All About Landscape Photography

Have you ever looked at the stunning photos from National

Geographic and wanted to capture these exquisite nature
images? Landscape photography captures the beauty of the great
outdoors. A great landscape photograph can convey great
emotions and make the viewer immerse themselves into the
scenery.

For many photographers, they love capturing landscapes and

nature. You don’t need a model, props, or any people in the shot.
There are many pros to getting into landscape photography,
including the peaceful and meditative quality of your subject matter
and having the potential of incorporating travel into your work.
Looking to add landscape photography into your online portfolio
website? In this guide, you’ll find everything from taking a great
landscape photo, to how you might end up selling your work.

If you’re a lover of the great outdoors and a photography buff, the

prospect of a career as a landscape photographer is probably pretty
exciting. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to entering
the world of landscape photography, keep reading.

What Is the Definition Of

Landscape Photography?
The definition of landscape photography is very broad. When you
hear the term, it probably evokes the image of a vast horizon or
towering mountain. While those types of shots are classic examples
of landscape photography, there are plenty of other types of
images that can also be given the same name. Some photographers
even include architectural photography as a kind of landscape
photography, specifically urban landscape photography.

While all landscape photography captures the outdoors, not all

outdoor photography is necessarily landscape photography. Nature
photography, for example, tends to focus on specific aspects of the
natural world such as animals or plant life.

Like most genres of photography, there are plenty of examples that

blur the distinction between landscape and nature photography,
but as a general rule landscape photography tends to capture a
wider scene. An animal might appear somewhere on the horizon of
a landscape photo, but if the image is a closely cropped shot of the
animal, that would be considered a nature photo.

Another defining feature of landscape photography is the relative

lack of equipment required compared to other types of
photography. All a landscape photographer typically requires is a
camera, the right lens, and a tripod. Since the scenes they shoot are
expansive, it’s impossible to light them. Landscape photographers
have to work with the natural lighting conditions available to them
on the day they shoot.

Similarly, they can’t change their image by moving things around

until it’s just right the way a studio photographer or someone
shooting people can. They have to work with nature as it is, so often
the only way to get a shot is to travel to the right location at the
right time of day, or right time of year. In some ways, this makes
landscape photography more accessible than many other types of
photography. You don’t need access to a studio or much fancy
equipment, you just need a camera, a tripod, and a scene that
inspires you.
The Difference Between
Landscape and Nature
Photography
The definition of landscape photography can be quite broad.
Mountains and oceans, nature and urban—these can all be
considered landscape photography. When it comes to identifying
the difference between landscape photography and nature
photography, it’s important to take a closer look at what each of
them are.

What is Landscape
Photography?
Simply put, landscape photography captures the beauty of nature
and the outdoors. These photographs bring the viewers into the
scenery and perfectly captures the setting, mood, and feeling in the
location.

Whether you’re capturing a panorama or wide-angle of a mountain,

or a close detail of a patch of beautiful grass, landscape
photography shows the photographer’s connection with nature. The
photographs make you feel what the photographers are feeling
when they are at the location.
What is Nature Photography?
Nature photography is also often referred to as landscape
photography, although it’s more accurate to consider it a subset of
nature photography. While this category broadly includes wildlife
photography and other types of close-up outdoor photography,
landscape photography is all about bringing the viewer into the
world you are capturing with your camera. It can certainly include
other subjects, such as flowers and animals, but from a vantage
point that captures the broader setting.
What Are The Different Types
Of Landscape Photography

Mountain Photography

Some of the most iconic images in landscape photography are

mountain shots. The famous 20th century American landscape
photographer Ansel Adams created images that elevated landscape
photography to an important art form and venue for exploring the
importance of environmental conservation, and many of these were
mountain landscapes.

A unique challenge within mountain photography is that it can be

difficult to reach the vantage points needed to get the best shot
possible. This makes it important to travel light, without many
cumbersome lenses or camera bodies.

