Zenfolio Inc., the all-in-one platform built for photographers to showcase, sell, and grow their business, has released its 2025 State of the Photography Industry Report—a comprehensive survey and analysis revealing key trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the photography profession worldwide.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Zenfolio, the market leader in creative and business solutions for photographers, announced the release of its latest annual State of the Photography Industry Report. This year's survey saw participation from thousands of photographers across 89 countries, providing in-depth insights into industry trends, the business landscape, and future projections.
The 2025 report is the sixth study since its launch in 2021, reflecting an ongoing dedication to monitoring the ever-changing photography industry. Notably, this year's report took a more inclusive approach, categorizing photographers not only by specialty but also by accounting for their working methods. This refined methodology led to deeper, more meaningful insights than ever before. Collaborating with Zenfolio are four sponsor partners: Format, ShootProof, Professional Photographers of America (PPA), and the National Association of Portrait and Children's Photographers (NAPCP). By joining forces, these industry leaders have facilitated a comprehensive and inclusive examination of the current state of photography, ensuring that insights gleaned are robust and representative of the diverse experiences within the field.
The 2025 survey gathered insights from a wide range of individuals in the photography industry, including self-employed professionals, employees, both part-time and full-time workers, students, and others. The report reveals insights into the business models, revenue strategies, and market trends shaping photography businesses while providing actionable recommendations to position photographers for success in an ever-changing industry. From shifting revenue streams to the role of AI, this report captures how photographers are navigating change and finding opportunities for growth.
Read the entire report at no cost by clicking through to the State of the Photography Industry Report.
A few key highlights.
- Diversification is on the Rise as Photographers Seek Stability: Approximately 10% of photographers now operate across multiple business models (Client-based, Event/Sport-based, and Art/Production-based), indicating a trend toward diversification as a stability strategy.
- Flexibility Creates Opportunity: Photographers who adapted to unexpected opportunities—particularly in sports/event photography, corporate work, and specialized niches—reported finding valuable new revenue streams outside their original specialties
- Profitability Challenges: While 65-77% of photographers reported increased business costs in 2024, pricing increases haven't kept pace. This growing gap represents a potential threat to profitability that photographers must address through strategic pricing.
- Adoption of AI Tools on the Rise: As AI tools have become more commonplace, photographer sentiment and adoption has also grown over the years.
"In our sixth State of the Photography Industry survey since 2021, we've had the privilege of hearing from thousands of photographers who see and navigate changes in the photography industry firsthand," said John Loughlin, Zenfolio Inc. CEO. "This survey isn't just about tracking the latest trends—it's about really listening to photographers, learning from their experiences, and using those insights to better serve them. We're grateful to our sponsors for helping us reach more voices across the industry, and we hope this report provides valuable knowledge to all photographers as they run their businesses in an ever-evolving landscape."
Access the complete 2025 State of the Photography Industry Report here.
About Zenfolio
Zenfolio.com is the complete platform built for photographers to showcase and sell their beautiful work, promote their brand, and connect with clients. Trusted by creative professionals for 20 years, Zenfolio provides the tools and support they need to grow their business, and is dedicated to helping photographers succeed at every step of their journey.
Zenfolio brands and services include Format.com, a portfolio website solution with marketing and studio management tools for all creative professionals, PhotoRefine.ai, advanced AI technology that takes the work out of grouping, rating and culling images, PhotoBooker.com, a resource to find and book local photographers, and PrintsMarketplace.com, an online gallery that sells museum grade prints from artists and photographers around the world.
Media Contact
Amanda Burse, Zenfolio, 1 (650) 364-3423, [email protected], www.zenfolio.com
SOURCE Zenfolio
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