Digital nomads, you come across them in more and more places. A laptop and an Internet connection is all they need to work location independent. But how do traveling photographers actually do it? In this article you will read how to become a digital nomad as a photographer.
Some jobs are easier to do remotely than others. For example, web designers and developers don’t care where they work, but caregivers and cab drivers do. In addition, you also have another category of professions that, with the necessary adjustments, you can do as a digital nomad.
For example, a teacher may choose to teach online from abroad, but a photographer may equally choose to work elsewhere on the globe. The trick is in adapting your job so that you can do it anywhere. Or, if you are still starting out: create your own remote job as a photographer!
Curious about how to make money with photos? Read here how to become a photographer!
Opportunities for digital nomad photographers
Being able to take good photos is one thing, being able to make money from them is another. And doing that location independent is a challenge next level. Yet this is not impossible, as there are a lot of people who work as photographers while traveling! How about the following options?
1. Doing photography assignments abroad
Photographers, who are self-employed, can do photo shoots in other countries. In principle, if you are a photographer in Belgium or the Netherlands doing an assignment for someone, you can do it just as well somewhere else. Think wedding photography or jobs for other digital nomads. Really, there are photographers who travel the world to capture newlyweds on film!
Perhaps not unimportant to know: you can do this if you are effectively self-employed. This is because it allows you to prepare invoices. Taking assignments within the European Union is a little easier than outside. If you choose to do this, familiarize yourself well with local regulations.
2. Traveling as a photojournalist for media
Some photographers are very good at making journalistic reports or documentaries. They may work for regular clients. For example, a lot of domestic and foreign media work with photographers for articles that appear online or in print.
Advantage of this option: you have regular clients. Disadvantage: you have a little less freedom.
3. Selling photos through print on demand
As a digital nomad, you get to the most amazing places. And if you have photographic talent, you might just shoot the most beautiful images there! Some of those photos, people would just want to have them on their walls. And to be able to help those people get good posters or framed photos, you can sell your online work.
To make things easier for people, these days there are a lot of companies that take over the entire production and shipping process for you. As a photographer, all you have to do is upload the finished photos on a server. If you use such a service, you are working with print on demand. One example is the Dutch company Werkaandemuur, known in the rest of the EU as Art Heroes.
Want to outsource selling photos, too? Then find out here how to sell photos online via print on demand!
4. Selling photos yourself
Such a print on demand service is a lot of fun, but you only keep a commission per photo. If you want more profit per photo, consider the following: make sure you return to the same place often and build a clientele there that is interested in your images. Also, arrange a good contact with a local photo lab that can print your images with high quality.
This really involves doing a lot yourself: contacting the printer, handling the shipping process yourself, billing, doing your own promotion and maintaining ties with your customer base. This is very time and labor intensive and not for everyone.
5. Combining your job as a photographer with something else
Making money from photography is something many people can do, but living from it is something else. If you want to live your own dream life as a digital nomad photographer, you can also choose to supplement it with something related. Maybe you not only make great images, but also have a rock-solid pen! A win-win situation, because that way you can offer your services as a photographer and copywriter! Or you might choose the journalistic direction: you provide both photography and text for the media!
Whichever path you choose, having your own website is a must. Don’t have your own photography website yet? Then read how to build your own photography website here.
Conclusion
If you aspire to a digital nomad lifestyle, then photographer is not the easiest profession to combine travel and work. Still, a lot of possibilities exist. To keep it interesting for yourself, you can be creative about this. For example, it may be worthwhile to offer your services as a photographer in combination with another discipline.
Note: these days I am no longer a digital nomad. Still, I hope to inspire others with this article.
Article updated July 30, 2025.