Seascape Photography
Oceans, seas and other large bodies of water make for excellent
landscape photography subjects. They’re dynamic and usually in
motion, so you can get very different shots shooting from the same
location depending on the time of day and weather conditions.
Experimenting with long shutter times to capture the motion of
water can make for fantastic shots, as can finding locations with
interesting features such as stones protruding from the water.
Coastal Photography
Coasts are places of contrast, making for some perfect
opportunities for landscape photography. The types of shots you
can capture will depend on the specific coast you are
photographing; you may be able to find a position from above to
shoot downward, or you may get some more closely cropped shots
of waves crashing on the coast.

Desert Photography
If you’re lucky enough to be able to travel to a desert, the warm
color palette, psychedelic shapes, and unique textures are sure to
inspire you. You will have to deal with some harsh conditions to get
the shot, but the incomparable quality of desert landscape photos is
worth the challenge.

Cloudscape Photography
Here’s a type of landscape photography you can start
experimenting with no matter where you are in the world. Getting
the hang of how to work in different lighting situations when
shooting cloudscapes can take a bit of practice, but using a
polarizing filter can help you get more detail and contrast in your
shot.

Forest Photography
Forests may not be the first location you think of when it comes to
landscape photography because the tightly packed trees obscure
the horizon and the wider field of view. However, they’re full of
interesting lines and light conditions, and you can also play around
with shooting from outside of the forest and capturing its periphery.
Panorama Photography
No matter what the subject of your landscape shot is, you can take
it to the next level by shooting a panorama of it. Some newer
cameras have a panorama setting that automatically stitches
together a series of images as you pan across the scene, but if yours
doesn’t, you can stitch together several photos in post production.

Astrophotography
Astrophotography can be combined with other types of landscape
photography for dramatic effect. You can silhouette any other
landscape, such as the treeline of a forest or a rock formation,
against a sky filled with stars that aren’t typically visible to the naked
eye. To get the best results with these kinds of shots, you need a
very slow shutter speed (several seconds minimum), so a quality
tripod and shutter remote are a must to avoid camera shake.

Sunrise and Sunset Photography

Both sunrise and sunset offer beautiful colors and light conditions,
which can enhance any other landscape photo you’re taking. You
can use sunrise or sunset to silhouette your landscape against the
warm colors of the sky, or you can make the sun itself the focus of
your landscape shot.

Aerial Photography
Aerial photography opens up a whole new way to approach the
same landscape. Shots that would have been very difficult and
expensive to capture before the wide accessibility of drone
photography can now be created by any landscape photographer
who is willing to get familiar with using drones in their photography
workflow.
Now, instead of hiking to remote spots to get that perfect
landscape snap, you may be able to let your drone make the last leg
of the trip.

Storm Photography
When it comes to storms, some landscape photographers love the
thrill of the chase. Storm chasing can get you access to some once
in a lifetime shots of extreme or unusual weather events, such as
tornadoes. This type of photography can be potentially dangerous
given the unpredictable nature of storms, and landscape
photographers can spend a lot of time planning to make sure
they’re in a location where they’ll get the most impressive image
possible.

Urban Photography
Urban landscape photography is a type of city photography that
aims to capture wide shots of cityscapes rather than single urban
subjects such as a building or street scene. The aim is to provide an
overall impression of the urban environment, rather than the
specifics of a city scene.

Representational Photography
Regardless of which kind of landscape photography you’re
shooting, if you’re trying to create a faithful rendering of the scene
as it really was, the result is representational landscape
photography. The effect of this type of landscape photography is to
transport the viewer into the scene and give them some sense of
the feeling of really having been there.
Abstract Photography
In contrast to representational landscape photography, abstract
landscape photography abstracts the scene, focusing on colors,
textures, and shapes created by the landscape to make something
new, to evoke an emotion, or simply to create an aesthetically
pleasing image.

