Turn Passion into Profit: How to Make Money with Photoshop

Hey there! I’m Cara and even after years as a professional photographer and designer, I’m still amazed by some of the stuff Photoshop can do. Plus, with the updates included in the subscription, it keeps getting better every year. 

If you’ve spent any time on PhotoshopBuzz.com, you’re getting an idea of all the amazing things you can do with Photoshop. Let me tell you, though, you’ve barely scratched the surface.

If you’re like me, you love exploring all that Photoshop offers as well as being creative with the software. What if you could turn that passion into profit? Is there a way to make money with Photoshop?

Grab your favorite drink and sit back because have I got a list for you! There are so many Photoshop business ideas. We’ll go through a bunch here and hopefully one (or some) will stand out to you.

Let’s get started!

1. Photoshop Tutorials

Let’s start with an idea that I know works. Take a spin around PhotoshopBuzz.com and you’ll see my name on a lot of articles. I’ve been writing Photoshop tutorials for over a year now and I’ve made some pretty decent money. 

And I’m not the only one. Not only are there other writers on our site, but also browse YouTube or Google. You’ll see quite a few folks who are finding a lot of success teaching others how to use Photoshop.

“But isn’t the market saturated?” You might ask. 

Yeah, there are a lot of teachers already out there, but Photoshop is constantly changing. Beginners need new or updated articles and videos all the time to keep up. 

Plus, everyone learns a little differently. Your way of explaining will appeal to some people who might not like any of the other options out there. 

2. Fonts

The font used to write a statement can completely change the tone of it. Take a look at the following as an example. The first one seems cutesy and whimsical whereas the second is much more formal.

There are many options for making or tweaking fonts. You can design new fonts in Photoshop or draw them on paper and scan them into Photoshop for the finishing touches. Then, you can sell them online to folks who are looking for specific new fonts. 

3. Photoshop Actions

Photoshop is fun but nobody likes doing the same tasks over and over again. It is mind-numbing and such a waste of time. 

That’s why Photoshop allows us to record our actions and run them on other images. You can record anything you do that requires a number of steps. Then you can run those actions on other images without having to go through every little step manually.

Chances are, other people would appreciate the actions you’ve created for yourself. You can then sell them on sites like Creative Market or FilterGrade.

If you’re interested in learning how to create actions or how to use them, also read:

How to Create Actions in Photoshop

What is a Photoshop Action and How to Use It

4. Freelance Editing

Lots of people would love to enhance their photos but don’t necessarily have the editing skills to do it. There are many sites online like Fiverr and Upwork where you can offer your editing services to these folks. 

It can take a bit to get started on these platforms. Without reviews or much of a reputation, it’s tough to get hired. But if you’re willing to start slow with lower prices, you can build up to making a decent wage. 

You don’t have to be an expert at all things photo editing either. You can post your skills for the certain types of editing you are good at. It helps to niche down anyway. Showing the audience that you’re an expert in your area makes them more likely to pick you over someone else. 

5. Photo Restorations

Do you love the challenge of putting together the pieces of an old photo? Many people have precious photographs that have been damaged by the effects of time and would love a photo restoration service that could restore them.

Furthermore, museums, historical societies, and similar entities always need old photos to be restored. These places are a great source of ongoing work.  

6. Website Themes

Did you know that you can design a website theme in Photoshop? 

Every day, approximately 252,000 websites are added to the Internet and many of those website owners have no idea how to design a site. So they buy a website theme. 

You can create website themes in Photoshop. To sell them as a theme, you’ll also need to know how to turn them into code. If this part of the project is outside of your skillset, you could always hire a freelancer to help. 

7. Greeting Cards

You might assume that people don’t buy greeting cards anymore. However, you would be incorrect. Americans alone still spend between $7 and $8 billion on greeting cards every year. And they’re always hungry for fresh designs!

If you love coming up with snappy little phrases or poems, why not combine them with your digital art? 

You can sell greeting cards online through marketplaces like Etsy or sell the designs to an established greeting card company. 

8. Designs for POD

There’s a lot of work outside Photoshop for this one but it can be a lucrative income stream if you do it right. POD stands for Print on Demand. There are companies who will print your artwork/designs on hundreds of products like t-shirts, shoes, pillows, mugs, and much more. 

You can list your products on Etsy or open your own eCommerce store. Then, when somebody buys it, the POD company prints the product and ships it to the customers. 

It takes a lot of work to get it started, but once things are rolling you could earn a significant amount of money. 

I’m in the beginning stages of this endeavor right now. I’ll let you know how it goes in a few months! 

9. Mockup Images

If you dip your toes into the POD world, you’ll quickly discover the need for high-quality mockup images. These are images of products in a context that people can use to promote their eCommerce products. 

The images are made in such a way that the user can drop a new design on the product and use the same image to promote multiple products. You can create these images and set them up for people to use as mockups in Photoshop. Then you can sell the mockups on Etsy.

10. Stock Images

Creating stock images is another option. I’ve dabbled in this myself but have only made a few hundred dollars. Most sites like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock only pay the photographer a few cents or a few dollars depending on the type of license the customer buys. 

However, I don’t investigate stock image needs and tailor my images to fit those needs. If you did that and started selling en masse, you could potentially generate a solid passive income stream. 

There are stories of people making tens of thousands of dollars a year selling stock images. However, you will have to put in the work of uploading and keywording tens of thousands of images to make it to that point. 

But if you love taking photos, this could be a great way to turn your passion into profit. 

11. Social Media Graphics

Millions of small business owners are trying to connect with their audiences on social media. Many of them are frustrated with trying to produce a steady stream of content for their audiences to enjoy. 

Thus, they buy ready-made or customizable social media graphics, memes, or templates. They can quickly customize these and post them to their accounts without wasting hours on their social media campaigns. 

You can create these graphics in Photoshop and sell them on a marketplace like Etsy or Creative Market. 

12. Logo Creation

All those small business owners are also looking for unique logos. You can offer your services by designing logos to make your brands stand out among the crowd. 

As a bonus, social media graphics, mockups, ad designs, and other types of services are easy upsells. 

13. Document Templates

People love templates because they make their jobs easier. It’s so much quicker to whip up an email, resume, magazine, ebook, or invitation from a premade template. 

Plus, not everyone has the knowledge required to design amazing, professional-looking documents. But you do! And you can sell those designs in marketplaces or through your own store. 

14. Printables

Creating printables is an excellent source of passive income. You can have fun in Photoshop creating printable planners, journals, workbooks, and other digital products. Then you can sell them on Etsy or in your own store. 

It will take a little while to build a large enough library, but once you do, the potential earnings are impressive. 

Earning Money From Photoshop

Whew!

Did you keep up? Are the wheels spinning in your brain now, thinking of all the possibilities? There is a great need out there for photography and design. If you can find your little piece of real estate, you can make a good income doing something that you love. 

What if you haven’t nailed down Photoshop yet the way you would like? We have a whole bunch of tutorials here on PhotoshopBuzz.com to help you improve your skills. For example, do you know how to turn a photo into a watercolor painting? Check out how here!

About Cara Koch