Affiliate Marketing For Photographers In Canada: 9 Best Programs
If you are a photographer and haven’t considered affiliate marketing, you are missing a huge opportunity. Especially if you have an established audience on social media, considering affiliate marketing for photographers can help you boost your income.
There are various programs available, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this guide, we will introduce you to some of the most popular ones and check their commission rates and strengths.
So, if you’re interested in earning money from your online presence, make sure to check out this guide.
9 Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Photographers
Many successful photographer-bloggers report a decent side income from affiliate programs, and some even make it a significant part of their revenue. Here are some of the best programs to join.
1. Amazon Associates (Amazon Affiliate Program)
One of the largest Affiliate marketing programs for photographers and other niches is the Amazon Associates (affiliate) program. On this program, you can earn commissions by linking to products on Amazon.ca.
Joining this program is free, and affiliates can find a wide range of products to promote, including cameras, lenses, drones, tripods, lighting, and even books or courses.
Pricing and Commission Model
For both sellers and affiliates, joining the Amazon Associate program is free. Commission rates on Amazon vary by category.
For the Camera & Photo category, the commission is around 4% per sale. Other photography-related categories like electronics or computers might be in the ~2-4% range.
However, the cookie duration is limited to only 24 hours. This means if someone clicks your Amazon affiliate link, you get credit for any purchase they make in the next 24 hours.
Pros
- Wide range of products
- High Conversion & Trust
- Easy to Use
- Free to join
Cons
- Low Commission Rates
- Short Cookie Window
- Strict Policies
2. B&H Photo Video Affiliate Program
One of the popular platforms among photographers and creators is B&H Photo. This online store allows affiliates to earn commission on sales from its website. There are over 450k products in their store, and after joining the platform, a team of expert campaign managers will give you advice on how to optimize your content and grow your audience.
Pricing and Commission Model
B&H Photo Video Affiliate marketing for photographers is free to join. Commission rates are typically 2% for most products, but for higher volumes or certain product lines, it can increase to up to 8%. The cookie duration is also officially listed as 30 days.
Pros
- Higher commissions for higher volumes (up to 8%)
- Longer Cookie
- Specialist Retailer Appeal
- International platform
- Expert campaign managers
Cons
- Lower Commission on Some Items
- Payment via US Networks
3. Adorama Affiliate Program
With over 250,000 products in their catalog, Adorma can be a great source of affiliate marketing for photographers. This US-based photo and electronics retailer has over 40 years of experience in the market and ships to Canada/internationally.
The program is typically managed via a network (Impact Radius as well, or in-house).
Pricing and Commission Model
Similar to previous programs, joining this affiliate program is free. Affiliates can get 2% to 10% commissions by promoting products. However, for most items, the commission rate is set at 2%. The cookie duration is also 30 days, similar to B&H.
Pros
- High Commission Potential
- 30-Day Cookie
- Wide Product Range & Services
- International Friendly
- Trusted in Industry
Cons
- Competition with B&H
- Low base commission rate
- Payment in USD
4. Henry’s (Henry’s Camera) Affiliate Program
Now, it’s time for a Canadian-based photography and electronics retailer with lots of stores across the country. In their affiliate marketing for photographers, creators can earn commissions by referring customers to Henry’s e-commerce site.
You can find a wide range of products to promote on their website, including cameras, lenses, drones, video gear, printers, accessories, etc.
Pricing and Commission Model
For affiliates, there is no cost to apply and join this program. The commission rate for Henry’s affiliate program is currently 5% per sale. The cookie duration was not explicitly published, but according to reviews, it’s approximately a 30-day cookie window.
Pros
- Ideal for Canadian Traffic
- Local Store Trust
- Good Cookie Duration
- Potentially Less Competition
Cons
- Lower Commission Rate
- Smaller Product Catalog
- Higher pricing compared to similar retailers.
5. Adobe Affiliate Program
The next affiliate program is a bit different from the previous ones. We are all familiar with Adobe, which makes Photoshop, Lightroom, and other Creative Cloud apps. This company runs Affiliate marketing for photographers, allowing them to earn commissions by referring people to Adobe’s subscriptions and products.
This company had some similar programs, such as Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan and Adobe Stock. On this program, affiliates need to drive traffic to Adobe’s product sign-up pages or free trial pages.
Pricing and Commission Model
Affiliates can join this program for free. They typically earn a one-time commission for each new subscription they drive. The commission rate is higher compared to similar tools, making it a great option for Affiliate marketing for photographers.
Affiliates can receive 85% of the first month’s subscription or 8.33% of the first year’s subscription. The cookie duration is also 30 days.
Note: While the 30-day cookie looks amazing, it’s the last-click attribution that matters. If someone clicks another Adobe affiliate or an Adobe ad after yours, you will lose the credit.
Pros
- High Payout per Sale
- Popular Products with Recurring Need
- Broad Creative Suite
- Marketing Support
- Global Reach
Cons
- One-Time Commission
- Potentially Saturated Market
- Strict Policies
- Cookie and Last Click
6. Skylum Luminar Affiliate Program
As an alternative to Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop, Skylum gained a lot of attention, especially for its AI-powered photo editing tools.
