If you're a creative professional, you're already influencing purchasing decisions. Whether it's gear reviews, behind-the-scenes clips, or simple DMs, people trust your opinion.
What if you could earn passive income from those interactions?
That’s where affiliate programs come in.
This guide covers the best affiliate programs for creatives, especially photographers, videographers, and freelancers. You’ll learn how to choose the right programs, promote them authentically, and build recurring income without selling out.
Why Affiliate Programs Work So Well for Creatives
You don’t need a massive audience to make affiliate income work. You just need to recommend tools you believe in.
Turn Your Recommendations Into Revenue
You're likely already sharing what you use. Affiliate programs help you earn when someone buys through your link.
Build Passive Income
Content like tutorials or gear guides keep working for you long after they're posted.
Works Across All Creative Fields
Photographers, editors, and illustrators almost every creative, can benefit from affiliate marketing.
What Makes an Affiliate Program Worth Promoting?
The best affiliate programs share a few things in common:
Strong Commissions
Look for recurring revenue or high one-time payouts.
Long Cookie Duration
Longer tracking windows give your audience more time to decide.
Relevance
Only promote tools or gear that align with your content and audience.
Ease of Use
Clean dashboards, reliable tracking, and fast payouts make your life easier.
Best Affiliate Programs for Photographers
B&H Photo Video
Trusted by creatives for years. Great gear selection.
Commission: Up to 8% | Cookie: 30 days
Adorama
Similar to B&H, with strong creator support.
KEH Camera
A go-to for used gear. Ideal for creators helping beginners.
SmugMug & Pixpa
Platforms to host portfolios and sell prints. Great for upselling resources.
Skylum (Luminar) & Capture One
High-quality editing software. High payouts during promos.
Best Affiliate Programs for Videographers
GoPro
Perfect for vloggers and adventure filmmakers.
DJI
If you use drones, this is a no-brainer. High ticket = high commissions.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Everyone uses it. Recurring potential.
Commission: Up to 85% of the first-month payment
Moment
Lenses, filters, and mics. Known for aesthetic and creative gear.
Peak Design & Think Tank
Camera bags, tripods, and must-have accessories for creators.
Affiliate Programs for Tools You Already Use
Software often has the best commissions, especially when sold as a subscription.
Click Funnels
Landing pages and sales funnels.
Commission: Up to 80% of the first month
ConvertKit
Email marketing for creators. Recurring commissions.
HoneyBook
Proposals, contracts, and payments in one place. GET 30% OFF HERE →
Teachable & Podia
Great if you’re teaching others or creating digital products.
Gumroad
Sell templates, presets, ebooks, and more. Easy to use and creator-friendly.
Where to Find More Affiliate Offers
ShareASale
A broad mix of creative-friendly brands.
CJ Affiliate
Hosts Adobe, GoPro, and others. Reliable and data-rich.
Rakuten & ClickBank
More niche. Choose carefully based on alignment.
Amazon Associates
Low commission, but easy to implement for gear lists and starter kits.
How to Choose the Right Programs
Stick to what you trust and use. Ask yourself:
Do I love this product?
Would I recommend it for free?
Will my audience benefit from it?
Don’t promote random tools just because they pay well. Build long-term trust.
How to Promote Affiliate Links Authentically
Blog Content
Create roundups, toolkits, or tutorials with embedded links.
YouTube Descriptions
Show how you use the product and link below the video.
Resource Pages
A “Tools I Use” section on your site converts well.
Show Your Results
Use screenshots, before-and-after visuals, or short testimonials.
Final Thoughts: Start With What You Know
You don’t need to apply to every program. Start with two or three that you truly love. Add them to existing content. Then test and track what performs.
Affiliate marketing can turn your content into an income stream that runs while you sleep — no hustle, just helpfulness.
