8 Ways to Make Money As a Photographer (When Business Is Slow)

If you’ve never heard the phrase “sell your sawdust,” it comes from the lumber industry. When companies were cutting logs, they were left with piles of sawdust (an annoying byproduct that just got in the way and was often thrown out). Eventually, they figured out how to turn that waste into something profitable. Products like MDF and particle board were created from compressed sawdust and glue.

So how does that apply to photographers?

As photographers and service providers, our byproducts aren’t as obvious. We don’t have piles of physical scraps sitting around. Our work is more intangible, so it can be harder to see what we could repurpose or monetize.

In this article, I’m going to quickly run through a list of ways to make money as a photographer during the slow season.

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But before we dive in—Hi! I’m Melissa—an SEO expert helping portrait photographers get found by dream clients on Google, without the tech overwhelm. Whether you want done-for-you services, coaching, or blogging strategies, I’ve got you covered. Ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your market?

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Want the full conversation? Listen to the podcast episode with Alison & me. Prefer to skim? This post breaks it all down step-by-step so you can start implementing right away.

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There Are So Many Ways To Make Money As a Photographer

Here’s the biggest thing to remember: you have a camera. That alone opens up a lot of possibilities (even beyond your primary niche).

Maybe you’re a maternity or newborn photographer and you’re thinking, “That doesn’t really fit my brand.” That’s okay. Not everything has to live on your main website. You can create a sub-brand, offer something quietly, or even just take on occasional work without heavily promoting it.

None of these ideas have to become your main way to make money as a photographer (though it could evolve into that over time).

1. Rent Out Your Studio Space

Let’s start with something practical. If you have a studio space, that’s an asset. You can rent it out. Platforms like Peerspace make it easy to list your space and generate income when you’re not using it.

When we were living in South Florida and getting ready to move, I had movers at the house on the same day I needed to give a presentation. So I rented a meeting room in an apartment complex—their sales office conference room. I remember pulling up thinking, “Where am I?” But it worked perfectly.

And even if you don’t have formal studio space, if you have a beautiful home, that can work too. When we remodeled our kitchen in South Florida, I actually planned to list it as a home studio rental. It had gorgeous natural light, a large open layout, and was perfect for branding sessions.

I’ve also rented houses specifically for branding shoots. I’ve rented studio spaces for branding sessions, too. Sometimes you just need a specific aesthetic, and renting makes sense.

If you’re thinking about renting out your space—or renting someone else’s—there are platforms like Peerspace, Home Studio List, and Gigster. There are probably even more options now, but those are great places to start.

2. Offer Minis or Headshots

If you have a studio, that opens up even more options—things like headshots, heirloom portraits, or even themed mini sessions.

I know some people cringe at the idea of minis, but if you’re staring at studio rent and an empty calendar, it’s worth considering. Just make sure you price them appropriately so they’re profitable.

Personally, I’d lean more toward heirloom portraits or headshot days. Think about it this way: you’ve been in business for several years. You already have a client list filled with your ideal clients. Send an email that says, “We’re offering a headshot day in the studio, here are the details, grab a time slot.”

It doesn’t even have to go on your website or have a big public push. Just offer it directly to the people who already know and trust you.

And the headshots don’t have to be stiff corporate photos with a blue backdrop. Keep them in your style. Use your studio, your light, your aesthetic.

You could also host something through your Chamber of Commerce. Offer members a complimentary headshot and give them the option to upgrade and purchase additional images. Same concept—you’re getting people in the door and creating an opportunity for sales.

3. Take Photos For Local Companies

This one is simple: you photograph interiors and exteriors for businesses so their Google Business profiles look polished, bright, and professional.

I’ve done this before, and the company I worked for paid $150 per job. I didn’t even have to edit the photos. I’d spend about an hour on location, upload the images, and I was done.

You don’t have to work under an umbrella company like I did, either. You can approach local businesses directly. Think boutiques, restaurants, gyms… any business that needs fresh social media content.

These gigs aren’t necessarily going to make you a millionaire overnight. But they stack if you’re looking to make money as a photographer during slow season. And they can grow into something bigger if you want them to.

4. Shoot For Influencers

When I lived in South Florida, I knew a woman who created Amazon and lifestyle content. She’d get new outfits and home products regularly and needed fresh images for her social media. She reached out about working together consistently, maybe once a week or every other week, to photograph her in different outfits.

I didn’t take the job because I was busy at the time, but if you’re in a slower season, that could be a steady source of income.

5. Real Estate Photography

You have a couple options when it comes to real estate photography.

One, you can work for a franchise-style real estate photography company. They typically train you on their settings, process, and expectations. You use your own camera and gear, show up on site, capture the property, and deliver within their required turnaround time. It’s structured, straightforward, and can be consistent.

Or, you can pitch yourself to a boutique real estate photographer—someone who runs a more personal brand. Reach out and offer to second shoot or take overflow listings during your slow season. Be upfront: “I’m looking for some extra work. If you ever have more listings than you can handle, I’d love to help.”