Skylum offers one-time purchase photo-editing software and subscriptions. Affiliates can earn commissions by promoting Luminar and other Skylum products. The program is often managed via their in-house system or networks like Impact.
Pricing and Commission Model
Joining the Skylum Luminar affiliate program is completely free, and commissions are typically one-time per sale. The base commission is 20% but has the potential to increase up to 45% for high-volume affiliates. The cookie duration is also 30 days.
Pros
- High Commission Rate
- Attractive Product for Photographers
- Dedicated Affiliate Support
- Coupon Code Tracking
Cons
- One-Time Purchase Market Limits
- Competition with Adobe
- Tracking and Payout via ShareASale/Impact
- Product Pricing Sensitivity
- Only Photo Software Niche
7. Canon Canada Affiliate Program
Many camera manufacturers host affiliate programs, and Canon is one of the most popular names in this industry. Affiliates can redirect users to Canon’s online store, where they sell cameras, lenses, printers, and accessories.
This affiliate marketing for photographers allows them to earn a commission through their links.
Pricing and Commission Model
The commission rate for Canon’s affiliate program in Canada is about 2.5% per sale, and affiliates can join for free. The cookie duration is also 15 days, shorter than the typical 30 days that many programs offer.
Pros
- Direct from Manufacturer Appea
- Canon’s Brand Power
- Low Competition for Link
- Support from Canon Marketing
Cons
- Low Commission Rate
- Shorter Cookie (15 days)
- Limited to Canon Products
8. DJI Affiliate Program
Another known manufacturer that hosts Affiliate marketing for photographers is DJI. On their website, you can view thousands of professional drones, gimbals (Osmo series), action cameras, etc, and they ship to many countries. Affiliates can apply via DJI’s site and generate affiliate links for different products.
Pricing and Commission Model
The main program offered by this company is similar to others on this list, where affiliates earn a commission for each purchase made through their link. Additionally, they occasionally run affiliate review programs, where they send new products to top affiliates for testing.
Joining the program is free, and affiliates can earn 2% to 5% commission based on product category. The cookie duration is also 30 days.
Pros
- High Average Order Value
- Strong Brand and Product Demand
- Global and Multi-language
- Affiliate-review Opportunities
Cons
- Lower Commission On Some Items
- Competition and Last Click
- Focus on DJI Only
- Strict Rules
9. SmugMug Affiliate Program
The list of Affiliate marketing for photographers without a platform where they can show their talents is incomplete. SmugMug is a popular platform for photographers to showcase galleries and even sell prints.
On its affiliate program, you can refer the platform to other photographers and earn commissions when they sign up for SmugMug plans. SmugMug’s program is managed via ShareASale and possibly other networks.
Pricing and Commission Model
The commission is 15% per sale of a SmugMug plan, and the plans are purchased annually. SmugMug’s plans range from roughly $75 to $360 per year, and the cookie duration is also 60 days.
Note: The commission on this platform is one-time on the first annual payment. This means if that user stays for years renewing, you don’t see any of that.
Pros
- High Conversion Potential
- Long Cookie (60 days)
- Dedicated Affiliate Support & Resources
- Aligns with Photographers Trust
- Not Overly Saturated
Cons
- Limited Audience – Only Photographers
- No Recurring Commission
- Competition from Other Platforms
- Reliant on SmugMug’s Reputation
Best Affiliate Platform for Photographers in Canada
Traditional affiliate platforms like Amazon Associates have some main drawbacks. Low commissions, short cookies, lack of direct communication, and a take-it-or-leave-it structure. That’s why Algorift was designed to help affiliates increase their income.
Algorift is not just another affiliate program; it’s an affiliate marketing platform specifically for Amazon that directly connects Canadian brands with affiliates in a collaborative marketplace. The platform allows businesses to offer different commissions, from 10% up to 40%, to affiliates.
The cookie duration is expanded to 30 days. But that’s not all! Affiliates have access to tracking and analytics tools to view the performance of their links and manage different programs. This direct, flexible, and community-driven approach has made Algorift popular for Affiliate marketing for photographers.
Conclusion
Affiliate marketing is a great way for photographers and related content creators to monetize their content. In this article, we introduced you to some of the best programs for affiliate marketing for photographers. Since photography is one of the best affiliate niches in Canada, by integrating affiliate marketing into your photography career or business strategy, you can boost your income.
FAQs
1. What Exactly Is Affiliate Marketing For Photographers?
Affiliate marketing for photographers is a marketing strategy where photographers promote products or services related to their niche. For every sale made through their affiliate links, they will receive a commission. This can include promoting cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, online storage solutions, printing services, etc.
2. How Do I Choose The Right Affiliate Programs For My Photography Content?
Choose programs that align closely with the content you create and the needs of your audience. Also, compare commission rates and cookies: some programs simply pay better or track longer, which means more potential earnings for you. For example, programs like Algorift offer higher commissions and 30-day cookie duration.
3. Are There Any Costs Or Requirements To Join Affiliate Programs?
Joining most affiliate programs is free, however, there are usually requirements for some of them. For example, on the Amazon Associate program, you need to have an active channel and generate 3 leads in the first 6 months.
