What to Focus on After Hitting $100K in Your Photography Business

Reaching six figures in your photography business beyond $100K is a huge milestone. For many photographers, $100K feels like “making it.” But after expenses, taxes, and cost of living, many photographers hit that revenue goal and realize… they’re still stressed about money.

That’s because $100K in revenue isn’t $100K in take-home pay. Once you subtract taxes, gear, software, and business expenses, most photographers end up paying themselves $50K–$60K a year. That’s a solid salary, but it’s often not enough to create financial stability, especially if you have student loans, health expenses, or a growing family.

So, what’s next? How do you scale to multiple six figures in your photography business beyond $100K without burning out or working 24/7?

The strategies that get you to $100K aren’t the same ones that get you to $200K, $300K, or beyond. It’s time to shift your approach. Let’s break down five key focus areas to help you grow beyond $100K in your photography business.

1. Start Outsourcing & Building Your Team

Most photographers try to do everything alone—client work, editing, marketing, bookkeeping, housework, parenting. But the truth is, you don’t have to do it all.

Start Small with Outsourcing:

✔ Editing: Hire a photo editor to free up hours of your week.
✔ Virtual Assistant (VA): A VA can help with emails, invoicing, and scheduling.
✔ Household Help: Consider a house cleaner, meal prep service, or laundry service to reduce stress.
✔ Childcare Support: Even a few hours of childcare per week can give you focused work time.

Many photographers see outsourcing as an “expense,” but it’s actually an investment. If you charge $500+ per session or $5,000 per wedding, your time is more valuable than spending hours on laundry, admin work, or endless edits.

Ask yourself: What would you do with extra time? More shoots? More marketing? More family time? Write down the tasks that drain you and start delegating.

2. Define Your Next-Level Goals

Once you hit $100K, your business could go in several directions. Before scaling, get clear on what you want.

Examples of Next-Level Goals:

✔ Increase take-home pay: Raise revenue to $200K+ so you can pay yourself a six-figure salary.
✔ Work fewer hours: Shift to higher-end clients and fewer sessions per month.
✔ Build a team: Train associate photographers to take on more bookings.
✔ Diversify income: Add education, presets, coaching, or online courses.

There’s no one right way to scale. The key is choosing a path that aligns with your skills, interests, and lifestyle goals.

3. Raise Prices & Elevate Your Market Position

One of the fastest ways to scale without overworking is raising your prices and serving a higher-end market.

Pricing for Growth:

✔ 10 weddings at $10K = $100K
✔ 20 weddings at $15K = $300K
✔ 15 weddings at $20K = $300K

For portrait photographers:
✔ 8 shoots/month at $3,000 = $288K/year
✔ 17 shoots/month at $1,000 = $200K/year

To charge higher prices, you need:

• A strong brand that attracts premium clients.
• A high-end client experience that justifies your rates.
• A refined portfolio that reflects the level of work you want to book.

If you’re stuck in mid-range pricing, elevating your brand and niche will help you move into a more profitable market.

4. Expand Your Visibility & Marketing Strategy

At this stage, referrals alone won’t sustain your growth. You need to increase visibility and attract higher-end clients consistently.

Ways to Expand Your Reach:

✔ Content Marketing: Blog about venues, weddings, or client tips (SEO helps clients find you).
✔ Speaking Engagements: Get in front of new audiences through workshops or industry panels.
✔ Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with vendors, planners, and influencers in your niche.
✔ Paid Advertising: Use Facebook/Instagram ads to target your dream clients.

As your business grows, your role shifts from service provider to CEO. Your job becomes more about branding, sales, and visibility—and hiring others to help with the day-to-day tasks.

5. Create a Scalable Offer

At some point, trading time for money reaches a ceiling. That’s why many photographers turn to education, digital products, or passive income streams. (Check out our Photographer’s bundle to learn how to make your own presets, sell more albums, etc)

Scalable Offers to Consider:

✔ Presets, guides, or templates (one-time creation, unlimited sales).
✔ Workshops or coaching programs (serve multiple people at once).
✔ VIP Days (high-ticket, intensive one-day services).
✔ Online courses (teach something once, sell it repeatedly).

Even a small scalable offer can add an extra $20K–$50K per year to your revenue—without requiring more shoots.

Recap: 5 Key Areas to Focus on After $100K

✔ Start outsourcing & build a team (free up your time).
✔ Define your next-level goals (where do YOU want to grow?).
✔ Raise prices & elevate your market position (work less, earn more).
✔ Expand visibility & marketing (attract premium clients).
✔ Create a scalable offer (stop trading ALL your time for money).

Not every strategy will be right for you, and that’s okay! Pick the one or two areas that excite you the most and start taking action.

What’s Your Next Step?

If you’re scaling past $100K and need support choosing your next move, I’d love to hear from you!

DM me on Instagram @kristinsweeting and let me know: What’s your biggest focus right now?

Want structured support? Check out our Dangerous Creatives Mastermind and Apply here!