Success in photography, like many other creative fields, largely depends on your efforts and how you capitalise on the opportunities that come your way. For some, achieving success in photography may happen quickly or in expected ways, while for others, it might take longer and involve numerous setbacks before they find their footing. This applies to all types of photography.

Each person's journey is unique, and success, regardless of how you define it, will arrive at different times for different individuals. If commercial success, meaning making money from your photography, is one of your main goals, certain areas and subjects of photography are currently in high demand. Exploring these can help increase your photography business's revenue.

We have compiled a list of these areas based on our observations of photography sales, client requests, and industry trends.

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1 Event photography

Taking photos at sports events, weddings, tournaments, conferences, parties, and various gatherings is a highly sought-after type of paid photography. Event photography is a significant business for image-makers, and no matter your location, there will always be individuals seeking the services of a photographer for their events.

If you are new to this type of photography, don’t hesitate to dip your foot in and start promoting your services. At first, you could consider volunteering to photograph a few events for friends, family, or close connections to get a feel for event photography and, most importantly, determine if it’s something you enjoy. This experience will also help you build an event photography portfolio.

To be successful in event photography, you must be reliable and consistently produce high-quality work. Check out our interview with an event photographer on Picfair, where he shares how he got started and offers valuable tips.

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2 Local scenes

Taking photos in and around your local area is overlooked by photographers, more often than not. However, capturing images of your immediate and day-to-day surroundings can lead to significant sales opportunities, no matter how quiet or unexciting you may think they are.

There will always be someone who needs high-quality photos of your local area. These could include neighbourhood businesses, community initiatives, news websites, editorial platforms, or personal customers with a connection to the area.

A great way to establish yourself as a local photographer is to, first of all, get out there, take pictures and build a portfolio showcasing local scenes. You could create a unique album in your Picfair Store and promote it through local social media groups, community bulletins, networking events, and participating in local art fairs or community events. Sooner or later, you’ll become a known photographer working in the area and start garnering more organic sales.

3 Travel photography

Travel photography has long been one of the most popular avenues for monetising photography. Opportunities include traditional stock sites, magazine assignments, editorials, and captivating scenes perfect for display. The demand for travel photography continues to grow as more people worldwide become increasingly mobile. The demand for travel shots isn’t solely limited to popular destinations; it’s also, these days, significantly for images taken in off-the-beaten-path, undiscovered, and unusual locations.

Wherever your next travels take you, remember to take plenty of photos, not just for your memories but also to capture stunning shots that could be commercially lucrative.

Travel photography is a favourite subject among photographers with Picfair Stores (but again, don’t let the notion of competition intimidate you), and we offer plenty of guides to help you take amazing travel photos.

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4 Interiors

If you master the art of interior photography, you may discover it to be a rewarding revenue stream. Whether you focus on real estate images, interior design shots, or corporate office settings, there is always a demand for quality interior photography.

While photographing an office might not seem particularly exciting, it can be a lucrative source of income that supports your passion for other types of photography, and the further you delve into your photography, the more you'll realise there needs to be this balance.

To successfully secure paid gigs in interior photography, you should follow the same principles as event photography: promote yourself, maintain a professional and reliable demeanour, and consistently capture high-quality photos. Often, just one or two initial jobs can establish your reputation as a go-to photographer for interior spaces.

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5 Wall art

Take a moment to consider the millions of homes worldwide and how many of those spaces feature prints on their walls.

Wall art is a thriving industry, as evidenced by the vast resources available and the numerous places where people can purchase images for their homes or create art from their collections with POD (print-on-demand) services.

However, don’t let that competition discourage you; take that as a positive, knowing there’s a huge market out there. The key to success in selling wall art images is first producing images with the ‘wall art recipe’ and promoting your work as much as possible to reach customers. We help you there, too, with our resource of guides.

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The bottom line

No matter what it is you choose to specialise in when it comes to your photography, being aware of (at the very least) or taking on some of the above in-demand areas of photography could help you increase your revenue streams and find new customers for your work.

Remember, your Picfair Store is your essential tool for showcasing and promoting your images, so make sure you use it for its intended purposes! Whether you try event photography, start shooting local scenes, or upload your best travel snaps, make sure your Picfair Store reflects the very best of what you can offer as a photographer, and you could soon see that increase in sales coming through.