I actually took a real estate photography course from a professional in that field. I only did one or two jobs afterward, but recently I was chatting with a realtor at my kids’ school. She said, “You’re a photographer, right? Do you do real estate photography?”

I told her I had in the past but wasn’t currently offering it. She was immediately ready to move forward—they had high-end homes that needed to be photographed.

Even just being able to say, “Yes, I’ve taken a course in real estate photography,” gives you credibility. If you’re interested, find someone reputable and take a class to build your skills and confidence.

And what I love about working with a larger franchise is that you’re not responsible for finding the clients. They already have the listings. They just need someone with a camera to show up and shoot.

When you’re in a slow season, that kind of structure can be an easy, reliable way to fill your calendar and generate income without having to market yourself heavily.

6. Stock Photography

I haven’t personally built a stock portfolio yet, but I know someone who’s done very well with it—and we’re hoping to have her on the podcast soon.

One of my own newborn session images was actually used in an ad for a breast pump company. The photographer asked to submit it for stock and had me sign an additional model release for commercial use.

That’s something important to remember: if you’re using images from paying clients, you’ll need a separate model release specifically for commercial or stock purposes.

But you can also create stock content on your own. Photograph your own kids, your home, everyday life—just make sure the proper releases are signed. There’s a lot of opportunity there.

Travel photos are another great option. If you’re capturing beautiful landscapes, iconic locations, street scenes, or lifestyle images while traveling, those can absolutely be submitted as stock as well.

Don’t Forget About Mockups!

Another idea, and honestly, so many of us could do this, is creating product mockups and lay flats.

Think about photographing framed prints on a wall, albums styled on a coffee table, or even simple flat lays of prints. Start easy. Maybe you focus on framed prints first. The specific frame style doesn’t matter as much as creating something versatile that other photographers can drop their own images into.

I’m constantly looking for product mockups where I can insert my own photos, especially images of framed artwork displayed in a home setting. And sometimes I don’t even care if it’s a product I personally sell. If it works visually for social media, that’s enough.

There’s demand for this. I saw someone recently asking, “Where can I find more product mockups?” People sell them on Etsy and Creative Market all the time.

You could create a simple shop page on your own website and sell mockups directly to other photographers.

Albums are another great option. When I used to receive sample albums, I’d photograph them before delivering them to the client. Then I’d cut out the image area in Photoshop, now I’d probably use Canva, and create a template where you can just drop in a new photo.

I’ve reused the same album mockup multiple times. It’s been a newborn album, a maternity album, even a wedding album, just by swapping the images. It’s a great example of “selling your sawdust” to make money as a photographer. You already have the products in your house. You already have the camera. You can create a digital asset from what you own.

7. Second Shoot For Other Photographers

This is similar to what we mentioned with real estate, but a little different. You could second shoot for a wedding photographer, assist a commercial photographer, or work under someone else’s brand.

I learned a lot from second shooting. Yes, it takes up a weekend, which can be tough, but it can pay well. I used to make at least $500 every Saturday I second shot and that was years ago. I know rates are much higher now.

And when we talk about associate shooting, it’s not just weddings. Allison, my co-host, has had associate photographers shoot under her brand before. If you look at the photographers ranking at the top of Google in your area, the ones booking consistently, you could reach out and say, “Hey, I don’t know if you’re looking for an associate or backup shooter, but I’d love to connect.”

You might even find that you enjoy just photographing and don’t love the marketing or business side. There are photographers who would happily hire someone reliable so they can scale without burning out.

8. Volume Photography

This includes school portraits—especially private schools or smaller schools—or sports and dance portraits. There is serious money in these kinds of projects. It’s not necessarily creative, and it can be labor-intensive. You have to be extremely organized and may need new systems to handle it well.

But it’s lucrative. Truly.

If you live in a cold climate or somewhere with heavy seasonality, and you don’t have a studio, this can be a great option. Invest in a portable setup and bring it to them. Preschools and private schools are usually weekday, daytime jobs. Sports and dance programs are typically evenings or weekends.

At my kids’ private school, they hire a headshot photographer to do their school photos, and he does an incredible job. This year, my boys went to public school and got the typical big-company portraits and they were terrible.

My husband even said, “Why don’t you call the guy from the preschool and see if he can photograph the boys in that same style?” I love hanging those school-style portraits in our hallway, and I didn’t even want to swap this year’s photos because they just weren’t good.

That photographer’s main business is headshots but he also does private school portraits. It may not be glamorous, but it’s smart.

Remember: You Don’t Need To Do This Forever

And remember—you don’t have to do any of this forever. You can decide, “This is just for this season,” and move on when things pick back up.

Hopefully, at least one or two of these ideas sparked something for you and will help you make money as a photographer during the slow season.

If you liked this post, we think you’ll love these:

What Are Sales Funnels for Photographers?

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