How Much Do Photographers Make? (Per Hour, Per Wedding, and Per Year)
6 min read·Updated June 2026
The short answer
Freelance photographers commonly earn an effective $50 to $150 per hour of shooting once editing and delivery are counted. Wedding photographers bill $1,500 to $7,000 per event, and a full-time pro shooting 15 to 30 weddings a year can land anywhere from $40,000 to well over $100,000.
Employed vs. freelance
Staff and studio photographers often earn a salary in the $40,000 to $70,000 range. Freelancers have a higher ceiling because they keep the full package price, but their income swings with how many bookings they can fill and how well they price.
Where the money actually is
- Weddings: the highest per-event income, booked far in advance.
- Prints and albums: high-margin upsells on top of the session fee.
- Recurring commercial and brand work: steadier than one-off portraits.
- Selling packages instead of hourly, so editing time is paid for.
Know your number
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