As photographers, we do so much behind the scenes to elevate our client experience.
We help them pick outfits, link products, suggest albums, and even drop our favorite gear when they ask.

We call it “being helpful.”
But it can also be profitable.

What if I told you the very things you’re already doing — outfit planning, product recs, gear suggestions — could generate $200–$500+ per month in passive income for photographers… without starting a blog, launching a course, or creating anything new?

Yep. It’s possible. And it starts with your client style guide.

What Is a Client Style Guide (And Why It’s the Secret to Affiliate Income)

If you photograph families, weddings, or even branding sessions, chances are you’ve created some kind of prep guide.

It might be:

• A PDF that goes out before a shoot

• A welcome email with outfit tips

• A blog post with styled outfit ideas (check out a few I have like my beach outfits, fall family outfits + engagement dresses)

• A “What to Wear” Pinterest board

• A full-blown digital magazine with style recs

If it includes product recommendations — dresses, shoes, cameras, albums, frames — you have a goldmine.
All you need to do is add affiliate links.

What Happened When I Added My Affiliate Links

I stumbled upon this by total accident. Clients were always asking me what they should wear for their session, so I started sending inspo but what I realized is while the inspo is great, they really wanted the links. So I decided to start curating links to exactly the inspiration I was creating for them. When I added my product links to my styling guide, I didn’t expect much.

But here’s what happened:
Clients were clicking.
They were buying.
And I started seeing commission emails come through like this:

• A client bought the $78 dress I recommended for their engagement session

• A bride ordered the cutest vow books for her wedding day

• Another couple bought the same camera I mentioned in a blog post

By the end of the month, I had a few hundred dollars in passive income — just from affiliate clicks. Whoo hoo!!! Hello, passive income steam I was dreaming of!

No new work. No extra effort. Just smarter linking.

This isn’t about one huge commission. It’s about building momentum across many small moments.

Here’s a breakdown:

• 5 clients buy an $80 dress = ~$80 in commission

• 3 clients buy a camera from a blog link = ~$300

• 1 wedding client adds an album via an affiliate link = ~$100

That’s $480 of income from links you placed once. And it repeats and works while you are sleeping. (ya, baby, that is passive income at work!)

shop the neutral fall family picture outfits

Here’s how to make it work:

• Make a list of what you already recommend
• Join affiliate programs
• Add links to your guides + email
• Mention it once
• Track and scale

That’s it.

You’re not selling.
You’re serving.
Just smarter.

Does This Really Work? (Yes. Even If You Only Shoot 2–3 Sessions a Month)

You don’t need hundreds of clients to make affiliate income work. I don’t have a huge Instagram following, email list or client base, and I am adding hundreds of dollars each month into my business.

Even 1–2 sessions a week can generate consistent clicks and more money into your bank account.

Want to learn how to monetize your client experience like this?

Grab my new free guide. “The Secret Income Stream: 5-Must Join Affiliate Programs for Photographers” to get started with affiliate marketing in your photo biz.