Affiliate Marketing for Photographers – Earn Passive Income from Your Gear
Some of the links on this website are affiliate links. This means a commission may be earned if you click through and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.
Affiliate marketing is one of the simplest ways for photographers to earn extra income without booking another wedding, chasing another client or raising their prices.
If you already talk about the gear you use, the lenses you love, the editing software that saves you hours or the print lab you trust, you are halfway there. Affiliate marketing just means turning those natural recommendations into tracked links that pay you when someone buys.
You are not changing what you do. You are getting paid for what you already share.
Done properly, it does not feel pushy or salesy. It feels useful. You help someone make a confident buying decision and you earn a commission for pointing them in the right direction.
Why it works well for photographers
Photographers are trusted when it comes to equipment and creative tools. If you say a lens is sharp or a tripod is sturdy in wind, people listen.
It also fits neatly into content you may already be creating:
- Blog posts about your kit
- YouTube reviews or behind-the-scenes videos
- Instagram captions about how you shot something
- Email newsletters sharing tips
Instead of just listing your gear, you link to it using an affiliate programme such as Amazon Associates, Awin or a specialist camera retailer.
If someone buys, you earn a small percentage. It adds up over time.
What photographers can promote
You are not limited to cameras and lenses. In fact, spreading your focus can increase earnings.
Here are strong categories:
- Cameras and lenses
- Tripods, bags and lighting gear
- Editing software like Lightroom alternatives
- Online courses and photography training
- Print labs and framing services
- Presets and digital templates
- Insurance for photographers
You can also create your own products, such as preset packs, and combine those with affiliate recommendations. That way you earn from both directions.
Where to share affiliate links
Your website is the best long-term home (we have a detailed tutorial on how to build a website if you don’t already have one). A detailed post like “What’s in my camera bag” can bring traffic for years.
YouTube is powerful for gear reviews. Many photographers search before they buy. The best place for affiliate links is in the description. You can have multiple links in every video you produce.
Pinterest works well for tutorials and beginner guides. A post about “Best beginner cameras for wildlife photography” can drive steady clicks.
Email lists convert well because your readers already trust you.
Social media alone is weaker, as posts disappear quickly. It works best when it sends people back to a blog or video.
You can also use “link in bio” tools to organise and share your affiliate links more effectively.
Services like Linktree allow you to create one simple landing page that holds multiple links.
Instead of changing your Instagram bio every time you recommend a new product, you send followers to one central page where they can choose what interests them.
These tools work especially well on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where you only get one clickable link in your profile.
You can use your link-in-bio page to direct people to gear lists, blog posts, YouTube reviews or preset packs. It keeps things tidy, looks more professional and gives your audience clear options without overwhelming them.
How to stay ethical and credible
Trust is everything. If people feel you are only recommending products for money, they will stop listening.
Follow these rules:
- Only promote gear you use or genuinely believe in
- Be honest about pros and cons
- Add a short disclosure explaining you may earn a commission (this is a legal requirement in a lot of countries)
- Do not overdo links in every paragraph
Your reputation is worth more than any commission.
How much can you earn?
Affiliate income is rarely fast money. It builds slowly.
A single camera sale might earn a modest commission. But if you publish helpful content regularly, and it ranks in search or performs well on YouTube, it can become steady background income.
Some photographers earn enough to cover software costs. Others build it into a few hundred pounds a month. A small number turn it into a full-time income by combining blogs, YouTube and digital products.
A simple way to start
Keep it simple.
- Write one honest post about the gear you actually use.
- Sign up for one affiliate programme.
- Add clear, helpful links.
- Share the post properly.
Then repeat.
Affiliate marketing works best when it grows alongside your photography, not instead of it. If you are already talking about cameras, lenses, editing tools or printing, you are halfway there.
Featured image by The Lazy Artist Gallery via Pexels
