How to make money?

By Nicholas-c
in Digital Camera Lab

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Grand Master

Draconian Guppy

Posted
Posted

Well for stockphotography i've seen people make money in istockphoto.com however, they take at least 10+ pics a day, and sells over 100 a day to make money. Not only that, but istock is very picky when choosing your pics @ upload. So it takes time to setup a proper photo. IMO way to much of a hassle, for just a couple of pics. As a friend has been in it for almost a year now and has barely made $30 with about 20photos. So if you really will dedicate the time to take hundreds of stock worthy photos then go for it. I've another friend who makes around $300 in a bad month and over $500 in a good one, but he lives out of it.

Neowinian

Juicyyy

Posted
Posted
Can your printer magically produce 75% paper 25% rag paper, holograms and special ink? Didn't think so..

I think it was just a joke dude. Relax.

Weddings would be a good start i think. If you have sample photos on hand to show off your skill then you'll find you can make some good money doing weddings and engagements.

Good luck.

Experienced

metro

Posted
Posted

I would think that by jumping head first into weddings could be a potential disaster to anyone wanting to make a living off of photography. A lot of the seasoned wedding photographers have been at it for a long time and it really takes a lot to make money off of it. A lot of people offer cheap wedding photography as a way to get their foot in the door and at that point it is entirely their choice on whether or not they sink or make it. Offering cheap work cheapens your overall image and if you have no idea about the business then the business will chew you up and spit you out.

If anything, I would start small. Use your friends for practice, use them for word of mouth, advertise on free local message boards. Offer to trade time for a CD of edited images here and there. You can't just expect to pick up a camera and start shooting weddings for money, or any shooting anything for money. It takes money to make money and business is business. I am really trying to break out into different types of photography and have learned a bit, but I won't tell you that I know an awful lot. I have a little experience under my belt but not enough to put my name and reputation on the line yet.

Just start off slow. Shooting and submitting for stock is a start. It won't pay a lot at first but it is income nonetheless. If you do landscape work then try and market your prints in any way possible. Take them to flea markets and try to sell there. Eventually work your way onto the web full time and sell there. Lots of things can influence a person to hire you such as a good business card, a nicely designed website, but the most important thing is attitude and how you present yourself to others. Definitely let your work do most of the talking.

Sure, I am not a professional by any means but my actual day job requires me to sell myself on a daily basis in many different ways such as building trust and credibility with the people who interact with me. You would be amazed how a little can go a long way. :D

Grand Master

Brandon

Posted
Posted

Its all about who you know.

I make between $2-300 a year doing some track and cross country stuff - at races I already am running in, just take pics after I race, and then I upload them online and a state-wide prep running website lets me publish them for free, and I get the sales.

I also had two moms come up to me last summer, asking to buy some photos while I was shooting a little-league game for fun - something I plan on doing much sooner (ie. spring) this year.

Print out small flyers (half page) and carry 20 or so with you at all times giving your website and all. Bigger then business cards, but print a small sample or two of some of your pics, so if you go to an event and a parent sees you, you can hand a few out.

Business cards are good only if you plan on setting up an appointment as they don;t really show work - but parents who have a paper with a few examples are more likely to remember that.

Contributor

mitch41

Posted
Posted

There is the possibility of selling stuff through Cafepress, such as calendars.. t-shirts, prints, photos in frames, etc...

Or just prints through many of the various art websites, deviantart...

There's so many idea's... But it all depends on how much time you are willing to devote to your photography! Do you have a full-time job already, part-time, school... family.. etc

Also, the type of photographer you are changes everything...

NOT a good idea to go into wedding photography in my opinion.

Let us know this stuff and maybe we can direct our answers more to you!

Grand Master

Nicholas-c Veteran

Posted
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Posted
I made a few bucks by doing portraits for the neighbors kids. I did some PP and they were pleased and my prices way less than going to Sears or a studio.

Wedding you can make money but I think that is difficult to do. So many bride-zillas.

yea, where ever there is alot of people and a camera (video or still) people become addicted morons... i found that out when i first got my video camera and people where all morons in front of it, same with still cameras too

Grand Master

SirEvan

Posted
Posted
that would be small amounts and slow wouldn't it ?

do we actually have any studio photographers here ?

I don't shoot studio exclusively, most of my stuff is locational, but I have sold images to EBC brakes, Shot for the US Army, and have had my work used in posters for clubs, fliers, and promotional material for the Veterans Administration as well as an entertainment group.

The best advice I can give you is if you really want to try and make money, get some books on stock photo shooting. They will help you shoot material for stock imagry that you can sell. Also, figure out a usage contract for your work, so when people do contact you to use it, you can tell them your terms and what you're looking for. Be advised though that I have opened up magazines and seen my images in advertisements for companies i have never sold the images to, and have had my models tell me as such as well. You have to be proactive in looking for your work because people will try and steal it.

also, figure out what you want to get into, fashion, commercial, catalog...etc. look to starbucks to see if maybe you can put some of your work up in the store? the ones around here do that, and it helps new artists get their name and work out there.

just some ideas.

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