So how do you start making money in photography?

[GoingUp]

I'd like to make some pocket money on the side doing photography.

Where do I even start? Everyone on craigslist advertises for so cheap that its not worth my time. Suggestions?

Thanks 🙂

 

[Paladin3]

What kind of photography do you do and how good are you at it? If you are good enough that people fall in love with your work then you won't have any trouble charging a reasonable rate for it.

If you are not yet at that level then you will just be another hack trying to undercut the market to get work and it would be better for you to get a real job and do photography as a hobby.

 

[jpeyton]

The money is in the portrait/wedding business.

 

[996GT2]

You could also try stock photography, although I'm not sure how much $ you can bring in there

 

[foghorn67]

Find what you like and what you feel comfortable selling. If you like portraits but find yourself uneasy shooting portraits, pick something else. Don't feel like you have to shoot that because everyone else is making money with it, whether it's a big sum or just pocket change.
So first, make sure you are really into it. That's important, because you don't want it to feel "routine".

Also, get friends, family to volunteer for you. Or if you hear of something that remotely sounds like an opportunity, offer something.
If it's someone close, do it for free or next to nothing when you are starting up. You are going to need enough to fill a small portfolio first.

Presentation. Have some creative business cards, and have an album ready to go. It's great to have a really good website with adobe flash, streaming music, and yada yada. It is still so much more appealing and intimate if you were to have some prints presented nicely at a coffee shop meet and greet. Even in this day and age.

If you want to do an art show, be creative, be tasteful. Not just the photography, but the frames, presentation, type of prints and careful up-rezing. Big prints show off careful PP'ing like nothing else. It's magical.

My next show in July will have prints painted on glass with LED backlighting. I can't wait.

 

[virtuamike]

You shoot what people want to see, and then you get noticed by people that are willing to pay. Ideally, that'll all match up with what you want to do with your photography. It helps to have specific targets. Market hardcore.

Or more simply said - shoot, get noticed, enjoy.

 

[GoingUp]

I have a real job already, this would just be for some pocket money on the side to be able to keep buying camera gear.

I guess I don't even know where to begin. How did you guys get your start? Head out to local events and start snapping away?

I need to be out and about shooting more...

 

[xchangx]

Find a camera club, network, and take pictures. Find a website (smugmug, zenfolio, flickr, etc) to showcase your pictures and advertise.

I'm just now beginning to get paid gigs, been learning for a few years but a lot of people are starting to notice my work.

Here are a couple I took over the weekend from an air show:

http://www.michaelchangphotogr...18461459_Tqtxk-M-2.jpg

http://www.michaelchangphotogr...18462183_KbhQN-M-2.jpg

http://www.michaelchangphotogr...18462000_Knkqv-M-2.jpg

http://www.michaelchangphotogr...18462489_JEEX9-M-2.jpg

 

[ThePresence]

I shoot product photography as a side job side for websites and catalogs.
I used to do it as part of my job at a web development company I was working at.
I really got into, read a lot into it, practiced a ton, etc. and I invested quite a bit of time and money into my setup.
After I left the place they started recommending me to their clients, so I started getting calls, etc.
Hopefully I will build a reputation on my own.

 

[Jack Ryan]

First thing is you probably have to become a snob. Most professional photographers think they are the shit.

In all seriousness, I would start by offering to take some engagement photos of some friends or some children portraits. Get some word of mouth advertising that you don't suck, and slowly start charging a rate that makes it worth your time. In other words, start with some low pressure jobs until you become more comfortable.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Midget Pron?

 

[virtuamike]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
I have a real job already, this would just be for some pocket money on the side to be able to keep buying camera gear.

I guess I don't even know where to begin. How did you guys get your start? Head out to local events and start snapping away?

I need to be out and about shooting more...

I got my start through people I know. So know more people. Shoot what you like, learn what people like, market specifically, and go after the jobs.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
The money is in the portrait/wedding business.

But you don't want to mess with weddings until you really know what your doing. Portraits... well at least if you screw up those you can easily fix it. Imagine screwing up a wedding day. That where the money is... but not something I would do one the side.

If you want to make a little money from photography you can find some youth sports in your area and see what kind of coverage they get from local photographers. Parents will put out money for some good football or baseball action picks. Then you get in with the league and try to get some of the Team and Individual (T&I) business. I did a little in the past... but with three kids its hard for me to get time to spend a saturday at the ball fields on my own.

 

[GoingUp]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: jpeyton
The money is in the portrait/wedding business.

But you don't want to mess with weddings until you really know what your doing. Portraits... well at least if you screw up those you can easily fix it. Imagine screwing up a wedding day. That where the money is... but not something I would do one the side.

If you want to make a little money from photography you can find some youth sports in your area and see what kind of coverage they get from local photographers. Parents will put out money for some good football or baseball action picks. Then you get in with the league and try to get some of the Team and Individual (T&I) business. I did a little in the past... but with three kids its hard for me to get time to spend a saturday at the ball fields on my own.

Sounds like a good plan. Do you have to ask to take pictures of the kids? Dont want parents thinking I'm some sort of child molester.

I did photograph a wedding as my first big gig for a friend and man was I a ball of stress when I was done. Photos turned out pretty well though 🙂

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Gobadgrs


Sounds like a good plan. Do you have to ask to take pictures of the kids? Dont want parents thinking I'm some sort of child molester.

I did photograph a wedding as my first big gig for a friend and man was I a ball of stress when I was done. Photos turned out pretty well though 🙂

Most leagues have websites... just call and talk with the president or something. If you were wandering around a park taking pictures.. yeh you would be tagged as a pedophile, LOL. But I don't think parents are thinking of that when you look semi-professional and taking pics of some football or baseball action. Plus. just hand out some cards to parents with a website where they can view/buy the pics.

You can make some okay money doing action shots... but the T&I stuff is where the quick money is at. I did my daughters cheerleading league and did a few hours shooting (plus about 3 hours PP) 9 different teams and I think I cleared $500 in profits easy. I just wish I had more time to devote to getting business.

My prices were a little less than those big companies that come in and do 500 pictures in a day.... which usually are crappy quality. I had strobes set up and everything. The pictures turned out great so the parents were very pleased.

 

[softwarefilt]

I have friends who started out by opening an account with Kodiak or Flickr, where they pay extra to have all their photos copyrighted (so that no one can save them). Then I guess prospective buyers were able to browse through and select the ones they wanted to buy. One of my friends went to track meets and took lots of shots, and then the school bought from him in order to embellish their media guides, Web site, and so on.