Which Camera is Best for

Landscape Photography?
DSLRs, point-and-shoot, and film cameras are all capable of taking
breathtaking landscape images. Keeping in mind your experience
level and budget, be sure you’re considering the following features
when choosing the best camera for landscape photography that can
make a big difference to photographing landscapes:

 Megapixels: go for high-resolution so you can be sure to

capture every detail

 Dynamic range: find one with a wide DR so you can capture

more details and spend less time in your camera settings

 Full frame sensor: not a necessity, but cameras with one will
provide stellar image quality

 High ISO range: allows you to shoot in low light. This is

particularly important for nighttime photography and
astrophotography

 Live view display: make composition easier

  Weather sealing and durability: try to find a camera that can
withstand the elements and the wear and tear that comes with
location scouting

Some great choices include:

Nikon D850, $2999.95

If you’ve got the budget, this option has an extremely high quality
sensor and can even shoot 4K and 8K time-lapse sequences,
allowing you to bring your nature photos to life.

Canon EOS 6D II, $1399.00

You don’t have to pay top dollar for an excellent full-frame camera:
this option is more affordable, while still featuring an excellent
sensor, weather sealing, and a relatively light build making it easier
to carry around with you.

Sony a600, $549.99

If you want a super-light, quick-focusing, sharp and affordable

option, the Sony a6000 is a favorite for a reason. Even though
they’ve released newer bodies, this remains a top seller and a great
choice for landscape photographers.

What is the Best Lens for

Landscape Photography?
In short, wide-angle lenses. Landscape photographers suggest
anything 30 mm and below, however, if you’re capturing far off
distance, telephoto lenses (85mm to 300mm +) are another option
to consider. Beginner photographer doing some dabbling? A
standard lens (18-85mm) would absolutely work too. Something to
consider, the narrower the lens, the wider and flatter the photo will
appear.

Personal preference and style also come into play, so don’t be

intimidated by the options. Compare your own past photography
and other image richpages to help you along the decision making
process. From Canon and Nikon to Sony and Sigma, choose from a
selection of great lenses for landscape photography that can truly
bring your style to life.

What Are Some Landscape

Photography Examples?
To get a sense of the wide variety of images that can be created in
the landscape photography genre, it helps to look at the online
portfolios of the best landscape photographers. From traditional to
fine art, realistic to abstract, and documentary to commercial, there
are endless ways to approach the world of landscape photography.

Bartosz Koszowski
Poland-born, Baltimore-based photographer and videographer
Bartosz Koszowski has an approach to landscape photography that
makes it easy to get lost in time scrolling through his portfolio. An
avid traveler, the range of images in his portfolio are a great
example of what it means to see the world like a landscape
photographer: beautiful images are available almost anywhere you
look, as long as you know how to see the potential.
Format theme used: Offset

Micky Wiswedel
Micky Wiswedel is an award-winning South African photographer
whose work focuses on outdoor, extreme sport, documentary and
lifestyle photography. His portfolio provides a great example of how
landscape photography can be incorporated into a commercial
photography career, particularly for outdoor and sport brands.
Aspiring landscape photographers may think that the best path to a
paying career in the field is through something like travel or nature
documentary photography, but there are plenty of commercial and
advertising possibilities as well.

Format theme used: Amazon

Adam Raymaker
For an example of a stunning approach to fine art landscape
photography, look no further than the portfolio of Brooklyn-based
photographer Adam Raymaker. While his portfolio features some
more traditional landscapes, the collections Peace by
Peace and Surface Semblance are abstracted to the point that you
might not immediately realize you’re viewing an ocean landscape.
They are gorgeous as standalone fine art pieces that would be at
home in a gallery or displayed on a wall at home, and viewed
together they provide a completely new way of looking at
something familiar.

Format theme used: Iris

Do I Need a Tripod for
Landscape Photography?
It depends. If you want the option to shoot long exposures, use
slower shutter speeds and higher apertures, a tripod will ensure you
have the option to get the best detail. After choosing your camera
and lens, consider tripods based on your needs. Do you prefer
lightweight carbon or portable models for, or would you settle for
the standard metal kind? Cost, ease of use are conversations to
have with yourself.

