Ruling on what a photographer earned before he repented
Question

                I earned money by working as a photographer and I am prepared to give it up to seek the pleasure of Allaah and His Messenger. What is the ruling on that money? Is it haraam or what should I do with it?.
Praise be to Allah.
    I hope that there will be nothing wrong with it because when 
    you earned it you were not certain that it was haraam because you were 
    unaware of the shar’i ruling, or because of the confusion resulting from 
    those who permit photography. Allaah says concerning the people who deal 
    with riba (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “So whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and 
    stops consuming Riba, shall not be punished for the past; his case is for 
    Allaah (to judge); but whoever returns (to Riba), such are the dwellers of 
    the Fire — they will abide therein.”

    [al-Baqarah 2:275]. 

    May Allaah save us and you from it. We understand from this 
    verse that the past earnings from work that is not Islamically acceptable 
    are permissible, if a person repents to Allaah and gives it up. If you give 
    it or part of it in charity to be on the safe side, that is good, because 
    the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever 
    guards against the doubtful matters will protect his religious commitment from shortcomings and will protect his honour from slander.” As for it being obligatory to give it in charity, I do not know of any clear evidence to that effect. End quote.