How many photographers are men? What are the most common types of professional photography? How old are photographers in the business? The status of the Photo Industry Survey 2024 considers all these questions and many more.
The broad status of the photography industry survey was organized by Professor Heather Morton, who works at a photography program at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada Photofolio.com And Thephotographsunion.comSurveys conducted in six weeks in May and June 2025 include reactions from 1,294 photographers from 43 different countries with majority located in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom.
There is a report of the entire 12-hit Available for free on the new option of MortonWhere the Morton prominent survey results take a close look at the results. It is worth checking well, but here are some interesting highlights to consider.
71.4% of respondents identify as men, and only 27.3% as female. Apart from all respondents, the most common age limit is 40–49 years old, which represents one-third of all working photographers participating in the study. The next largest age groups are 50–59 years (23%) and 30–39 years (22%). Only 30 photographers aged 29 and below the age of 29 years and below the age of 3%.
Unexpectedly, given the oblique of the elder age of the respondents, many of them have a widespread experience in the photo industry. 32% responders say they have 25 years or more professional experiences. Although at least general response, still 15% of respondents say they have experience of industry less than a decade.
Worldwide, most respondents reported earning under $ 50,000 in net income from photography each year, although 27.2% and 21.5% respectively earns between $ 50,000 and $ 99,000 or $ 100,000 and $ 199,000 respectively. 4.2% of the respondents reported more than $ 300,000 per year from photography. In the US, in particular, 6% of respondents claim that they make money for this amount. In fact, in 714 American photographers participating in the survey, 14% of them make at least $ 200,000 per year in photography.
Unexpectedly, a photographer has a strong relationship between the level of experience and their income. Interestingly, the most experienced – 25 years or more – do not report the highest overall income.
Like many industries, there is also a gender inequality. A high ratio of women reports income under $ 50,000 compared to men, and many more men report more than $ 100,000. However, the income cracks can be explained by demographic differences, as Morton notes that female respondents, generally speak, are less than men. Photography has long been a male-oriented region, and it will take time to do its work through the area for more diverse generations and achieve the level of experience that usually leads to high fee.
About 68% of those who report to have base creative fees for respondents, the average daily rates are very high, especially in the United States. There, photographers with a base daily fee charge an average of $ 3,034, although Madhyika is $ 2,500.
Another interesting question is how different photographers charge for use. 27.3% of respondents charge an additional fee for use, while 29.4% say social media and web usage are included with their base fee. There is no clear consensus on the licensing system, and various photographers employ very different approaches to handle image licensing.
What about the video? 47.3% of the 47.3% of the photographers say that they mostly stil, but some videos, which are the most popular reaction so far. However, 39% of photographers say they specifically stil, even in a rapid hybrid photography industry. 12% say they do about half of each, while 1.7% of the respondents mostly videos and some still do photography.
Pictures and lifestyle work in the most popular photography styles to do professionally for respondents. Each of these categories had more than 400 respondents, although the respondents – and many can – work in many styles. Corporate headshots and branding were the next most common answers, followed by food, event, product and architecture. Very few respondents work professionally in sports, landscape, motor vehicle and real estate.
Full “State of the Photo Industry Survey 2024” report is available Morton’s new substationThere, Morton breaks several more subjects, including optimism about the industry, the most successful professional photo marketing technology and more.
Image Credit: Heather Morton