Ready to complete your gear kit? From protecting against the

elements and keeping your equipment powered up, to finding the
right density filter, level up with these landscape photography
accessories.

Types of Landscape
Photography
The two types of landscape photography we are all probably most
familiar with are nature and urban, from wide shots to close ups,
both are popular environments for landscape photographs.

Nature Photography
As mentioned, nature is the scene most commonly associated with
landscape photography. From earth to sky, desert to the Milky Way,
the sky really is the limit when considering the natural scene you are
wanting to capture, and nature photography absolutely can fall
under a type of landscape photography.

Urban Photography
For lack of a better definition, urban photography concerns itself
with parts of the world that are man made, but it can still absolutely
classify as landscape photography. Structures such as buildings,
roads, sculpture, architecture as a whole, are common subjects for
photographers to utilize when composing their images. Oftentimes,
photographers may refer to this as architectural urban landscape.

How Do You Get Started In

Landscape Photography?
If you’re interested in pursuing landscape photography
professionally, it’s definitely possible to do so without obtaining a
degree in photography. Going the education route may have some
benefits, and it is one way to develop your skills as a photographer,
but it isn’t the only way.

Whichever way you choose to go about building a career as a

landscape photographer, creating a strong online portfolio that
showcases your technical skills, creative eye, and unique style as a
photographer in the genre is among the most important things you
can work on. The only way to do this is with regular practice and by
taking a ton of photos.

Getting Started by Studying Photography

Many landscape photographers have a formal educational
background in photography, and there are some perks to going this
route if you have the time, resources, and interest. You can find a
degree program at an art school, or, for less of a commitment, look
for individual courses in skills that you’d like to improve upon.

By pursuing a degree in photography you’ll be exposed to many

genres within the field, not just landscape photography. However, if
landscape photography is your main interest, you can always try to
weave it into as many of your assignments and projects as possible.

As a landscape photographer, you won’t be shooting in a studio

setting, so you don’t necessarily need to be a pro at studio
photography, directing models, editing skin tones, and other skills
that are essential if you were to focus on, say, portrait photography.
Instead, you’ll need to understand how to work in different natural
lighting conditions, and all the ins and outs of how your camera
settings will impact your final image. It’s less about fancy and
complicated equipment, and more about becoming a pro at the
fundamentals.

Another area in which getting some formal education may help is

with post-production. Many landscape photos really come together
in the editing process, where you can draw out the different colors,
textures, and contrasts of the environment.

Of course, the downside to going through a photography program

is that they can be costly and take up time that you might be better
spending visiting different locations to build up your landscape
photography portfolio. If you know you want to get super focused
on landscape photography specifically, a general photography
program may feel too broad.

Getting Started as a Self Taught Portrait Photographer

If you’re more of the learn-it-yourself type, you can absolutely build
up a stellar landscape photography career and start pursuing
commissions, selling prints, or booking jobs without the need for a
formal degree. Whatever you choose to do, to truly master the craft
of landscape photography, you have to spend time outside of the
classroom shooting. That’s the best way to develop a deep
understanding of how to best capture the landscapes before you.

Part of standing out as a landscape photographer is developing a

look or style that people associate with you. Whether it’s the tones
and colors you bring out in your photos, the types of landscapes
you shoot, your unique framing, or something else about your
images that makes them yours, having an aesthetic or thematic
thread that ties together the images in your portfolio will help
potential clients know what they can expect if they hire you. The
best way to develop your look is, of course, by shooting and
experiementing with your craft.

As a self taught landscape photographer there are tons of resources

available to you to help you improve your skills and your eye.
Things like YouTube videos and articles can go a long way in
helping you fill any gaps in your technical knowledge. Spending
time studying the landscape portfolios of other photographers you
admire, and identifying what it is about their images that makes
them work, can help you zero in on the kinds of images you’d like
to create yourself.

