documenting your journey provides a valuable marketing tool you can send to others to get a brief overview of your personality and what you offer.

Over time, you can also potentially generate income through YouTube ad revenue. However, you’ll need to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours for this—so it’s something you can think of as a long-term project.

Creating a photography YouTube channel can also help drive traffic to other parts of the internet. So, if you’re selling items on your store or a marketplace, it’s an excellent way to get extra eyeballs on your stuff.

3. Sell Your Presets

Image showing the Lightroom logo on a Mac

When you start editing your photos, you’ll notice that you can add presets to them. Besides smoothening your post-production workflow, these can also provide a possible way for you to make money from your photography.

To sell your presets, you’ll need to create them within Adobe Lightroom and export them from the app. Afterward, you can list the presets on either your own online store or a marketplace like Etsy. Once people buy them, you’ll send your files in a downloadable format.

Successfully selling your presets will require that you have a distinctive style that sets you apart from everyone else trying to do the same. Try testing the water by giving some away for free before sticking a price on them.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Creating and Selling Lightroom Presets

4. Write About Photography

Photo of a woman working on her laptop

Right now, you’re reading an article about photography. Someone got paid to put this piece together. Who’s to say that you can’t do the same?

Photography is a skill that many people want to learn. And for some, it’s easier to digest information by reading an article than watching a video. You don’t need to have the professional experience to cater to these needs; you only need to have picked up a camera and tried things before.

Several websites (and some print magazines) will pay you to share what you’ve learned with others. You’ll need to know how to string sentences together, but you don’t have to worry about being on the same level as Shakespeare. If your English isn’t great, try looking for places to write in your native language.

Related: How to Become a Paid Writer: A Guide for Graduates

5. Set Up a TikTok Account

Photo of someone holding their phone with the TikTok app

TikTok has taken the world by storm and is making some of the more established social media platforms sweat—so much so that many of these have created their own TikTok equivalents. If you build a large enough audience, the TikTok Creator Fund is a viable way to generate income from sharing photography-related content.

Many TikTokers don’t get paid the top bucks, so like YouTube, this will be a long-term project. If you don’t want to dance on camera, you don’t need to; simple how-to videos and quick tips will also help attract the attention of others.

Once you’ve built a presence on TikTok, your followers will also join your other social media communities. So, it has the indirect benefit of potentially increasing your income in other areas.

6. Host Photography Tours in Your Hometown

Photo of various people taking photos in the same place

When people visit somewhere new, they want tips from the locals. If you happen to live somewhere popular with tourists, hosting photography tours can be an excellent way to make money from your photography.

You can advertise your photography tours across social media, along with creating a booking link on your website. Moreover, you can list your experience on Airbnb.

When people travel, many of them want good pictures of themselves to share with everyone back home. So, in addition to photography tours, it’s worth thinking about hosting photoshoots.

7. Coach Others

Photo of a person using their computer

When you’ve gained enough experience in photography, you can sell what you’ve learned to others through coaching.

There are several coaching opportunities you can explore. For example, you can create comprehensive online video courses. One-to-one coaching and mentoring is another possibility, and so is writing eBooks.

Related: The Best Platforms to Create and Sell Online Courses

If you’re worried about the number of coaches already out there, don’t be. We all have different personalities and want to work with people we can relate to, so you’ll find paying customers—as long as you’re experienced and advertise yourself properly.

8. Place Your Photos on Stock Websites

Photo of a photographer with the camera at their face

Although plenty of free stock websites exist, they don’t always have the exact shot that businesses and publications are looking for. Many will turn to paid stock websites like Getty Images and Shutterstock to get what they need.

Stock websites don’t pay a lot in the beginning; it might take years before you start seeing traction. However, uploading your images isn’t difficult—and it’s a simple way to eventually earn passive income.

Many stock photo sites will have specific rules that you must adhere to, so it’s worth checking these out before you sign up.

Plenty of Ways to Make Money From Photography

In decades gone by, making money from photography was a lot more complicated. But thanks to the internet, you’ve got plenty of possibilities to explore. The traditional ways to earn an income from taking pictures are still helpful, but sticking to them is limiting your possibilities.

If you don’t want to take photos for others, you can take steps to begin generating income for yourself today. Setting up a YouTube channel or building a large enough audience will likely take a few years—but if you’re persistent enough and learn from your mistakes, you’ll get to where you want to be.