Expert: Erin Reid Coker - 5/5/2009

Question
i am a student in the 8th grade. i am looking to be a photographer. i am currently doing a research project about this career. i am taking photography classes in high school in the future. my question is, how much can a photographer make(yearly) if he/she works for a very popular magazine. also, are there any other photography fields that pay more(yearly)?

Answer
Alex, this is a tough question to answer especially due to the recent fall of many large newspapers around the country.  Many newspaper photographers are being layed off due to the economy as well as other newsroom positions.  Since I work for a fairly small newspaper, I can not properly answer your question.  I believe different magazines may have different contracts on how they pay for photographs.  Some may get a space rate while other get day rates or flat fees.

Hopefully there are some more photogs on here that can help you answer that question more accurately.  I am guessing commercial and fashion photographers do very well but I can't say that for sure.  I have a side business as a wedding photographer and we do very well but you have to be unique and offer something that people really want.

Good luck!  You are getting interested in a career that is very much changing as we speak.  Newspapers are fading as online news gets more popular.