Where America's photography studios are: the top states
The U.S. has about 11,483 photography studios (2023 Census). California leads with 1,456 and Florida (1,007) takes second — creative and destination markets cluster the trade.
There are roughly 11,483 photography-studio establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 541921, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). California leads with 1,456, then Florida 1,007 and New York 873 — the creative and destination markets you'd expect. Texas follows with 790, then Illinois 501, North Carolina 377, Georgia 375, and Pennsylvania 353.
Why it matters for insurance: photographers carry general liability plus inland-marine (expensive, portable gear). See how GL profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.
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Full state breakdown
Every state with a reported count, ranked — U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns.
| Rank | State | studios | paid employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 1,456 | 4,550 |
| 2 | Florida | 1,007 | 3,443 |
| 3 | New York | 873 | 1,916 |
| 4 | Texas | 790 | 3,020 |
| 5 | Illinois | 501 | 1,924 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 377 | 1,607 |
| 7 | Georgia | 375 | 955 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 353 | 1,336 |
| 9 | Colorado | 336 | 652 |
| 10 | New Jersey | 325 | 919 |
| 11 | Ohio | 292 | 1,116 |
| 12 | Virginia | 290 | 809 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 263 | 790 |
| 14 | Washington | 252 | 719 |
| 15 | Michigan | 233 | 785 |
| 16 | Arizona | 229 | 644 |
| 17 | Missouri | 223 | 1,970 |
| 18 | Utah | 212 | 610 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 198 | 581 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | 194 | 527 |
| 21 | Tennessee | 189 | 1,089 |
| 22 | Nevada | 184 | 716 |
| 23 | Maryland | 174 | 701 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 171 | 398 |
| 25 | Indiana | 170 | 657 |
| 26 | Oregon | 142 | 271 |
| 27 | Louisiana | 139 | 404 |
| 28 | Iowa | 121 | 278 |
| 29 | Nebraska | 118 | 275 |
| 30 | Alabama | 117 | 430 |
| 31 | Hawaii | 102 | 281 |
| 32 | Kansas | 99 | 198 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | 99 | 267 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 91 | 210 |
| 35 | Connecticut | 88 | 295 |
| 36 | Arkansas | 84 | 242 |
| 37 | Montana | 74 | 109 |
| 38 | Idaho | 72 | 218 |
| 39 | Mississippi | 51 | 159 |
| 40 | New Mexico | 46 | 163 |
| 41 | New Hampshire | 45 | 206 |
| 42 | South Dakota | 44 | 119 |
| 43 | Maine | 43 | 87 |
| 44 | Delaware | 41 | 88 |
| 45 | Rhode Island | 39 | 206 |
| 46 | North Dakota | 36 | 155 |
| 47 | Wyoming | 35 | 66 |
| 48 | Alaska | 27 | 77 |
| 49 | West Virginia | 25 | 151 |
| 50 | Vermont | 23 | 41 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 15 | 49 |
Paid employees = total employment reported for the week of March 12, U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns. "—" marks state cells the Census suppressed for disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Methodology
Counts are establishments classified under NAICS 541921 (Photography Studios, Portrait) in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns, the most recent CBP release. An establishment is a single physical location, so a business operating in several states is counted once per location; figures count establishments, not employees or revenue. State rows exclude cells the Census suppressed for disclosure.
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Reviewed by Jason Wootton, NPN 7694718 Verify ↗