One of the nice things about school that you miss out on as a self-
taught photographer is the quality, honest feedback from other
professionals. Constructive criticism can be a powerful learning tool,
so if you can find some other way to get it as a self taught
photographer, you’ll only become better at your craft.

One way to do this is by submitting your work to publications and

contests. You may not get the most detailed feedback, but it can
help give you a better understanding of which of your images
resonate most with a wider audience.

Establishing Your Landscape Photography Career

The best way to go about getting paid clients as a landscape
photographer will depend on the type of landscape photography
you want to do. If your landscape photography leans more in the
direction of art photography, your approach will be different than if,
say, you were targeting sportswear clients for commercial gigs.

No matter what kind of landscape photograph you plan to do, it’s

essential to have a thoughtfully curated portfolio that showcases
your best work and gives the viewer a good sense of the breadth of
your skills. You’ll be sharing your landscape photography portfolio
widely, so you want it to be an excellent representation of your
abilities.

If you want to sell prints and show your work in galleries, you’ll
need to get involved in your local art scene and look for
opportunities to show your work. Getting your work published can
also help your career, since having publications to your name can
help legitimize you and show that there is a wider audience for your
work.

If you’re planning to explore a more commercial route, landscape

photographers are regularly commissioned by tourism boards to
create images for advertising their region. Travel and nature
publications are also potential clients. Finally, you can pitch to
brands that have products that can be advertised with landscape
imagery, such as car companies and outdoor gear companies.
Whichever of these is most in line with the kind of work you want to
be doing, make sure you’re gearing your portfolio toward that kind
of imagery.
How To Photograph
Landscapes
While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to nature
photography, there are a few tips and techniques that you can
implement if you want to take nature photos that really stand out.
As with all types of photography, your skills as a nature
photographer, wildlife photographer, or landscape photographer
will improve the more you get out there and flex your photography
muscles.

Try implementing some of these tips the next time you head
outside with your camera:

Play With Depth and Layers

When experimenting with landscape photography, incorporating
different elements in your shot will keep the picture interesting. You
can do this by creating a sense of depth and positioning yourself so
that the photo has different layers. For example, you could shoot a
mountain head-on, or you could shoot it from a vantage that
includes some other elements, such as a flower field or stream
leading to the main subject, in the foreground.

By using this tip, your photos will have more visual interest and
complexity. The key to creating depth in your landscape nature
photos is shooting at a small aperture to make sure the whole
picture is sharp. Go to your camera settings for aperture, also
known as the f-stop, and make sure it’s set to a number of 16 or
higher. Below this, you may end up with part of the picture being
blurred.
Include Movement
Another way to make your nature photos more interesting is to
capture movement. If you’re shooting around moving water, set
your shutter speed to a long setting, like two seconds, and you’ll get
a cool dramatic effect that evokes speed. To do this you’ll have to
use a tripod, and we’ll get into more detail on the type of gear you’ll
need for nature photography later in the article.

If you’re lucky enough to be shooting in a part of the world with

active wildlife, you can try these techniques to capture animal
movement in the shot.

Capture Reflections
No moving body of water? No problem! Still, water can make for
some amazing nature photos too, doubling the scene in the
reflection. You won’t be able to capture a reflection at any time of
day, however. To do this, avoid harsh light and shoot either shortly
after dawn or before dusk to get the best reflections. This way,
you’ll also get the beautiful warm evening light or the serene and
cool color palette of the morning.

Play With Silhouettes

Incorporate some silhouette photography into your landscape
shooting sessions. There are lots of creative ways to do this, from
silhouetting animals against an evening sky to doing some urban
landscape photography and scoping out the perfect skyline to
shoot. No matter your subject, a good rule of thumb with this type
of photography is that the more distinct the subject is, the better.

For example, if you’re capturing the silhouette of a dog, the photo

will turn out much better if the dog is in profile so that you can get
an ice crisp silhouette than if they’re facing you. A tree with a
distinct shape will likely look better than a bunch of dense trees,
which may just come out a dark blob in your final photo.

