What feild of photography makes the most money

[MLphoto]

I've personally shot weddings, people, shows, etc. Ranging from $100 to $5000 per session/event.

I use to work an IT job full time, photography part-time. But recently went full-time photography since I was making more part-time compared to my full time job!


I was just wondering, which field of photography usually makes photographers the most money?

I know it depends a lot on who is taking the pictures, for who it is, etc.. but there should be one that stands out the most.


From my experience, I've made the most from shows.


your thoughts on this subject? thanks

[The Stig]

The one that you can deliver the top results in. It's going to be different for different people.

[mdvaden]

Here's an arena of photography that is pretty cool. A page showing one 84 image photo stitch they put together

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/re...gatefold-image

I'm guessing that this travel and outdoors for broadcast and magazines is a comfortable income niche for photography. Anyone know where the benchmark is to move from rags to riches in that field.

[tomd]

Retirement

[mikekelley]

According to the book "Best Business Practices for Photographers" the highest paying field within photography is Advertising and Commercial, followed by Stock (not microstock) followed by Corporate and then Architectural.

[Ainoko]

High-end photographers can make 100-200k a year. (That's what I'm aiming for!)

[tkbslc]

Sadly I bet some Paparazzi are on that list. Not most, but some.

[lettershop]

I wonder what Pete Souza the White House Photographer makes...

[Park Street]

Stock should no longer be in second. I know many former stock shooters who have quit that side of the business in the last two years because the market has been over saturated.

[RDKirk]

I use to work an IT job full time, photography part-time. But recently went full-time photography since I was making more part-time compared to my full time job!

If you're making more in photography than in IT, you're already on a pretty good road for your location. It's hard for me to conceive a local economy in which the IT market sucks and photography market does not. What are you doing now?

[AdamGasson]

The shots of supermodel Kate Moss taking cocaine sold for £150,000 - this is going back a few years. I know the going rate for the first pictures of Brad and Angelina's baby was rumoured to be $1m.

Like most fields though the paparazzi market has been saturated. I was speaking to a guy who co-runs an agency and he said his rates have dropped by 50% in the last year.

Top end commercial and advertising guys still make six figure salaries. But you need a lot of experience, talent and an impressive portfolio to even get a sniff at that.

I think though money shouldn't be a driving factor for a professional photographer. It's a major one, granted, but your passion is the key to commissions and a long term career.

[tkbslc]

IN any field, only the top few make the really big bucks. Photography is likely no different. The top 1% in any segment make a ton, the next 24% make an honest living, and the rest struggle it out.

[airfrogusmc]

Generally speaking its commercial/advertising.

[Bumgardnern]

From my experience as a photo assistant commercial, advertising, and celebrity photographers make the most. They tend to take shots that garner higher usage fees, also they tend to have bigger productions which cost more to produce....

[breal101]

Originally Posted by airfrogusmc

Generally speaking its commercial/advertising.

I think that's true, like you say generally. Back in the day I knew a couple of wedding/portrait photographers who were very wealthy, they had a stable of 10 or more photographers working for them and several portrait studio locations each. It may be a model that isn't viable anymore but it sure worked for them.