Street Photography

[thaoimage]

Just a generalized question but... is there any money to be made in street photography? I already do more street photography than I realize but was just wondering if there could be any potential monetary gains... or is it just something people do for fun. your comments are appreciated and thank you.

[Elmo]

About the only way is to publish a book. All the street photographers I now support themselves with other photographic fields.

[BCampbell]

Blackmail is the most profitable route for SP.

[andyw]

Ask yourself where would the money come from in the first place?

Who buys "street" photography.

I would say that unless you are commissioned by some organisation to record "life" or you are already well known for photography and could sell books then the answer is a pretty resounding NO.

[OsmosisStudios]

Unless youve got some fantastic work of notable scenes, you likely wont get much. As Elmo said, a lot of money can be made from books for particular projects, but its a lot of work to get to that point.

[thaoimage]

Thanks for the responses... I think i'll keep it as a side hobby... I didn't think there was much money in it to begin with... but you never know unless you ask...

[LeeR]

I recently ran across this fascinating video on photographer/nanny, Vivian Maier. She worked as a nanny for a number of families in the Chicago area while working on her street photography on her days off. She never made a dime from her photography, but now, after her death, her work (more than 30,000 images) are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions.

This is the irony of the art world. Great artists often work their entire lives in total obscurity only to be recognized years after they have passed for the greatness of their craft.Is there any money to be made in street photography today? I doubt it. Could you, like Vivian Maier, one day be recognized as one of the true masters for your work. Yes, but you're going to want a side job in the meantime.