Analysis
NAICS 541922 is the 2022 national industry for commercial photography, part of 54192 (Photographic Services). Census lists 7 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 5,021 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 13,488 people at an average annual payroll of $52,299 per employee (20th percentile of national industries). 91% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
By establishments it ranks 2nd of the 2 codes at this level within Photographic Services, with 30.4% of them.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 12% and employment rose 15%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Census lists 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 512110, 81292, 512199 and 711510. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include commercial event videography services, commercial photography services, medical photography services and photographers specializing in aerial photography, among 7 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing commercial photography services, generally for advertising agencies, publishers, and other business and industrial users.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Producing film and videotape for commercial exhibition or sale | 512110 Motion Picture and Video Production |
| Developing still photographs | 81292 Photofinishing |
| Developing motion picture film | 512199 Other Motion Picture and Video Industries |
| Taking, developing, and selling artistic, news, or other types of photographs on a freelance basis, such as photojournalists | 711510 Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers |
| Supplying and servicing automatic photography machines in places of business operated by others | 812990 All Other Personal Services |
Index entries (7)
- Commercial event videography services
- Commercial photography services
- Medical photography services
- Photographers specializing in aerial photography
- Photography services, commercial
- Photography studios, commercial
- Video taping services for legal depositions