8 Mobile Photography Business Success Stories [2024]
Want to start your own photography business? You're not alone. With the rise of social media and photo-sharing, blogging, and online retailing, it's never been easier to start making money behind your camera.
There are photographers shooting weddings, creating images for ad campaigns, freelancing for magazines, touring the world, taking photographs of destinations β the list is endless!
To start mobile photography , research the target audience and determine which specialization area is more lucrative. Invest in high-quality, professional cameras, lenses, and a computer with professional software photo-editing software.
In this list, you'll find real-world mobile photography business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a mobile photography business that makes money.
1. Photobooth Supply Co. ($6M/year)
Brandon Wong, CEO of Photobooth Supply Co., came up with the idea for his business when he and his wife, who were wedding photographers, noticed a surge in popularity for photo booths at weddings. They saw an opportunity to improve upon the existing photo booth designs and created a sleek and portable photobooth with high-quality picture capabilities. After selling over 10 booths at a wedding photography expo, they realized they had tapped into a market with huge potential for growth.
How much money it makes: $6M/year
How many people on the team: 10
Photobooth Supply Co. offers a profitable business opportunity through their sleek and portable photo booths, with up to 97% satisfaction rate and a focus on customer experience, in a fast-growing event industry where photo booths are exploding.
2. Studio Ninja ($1.8M/year)
Chris Garbacz, a professional wedding photographer, came up with the idea for Studio Ninja after experiencing various challenges in his photography business, including forgetting his camera bag on a wedding day. He realized the need for a user-friendly and comprehensive solution to manage his leads, clients, contracts, and invoices, leading him to create Studio Ninja, the world's most user-friendly photography business management app. With 7,000 active subscribers and monthly recurring revenue of $150,000, Studio Ninja has become a successful tool for photographers worldwide.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $75K
How many people on the team: 13
Studio Ninja is a photography business management app that has achieved 6 years of success, with 7,000 active paying subscribers and monthly recurring revenue of $150,000, thanks to co-founder Chris Garbacz's experiences and failures as a wedding photographer and serial entrepreneur.
3. Results Imagery ($1.32M/year)
Co-founders Kyle Nelson and Eli Libby came up with the idea for Results Imagery after realizing the importance of high-quality media in the eCommerce industry. With their backgrounds in media and eCommerce, they fused their expertise to create a digital agency focused on providing conversion-centric media solutions for brands and product companies. Since their launch, they have found success in search advertising and have expanded their client base to include eCommerce sellers, online retailers, and marketing agencies. With a monthly revenue of $45,000, the future looks bright for Results Imagery as they continue to focus on key partnerships and monthly retainer clients.
How much money it makes: $1.32M/year
How many people on the team: 8
Results Imagery co-founders Kyle Nelson and Eli Libby launched their digital agency that focused solely on media creation for brands and product companies, helping clients monetize their conversion-centric media, with their current monthly revenue at $45,000.
4. Product Photography Studio ($540K/year)
Tsour Lee Adato, the founder of Pro Photo Studio, stumbled upon the idea of starting a product photography business when a client asked him to shoot one of their products. He quickly realized the potential of product photography and became obsessed with honing his skills. Today, Pro Photo Studio is a profitable business with a diverse range of clients, including prestigious brands like Starbucks and Versace, and plans to expand to multiple cities.
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 6
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
5. Stephan & Adriana ($168K/year)
Stephan and Adriana, former professional ice skaters, discovered a passion for photography during their time touring the world. When Stephan missed his deadline to apply for college, he decided to give photography a chance, and the couple started shooting houses, landscapes, and weddings. The pandemic unexpectedly revealed a high demand for smaller, outdoorsy weddings, propelling their business to new heights as they focused on elopements and intimate weddings in breathtaking locations like Yosemite National Park. Their business now brings in an average of 12-18k per month, allowing them to spend quality time with their families in both California and Brazil.
How much money it makes: $168K/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
How many people on the team: 2
How two ice-skating world travelers built a wedding photography business with a focus on intimate, outdoor weddings, working mainly in Yosemite National Park, where they managed to attract clients almost solely through content marketing and SEO, bringing in an average of 12-18k per month.
6. Catherine Nguyen Photography ($99.6K/year)
After a trip to France, Spain, and Vietnam, Catherine Nguyen discovered her passion for photography. She decided to pursue a career in photography after her cousin suggested it, and with her background in design and project management, she was able to start and grow her own photography business. Now, Catherine has a thriving business with a strong client base and an organic Instagram following, and she continues to attract new clients through referrals and publications.
How much money it makes: $99.6K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
How many people on the team: 1
From freelance photography to six-figures: This case study shows how a Raleigh-based photographer grew her business through organic Instagram growth to gain new client inquiries almost daily, built brand awareness through publications, and hired a marketing firm.
7. SvenStudios ($72K/year)
Steven, a wedding photographer based in Adelaide, Australia, started his business by combining his passion for photography with his teaching background. After gaining a following on DeviantArt and attending business conferences, he focused on online marketing and creating a strong brand. With an average of 30 weddings per year, Steven's business generates a six-figure income and stands out for his unique, genuine approach to capturing couples' special moments.
How much money it makes: $72K/year
How much did it cost to start: $60K
How many people on the team: 1
This case study is about a wedding photographer in Australia who earns over six figures annually by keeping things simple, offering transparent pricing, and focusing on online advertising with an effective website and SEO strategy.
8. Two Little Monkeys Photography ($24K/year)
Getting pregnant with twin babies, Samantha wanted to document as much as she could about her kids. She wasn't set on a particular career path until then, and immediately saw photography as the viable option to pursue.
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 1
How a single mother went from starting a newborn and family photography studio with just a Canon 40D - risking everything after a turbulent time as a teenage mother - to achieving steady growth of 5-10% YoY.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
