Is photography a dying career or a viable profession?

Have you ever wondered if photography is a dying career or a viable profession in today’s digital age?

With the rise of smartphone cameras and the availability of affordable digital cameras, many people believe that the photography industry has become saturated, making it hard to make a living. On the other hand, some still argue that photography is a viable profession, with many opportunities to make a successful career out of it.

If you’re passionate about photography and are considering pursuing it as a profession or are a current professional, it’s crucial to understand the current state of the industry and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

In this article, we’ll explore the question “Is photography a dying career or a viable profession?”, examining the current trends and future projections of the photography industry.

If you prefer a video, be sure to check out the video I made discussing whether photography is a good career or a dying profession:

The current demand for photographers in the job market

The demand for photographers in the job market is continuously evolving, and if you’re considering photography as a career, comprehending the current demand is crucial.

Let’s analyze both the demand for conventional photography professions and nontraditional ones.

Conventional photographer demand

Overall, when considering photography as a whole, the employment of photographers is anticipated to grow by 9 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is quicker than the average for all jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Since photography comprises numerous specialties, I’ll be focusing on the most popular ones, such as portrait photography (encompassing headshots), wedding photography, and product photography.

Portrait photography

To gauge the trend and demand for portrait photographers, one approach is to analyze Google Trends:

Upon examining the trend chart for the search term “portrait photographer,” it becomes apparent that the search frequency has either remained steady or even experienced a slight increase over the past five years.

Wedding photography

Let’s now take a look at the trend chart for wedding photographers:

Just like the trend chart for “portrait photographer,” a comparison of the search demand for wedding photographers reveals that it has been on the rise in the past five years.

Product photography

Lastly, let’s take a look at the demand for product photographers:

Likewise, the chart for product photographers has only indicated a growth in demand. This can be attributed to the surge of e-commerce businesses. An increasing number of entrepreneurs require premium-quality product brand photos to enhance their brand image and boost product sales.

Demand for Non-Conventional Photographers

As demonstrated, traditional photography careers like wedding, portrait, or product photography have an established demand. Still, there is an increase in nontraditional photography careers like content creation.

In reality, according to Supply Gem’s Creator Economy Statistics, content creators in the Photography domain are among the most monetized.

From my personal experience, this isn’t surprising because photography gear tends to be high-priced. As such, creators have the potential to earn more. Additionally, there is always a group of people seeking to enhance their photography skills.

As a content creator, I’ve discovered numerous monetization possibilities available. This is especially with the expanding demand for visual content across several sectors. These opportunities include affiliate programs, brand sponsorships, ad revenue, product creation, and courses.

What I appreciate most about content creation is that your income is determined by the effort and value you bring to your product or service. Although you need to have some marketing skills, your career rests in your hands, without any office politics or annual raises to hinder your progress.

Traditional photography careers may offer more established job opportunities. However, content creation presents a more diverse and unique opportunity that can even improve your prospects in a conventional photography field. Suppose you become a popular photographer creator. In that case, it could help you secure more traditional photography assignments because you have established your brand name.

Regardless of your preferred niche as a traditional photographer or content creator, staying informed about industry trends and demands is essential to take advantage of opportunities.