How to Earn a Living as a Travel Photographer

While only a fraction of travel photographers earn what might be considered a significantly high income for their work, it is possible to earn enough money to live on with the freedom to travel as an additional bonus. Although the job sounds glamorous, trying to earn a living as a travel photographer requires strong organizational skills, perseverance and artistic ability.

Instructions

1

Invest in a digital camera and learn how to use it. This is often the most difficult step for new travel photographers, as digital cameras and lenses can be quite expensive. If you cannot afford a new camera, check your local newspaper ads and online listings for used cameras and lenses.

2

Take a photography course if you are new to photography, as it requires both technical skills to fully utilize a camera and artistic skills to frame a shot. CreativeLive regularly holds photography workshops which are broadcast live and may be watched for no cost or downloaded later for a fee. The MatadorU New Media School for Travelers offers an online travel photography course that spans 12 weeks and covers the science of photography, post processing, how to find paid assignments and how to use social media.

3

Travel as frequently as possible. If your finances limit your travel ability, take photos of your hometown from the eyes of a traveler or shoot pictures to sell to the local newspaper. As you build a reputation and published clips, contact tourism bureaus from other cities to inquire about setting up a sponsored visit for a photo shoot.

4

Build a portfolio. While a traditional photography portfolio consists of a large binder with high-resolution printed photographs, you can save money and make your work available to a much larger audience by creating a free blog with sites such as Wordpress and Blogger, both of which offer free templates specifically for photographers. Include contact information and a short biography on your blog.

5

Research outlets that pay for photography which fit your interests, such as newspapers, magazines and websites. Only contact those who are interested in the type of photography you specialize in; for example, newspapers are rarely interested in landscape pictures, whereas some magazines and websites are.

6

Consider selling stock images by registering with organizations such as iStockphoto, which pay you in royalties when your photo is purchased.

7

Start a spreadsheet to record which outlets you have contacted, which ones purchase your photography and how much and when they pay.