Paint By Light

Hello:
First off I am a (new) photographer. I bought my t7i about a year and a half or maybe 2 years ago now. I have a few good lenses now and also upgraded to a 7d mkII body and a few other semi-expensive "toys". I am doing all spending and my learning is ramping up but started off pretty slow however I know I can always do more :) but the problem lies I am not making a single dime from it. I guess I am worried i'm not good enough because of all the ignorance you read around social media sites when people ask for CC. It's rarely if ever useful it seems to me. You get a few "that's awesome-s" or "nice shots" but then again CC is I guess pretty vague. Plus it seems to me photography is more art than much anything else and I should be the main or only critic of my work perhaps. Then if you like ME then you can buy from ME or hire ME (??) Anyway I am interested in getting my work out there and scoping out options for a website. I have a FB page and sometimes wonder if that is all I need for now ?? But eventually I'll need a website I think. Long story longer lol what are your thoughts on starting off with this part or becoming a photographer 101? I don't want to spend a bunch of money on a lot of options I won't need for a long while (such as I sort of have already been doing with my equipment purchases HAHA) but maybe something semi-reliable. In searching i was thinking about the starter package on zenfolio ($5 a month)?? I read a lot of bad reviews about them though. Anything better out there I may not know about? WW You Do? Thanks for your thoughts... Jonathan aka Paint By Light Photography

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Welcome to the Hog, John, good luck in your venture, enjoy.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

By CC, do you mean Adobe's Creative Cloud? That's the only CC I know of, but it doesn't seem to make sense in the context you are using it. I've had people ask for Photoshop, maybe that's what you meant, but it's "rarely ever useful" and "pretty vague"?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

What is "CC"?

Exposure is the key (Excellent work helps too). Facebook, one of the many photo sites like Zenfolio or Flicker, or.....

It (notoriety) won't happen overnight.

FrumCA

In addition to Zenfolio you might want to take a look at Flickr and Smugmug (Flickr is owned by Smugmug). I'm pretty sure that both have a trial period. I have good photographer friends who use Zenfolio and Smugmug and they swear by them. It ultimately becomes your choice on how to want to promote your photos. Good luck!!

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

I have been very happy with SmugMug. Once I realized that a photo could be "collected", that is shown but not placed in a folder other than the first one, I was even happier! Although I uploaded each photo only once, some may appear in as many as 4 folders.

saxman71 Loc: Wenatchee

If you are looking to set up a web site so you have a place to post your work there are numerous options. Many here use Flickr. I have been using 500px and pbase for several years now. Of the two, I get more "hits" from posted shots on my 500px site. Take a look at some of the exceptional work that is posted there by various participants. As for making money doing this I can only say, "good luck with that". Many of us have thought we would make money through our photography but few of us actually do.

Adamborz

I think he means CC as constructive criticism?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

CC is constructive criticism - or in the OP's experience, "You get a few "that's awesome-s" or "nice shots"

Jonathan, it sounds like you would benefit from formal classes or the personal attention of a mentor, including in the business/marketing area. There are a few professional photographers on this site who can offer you excellent suggestions. I alerted a couple of them to this topic.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Definition (and context) works! Thanks Linda.

Adamborz

In my case, I have a full time regular job, and am building a photography business on the side that I can eventually retire into.

I found a need (real estate photography) that helps pay for equipment, website, adobe creative suite, busibess insurance etc. A picture of a house is just that, but I try and make it art lol.

I post on social media and update my website as I have time. I also have “google my business” which is a website manager to keep your site near the top of searches.

For now it’s a good side gig for me, but I’m realistic and know there are lots of photographers out there, so I just keep plugging away and looking for tips (hence why I’m in the hog)

I do senior portraits, pet photography, event shoots etc. whatever to make some coin to pay for equipment etc.

Adamborz

Sample pic, and I sign my work so people know who took the pic

(Download)

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Welcome. Good luck with a website.

Paint By Light

sorry no i meant constructive criticism lol ...

Paint By Light

Thanks ... I think that is a large part of my problem ... I got pretty much what I expected from this post but that is OK because it's true! There are various hosting sites to host your pictures for various amounts of money, some social and other not so social. Just pick 1 and get started! Not everyone or as many as we would all like to think IS making money at photography and It simply won't happen overnight!

One thing I am trying to learn to do not only in photography but life in general is sit back and enjoy the ride! I have always as long as I can remember wanted to learn EVERYTHING but some days I feel like I have leaned NOTHING lol ... irony I guess :)

thanks for the welcomes and I hope to visit this site more frequently ...PBLP (Paint By Light Photography)