Making Money from Photography

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Making Money from Photography

Making money from doing something you love is everyone’s dream isn’t it. Living off photography is a dream come true for many, but it takes more than an expensive collection in your dry cabinet to make it in the business.

There are many fields in which you may wish to venture in. How much money you make after which really depends on the quality of your work as well as your perseverance. Lets take a look at some of the money making photography fields available out there.

Weddings and Events

Undoubtedly the most lucrative business in photography. This is due to the demand and the stiff competition in the market.

So what makes a good wedding and events photographer?

Besides being technically sound and well equipped, one must be able to understand and foresee the event well to capture important moments. For example, for a lavish wedding, the flow of events must be at the back of the photographer’s head and he or she must be able to spot and secure vantage points in order to capture beautiful moments at the right place at the right time. Missing out on special moments like the first kiss as husband and wife may be disastrous and requesting the couple to re-enact the moment will only reflect badly on yourselves, especially among the guests, many of whom are probably your potential clients.

Capturing the moments during the event is not the only part of the job that requires dedication and skill. Post processing plays an important part in producing wonderful end product. Being au fait with photo editors such as Adobe CS Photoshop would be an added advantage in creating amazing collages or effects. Close scrutiny of the photos and the removal of unwanted blemishes or even objects will be much appreciated by your clients.

Other things to Note

It is never easy to start off in this industry, especially when there are many established and renowned photographers in your locality. Therefore, it is extremely important to build a good portfolio and a positive reputation. Often business will come in the form of referrals from appreciative clients, so take every assignment seriously and do not cut corners to save cost. Going all out in every assignment will reap in sweeter returns in the long run.

To maximize your profit, selecting and building a rapport with a trustworthy print shop is also essential. Often these shops will provide generous discounts to loyal customers and you will save a bundle on bulk prints.

Stock Photography

Ever wondered where advertisers get their photos used in their advertisements? Or have you seen a familiar face or item being used in different ads? Well, these photos are usually stock photos.

Wikipedia defines stock photos as “Stock photography is the supply of photographs licensed for specific uses. It is used to fulfill the needs of creative assignments instead of hiring a photographer. Today, stock images can be presented in searchable online databases. They can be purchased and delivered online.”

So how do you make money from stock photography?

Simple. Start by taking photos of inanimate objects such a paperclip, or a comb, a toothbrush, almost anything that has no copyright or trademarked logos or designs. The possibilities are endless, as you never know what is required of creative advertisement worldwide. Yes, worldwide as you will be marketing your photos online via the various stock photos agencies available. Then you can start experimenting with human emotions, reactions and emotions. This may require models that consent to your intended use of the photos.

Some of the authors personal stock photos:

After collecting a decent number of photos, select a stock photo agency. There are various stock photo agencies out there such as Dreamstime, iStockphoto and Fotolia just to name a few, but personally, my favorite would have to be Shutterstock. Shutterstock is great for beginners as well as the seasoned photographer. It has a simple process of registration and uploading content, though you need to submit your ten best pictures first for approval to join the club. Main reason for this is quality control. Once you’re in, upload away and wait. Earnings per picture range from USD0.25 till up to USD1.88 and more depending on the photo options the customer opts for. Rules for stock sales are simple. The more photos you have, the faster you earn. On average, with a collection of photos say 100-200 photos, you may sell about 10 photos a day, and that equates to 300 photos a month. Multiply that by the minimum of USD0.25 and you’ll be checking in USD75 a month or more. Considering the fact that all you have to do is park your photos there, that amount is much welcomed. Of course with a larger gallery and better quality and in demand photos, you can expect to earn much more. It is a known fact that there are a lot of people out there earning hundreds a month on stock photo alone, and there are even a lucky few who earns thousands a month being full time stock photographers.

For more queries, questions and success stories on Stock photography, Shutterstock also has its own forum board. Check it out at Shutterstock.