How a Part-Time Photographer Can Still Make a Full-Time Income

When I first started my photography business, I had no idea if it would ever replace the full-time job that I had at the time. I couldn’t comprehend ever being able to book enough clients to cover my expenses and still come out with a decent living. However, I knew that I had to try. It’s still shocking to be able to say that I not only got to that point but completely surpassed it. I’m going to tell you exactly how a part-time photographer can still make a full-time income.

Remove the Fluff

In the early years of my business, I was throwing so many strategies at the wall just to see what would stick. Posting inconsistently on social media, blogging here and there, and sending my clients too much information they didn’t need. I was exerting so much energy on things that weren’t converting. Part of the problem was that I was consuming so much content from other photographers. Rather than narrowing down what would work best for my business, I was just doing it all. Does this sound familiar?

As you can probably guess, this led me to being burnt-out, discouraged, and eventually putting a stop to all of it. Though it felt like giving up at the time, this was actually a really great opportunity to reinvent my business structure. I was essentially starting with a blank page. So I spent some time creating guides for my clients that had only what they needed and nothing more. I chose one marketing strategy (blogging) and learned the ins and outs of SEO to further my reach. Most importantly, I started putting the rest of my energy into my booked clients instead of trying desperately to reach new ones.

Minimize Expenses

From an accounting perspective, it’s no shocker that fewer expenses equal a higher income. But I know from experience when you’re in the beginning stages of a business, there’s a lot of building happening. Subscriptions, gear, SD cards, I could go on and on and on. So many of these things are necessary, but a lot of them aren’t. In case no one has told you this, you don’t need the fanciest website, the most expensive camera on the market, or the $300 camera bag from Ukraine (guilty). If you want more tips on how to grow your business without paying for ads, read this post.

Make sure you’re tracking everything that’s coming in and out of your business. You can do this easily with an Excel sheet. Make a goal for how much money you want going back into your pocket every month and spend accordingly. You’re going to be much more motivated to keep going if you’re not putting everything right back into the business every month. If you have a really good month with higher revenue, this is a good time to buy some of the necessities.

Maximize Time

Turning a full-time business into a part-time one doesn’t happen on its own, especially if you’re at a point where inquiries and booking are coming in consistently. Regardless of how many hours you aim to work every week, it is so important that you aren’t letting any part of your business waste your time. There are a few changes I made in my workflow that brought my weekly work hours from 30+ down to 10-15 even in my busiest seasons:

• Streamline editing. Whether you use a culling software, AI editing program, cutting down down on the images delivered, etc. you need to make sure you’re not spending an unnecessary amount of time on the back end. Part of this starts while you’re on location. Get your images spot-on in camera and stop over shooting.
• Schedule work time. It sounds simple, but this is something I still struggle with. Hopping on the computer for 15 minutes at a time before getting interrupted is not as productive as it feels. When my brain is constantly switching from work mode to life mode it feels like I’m working even when I’m not. Decide how many days per week and how many hours per day you want to work. If you’re not confident that you can sit down for an hour or more at a time, then don’t. For me, after bedtime is the sweet spot. My kids are in bed, I don’t have people texting or emailing me, and my brain can finally focus.

My biggest motivator for keeping my work hours low is my kids. The person and mom I want to be isn’t the one that is constantly on her computer, emailing clients, and stressing about everything that need to be done. With the proper systems in place, you’ll no long be wondering how a part-time photographer can still make a full-time income.

Implement Boundaries

Here’s the thing. You can and should put so much heart, energy, and attention into your clients and their photos. However, it must come from a healthy place. The moment you start feeling resentful is a good indicator that some boundaries need to be established. Maybe that means extending turnaround times, offering fewer images, shorter shoots, etc. For me, the biggest pain point was my actual shoots. I was scheduling sessions that affected my entire family’s schedule and I wasn’t charging enough. I finally decided that I wouldn’t leave the house for anything less than X amount of dollars. That meant no more stand-alone mini sessions, no leaving off travel fees, and no feeling guilty.

It was so freeing to realize that by saying no to one thing, I was saying yes to so many others. Setting concrete boundaries from the start also means that I am attracting clients that respect my time and appreciate clear communication. There’s just no room in my (or your) business for people pleasing.

The Biggest Secret to How a Part-Time Photographer Can Still Make a Full-Time Income

The very most important thing I do that keeps my clients coming back every year (if not more) is simple. I create an experience that they won’t find anywhere else. I make the booking process simple, bring a fun and relaxing energy to their sessions, and deliver photos that they are elated to hang on their wall. You can do all of the things mentioned above, but if your clients are less than thrilled about their experience with you, none of it matters. I truly believe that client experience is the magic that transforms businesses. I’ve seen it happen in mine and many others’.

If you’re feeling stuck and not sure how to improve your client experience, I have a free Client Experience Checklist that can help you get started. Get your free download right here:

I hope this post was helpful as you figure out how a part-time photographer can still make a full-time income.