To capture a silhouette photo, you’ll need the light to be coming

towards you from behind your subject. For this reason, shooting
when the sun is low tends to work best.

Shoot at Different Times of Day

As you’ve probably gathered by now, each time of day offers its
own unique color temperature and lighting conditions that allow for
different types of photos. An image taken at the same location with
the same equipment can look very different in the morning, at high
noon, in the evening, and at night. That’s one of the fun parts of
landscape photography and nature photos more broadly: you’re not
in a controlled studio setting, so you can never be sure what you’re
going to get. The element of discovery and surprise makes it all the
more rewarding.

Choose Different Subjects

When you think of landscape photography, photos of famous
national parks and wide open spaces probably are conjured in your
mind. However, you don’t have to live in a natural wonderland to
capture stunning landscape images. Sometimes the best photos are
of unexpected subjects, so search for scenes that are available to
you. It may be a local park or wild area, or it could even be a
cityscape close to your home.

Remember the Rules of Composition

Sure, rules may be made to be broken, but it’s a good idea to
master them first before you come up with creative ways to break
them. The same general photography composition tips and
techniques that apply elsewhere are also valid when it comes to
nature photography. A few rules that will help you compose nicely
balance and visually appealing images include:

 the rule of thirds, or placing points of interest in your image

along the thirds of your frame

 leading lines, or featuring line shapes such as roads to draw

the eye toward your main subject

 symmetry, or maintaining symmetrical balance in the image

While there are plenty of great nature photos that break one or
more of these rules, there’s a reason these composition tips come
up again and again. Our eyes tend to be pleased by balanced and
well-composed photos, so beginners are best off making sure they
compose their subjects according to these techniques.

Can I Make Money with

Landscape Photography?
The short answer: yes! The way photographers make money has
been shifting for years, but that shouldn’t turn you off.

Firstly, social media and a website are arguably necessities for

landscape photographers to gain notoriety, share their work, and be
digitally introduced to clients. You can use your social media
platform as an outlet to attract potential clients. Perhaps
your landscape photography may be the secret to growing your
followers on social media.
Now, if you already have a solid or growing portfolio you are
sharing online, check out the ways photographers are selling their
work.

1) Stock Sites
Stock Sites such as Getty, Shutterstock, iStock, Adobe and more are
sites to all consider. When doing your research, look for royalty
rates and potential exclusivity rights. You’ll also want to take a look
at how you can create stock photography that sells. You can make
small adjustments and post-production edits to create stock images
that work well for the public to use.

2) Sell Prints
Prints are a great way to digitally showcase and hopefully sell your
work. Plus, eliminating the gallery or buyer means you don’t get hit
with a commission fee.

3) Commissions or Assignments
Publishers, tourism bureaus and ad agencies are some places worth
looking into if you want to make money as a landscape
photographer. When you have a portfolio to share (agencies and
bureaus) or an idea or body of work to pitch (publishers), this is
ideal when you can start your reach-outs. Once you’ve bagged an
assignment or commission, here are some budgeting
considerations to ponder when quoting on a job.

If you’re budgeting a quote for a potential commission, consider the

following:

 Your hourly, day or project rate

  Gear costs (the camera, lens, tripod and accessories
mentioned above)

 Travel time

 Location access e.g. national park fee

 Licensing fees, per image

 Editing or post-processing fee, per image

4) Contests
Contests are a great way to gain notoriety. On top of that, many
photo contests involve a monetary component. Enter as many as
you can, just be wary of accumulating entry fees. Photo Contest
Guru is a great one-stop-shop for upcoming contests, deadlines,
and requirements.

What Should I Include in my

Nature Photography
Portfolio?
Once you’ve taken all those awesome nature photos, it’s time to put
them together and present them in an online portfolio. But how do
you decide what to include?

While a photography portfolio is a must for any serious

photographer, you don’t necessarily want to just throw every
photograph you’ve ever taken up. It’s important to be a bit selective
about which photos to include.

Try choosing one or two images of each subject you’ve shot, rather
than a ton of photos from each session. Identify the very best of the
bunch, and put that one up.

Consider limiting the number of pictures to 20 or so, so as to not

overwhelm your visitors. If including a large number of photos,
make sure you choose a website builder with templates that make it
easy to create distinct galleries, so that you can neatly organize
them in a way that won’t make viewers feel like there is too much
content to sift through.

Where Can I Sell My Nature

Photography?
Why not make some money with those landscape shots you’ve
been taking? A great way to earn passive income from your
photography is to set up an online store. Adding an eCommerce
component to your online portfolio will make it easy for you to sell
prints of your favorite shots. Since landscape photography is so well
suited to interior decoration, it’s a perfect choice for an online print
store.

You can also submit your photography to nature magazines and

travel magazines for consideration.

Finally, selling your images to stock photography websites is

another great way to earn extra money from your landscape
photography.
Landscape photography can be a great addition to your
photography business. If you’re a new photographer just starting
your career, you may also want to explore this niche to build
your landscape photography portfolio. Building your business will
take time but there are lots of great potential for landscape
photography.

How Do You Price Your

Landscape Photography?
We’ve discussed a number of different professional directions you
can take with your landscape photography, and your pricing
strategy will vary depending on which one you choose. For example,
as a fine art landscape photographer, your income may come
primarily from selling work at galleries, selling prints, and potentially
contributing to publications.

In this case, the questions to ask yourself as you come with your
pricing strategy will include:

1. What kind of art are you selling? Will it be unframed, or

mounted and framed? How large are the prints? Printing,
mounting and framing photographs can get quite expensive,
so you want to make sure you’re making a fair profit after all
of the costs.

2. Can you develop a relationship with an agent or gallery? If so,

they may take a significant cut (average 30-60%) on any works
sold, but they also may be able to help you command a much
higher rate if they are reputable and can promote your work
to a high paying clientele.
 3. What does similar work sell for? It’s a good idea to do some
research into comparable fine art landscape photographers to
get a sense of how you can reasonably price your work.

Additionally, you can consider taking on some commercial work to

round out your income (and your portfolio).

If you’re planning to focus on commercial clients such as tourism

boards and brands, your pricing strategy will be less focused on
individual prints. Instead, you’ll likely take into account the
following:

1. Location. Landscape photography involves travel, which can

get costly. Your pricing strategy should include compensation
for any travel expenses, and a per diem for food and other
daily expenses.

2. Number of deliverable images. For each landscape

photograph, you’ll likely be spending quite a bit of time in
post production to get it looking just right. This is especially
true for commercial photographs, which need to be very
polished and adhere to a specific content brief. Each extra
deliverable image will add editing time to your workload, so
make sure your pricing is clear with respect to the cost of each
extra image.

3. Commercial licensing. If you’re shooting for a brand or a

tourism board, you’ll also be licensing your images for
commercial use. You can offer a few different licensing
options, with the more expensive ones granting your client
more usage rights.

When it comes to working with travel or nature magazines, the

publications typically have set budgets for each image or series. You
may not have as much bargaining power as you would with a
commercial client, however, you may be able to repurpose photos
you’ve already taken by selling them to magazines and publications.

Finally, stock photography can be another way to increase your

income as a landscape photographer. By uploading your landscape
images to stock websites such as Getty Images, you can potentially
earn an income off those images for years to come as they are
licenced by users. Stock image license fees won’t be as high as
those for your commercial clients, but there is the potential to
license the same image many times over.

However you decide to go about earning money as a landscape

photographer, there’s no doubt that it’s one of the most thrilling
and rewarding types of photography out there. The natural world
will always be fascinating to gaze upon, so there’s always an
audience for the work of landscape photographers, and landscape
shots will always have a place in the commercial world for selling
products to an audience of nature lovers. Now you just have to get
out there and start building up that portfolio!