How to make $$$$ from photography?
Feb 1, 2012 09:18:40 #
A lot of good answers and a lot of interesting thoughts on this subject so I'll add my two cents.
I've been shooting as a professional (meaning my entire income is from photography) on and off over the last 10 years.
Here is how you do it:
Dedication
Knowledge of running a small business
Support of your family (especially if you're married)
Dedication
Patience
Marketing
Dedication
The expectation that the business will not support you for a few years
Dedication
The ability to take a half decent photo
I know plenty of successful (that is that they are making a living) photographers that can't take a photo to save their life.
I also know some amazing photographers that can't make $ from photography to save their life.
If you just want to make a quick hundred or two on a weekend here and there; post some ads online, in the paper, put up some business cards, talk to people.. it'll happen.
There is no magic solution to making a living from photography. No get rich quick method. It's like any other REAL business and it requires time and dedication.
Best of luck!
-Bryan-
I've been shooting as a professional (meaning my entire income is from photography) on and off over the last 10 years.
Here is how you do it:
Dedication
Knowledge of running a small business
Support of your family (especially if you're married)
Dedication
Patience
Marketing
Dedication
The expectation that the business will not support you for a few years
Dedication
The ability to take a half decent photo
I know plenty of successful (that is that they are making a living) photographers that can't take a photo to save their life.
I also know some amazing photographers that can't make $ from photography to save their life.
If you just want to make a quick hundred or two on a weekend here and there; post some ads online, in the paper, put up some business cards, talk to people.. it'll happen.
There is no magic solution to making a living from photography. No get rich quick method. It's like any other REAL business and it requires time and dedication.
Best of luck!
-Bryan-
Feb 1, 2012 09:34:05 #
Falcon
Loc: Abilene, Texas
robertperry wrote:
Something I learned early in pursuit of a photography career. Friends expect you to give them something for free or next to nothing. But, they will pay a stranger in the business full price leaving you to struggle to make ends meet.
cwilliams31 wrote:
I needed that and I really mean it - Thanks
Something I learned early in pursuit of a photography career. Friends expect you to give them something for free or next to nothing. But, they will pay a stranger in the business full price leaving you to struggle to make ends meet.
You cannot make a friend into a business contact and still keep the friend. Usually the business contact you created is not a very good business contact, but you have still lost the friend. Sometimes a business contact can become a friend and both aspects can remain strong--but not always. Sometimes when business contacts become friends they become poor business contacts.
Sometimes I will do a favor for a friend--at no charge because I do not want to convert the friend to a business contact. However, always keep in mind the old axiom: "Do someone a favor and they will remember you the next time they need a favor done."
Feb 1, 2012 10:15:07 #
BGenie wrote:
quote=PW4GDF Thank you for that website contact, ... (show quote)
Facebook now has the option of not allowing your photos to be tagged by someone else. When someone tags a photo, when you open the picture up, it shows the person who is wanting to tag it and you can either accept their tag or not accept their tag.
Feb 1, 2012 10:47:10 #
Major Photo
Loc: Jeffersonville, Indiana
cwilliams31 wrote:
Had a guy I thought was a friend -
He just spent $4,000 in a recording studio doing a cd .
he ask me what I'd charge him to do some pictures for his cd.
I quoted him price of $100 for a two hour session
plus I would edit and put his pics on a cd .
Said he'd have to pass on that one.
Plus I think he is mad at me.
He just spent $4,000 in a recording studio doing a cd .
he ask me what I'd charge him to do some pictures for his cd.
I quoted him price of $100 for a two hour session
plus I would edit and put his pics on a cd .
Said he'd have to pass on that one.
Plus I think he is mad at me.
In my opinion, your friend is a "user"! $100 is a bargain.
Feb 1, 2012 10:53:43 #
Major Photo
Loc: Jeffersonville, Indiana
cwilliams31 wrote:
write him off!Had a guy I thought was a friend -
He just spent $4,000 in a recording studio doing a cd .
he ask me what I'd charge him to do some pictures for his cd.
I quoted him price of $100 for a two hour session
plus I would edit and put his pics on a cd .
Said he'd have to pass on that one.
Plus I think he is mad at me.
He just spent $4,000 in a recording studio doing a cd .
he ask me what I'd charge him to do some pictures for his cd.
I quoted him price of $100 for a two hour session
plus I would edit and put his pics on a cd .
Said he'd have to pass on that one.
Plus I think he is mad at me.
I think your "friend" is a USER! $100 is a bargain,
Feb 1, 2012 11:26:05 #
cwilliams31
Loc: Salisbury, North Carolina
Apparently he is a user.
Probably should have went ahead and done it for nothing.
Problem was he lives about 35 miles from me.
We would have had to meet somewhere.
DW4GDF just got out of work and wanted to start a photo business but that can't happen over night. Takes years....
Bryan Christopher is right but that takes years also.
That's one reason I said there is no money in photography.
Didn't mean to take over the subject but this is a learning lesson for those who want to make money with photography.
Probably should have went ahead and done it for nothing.
Problem was he lives about 35 miles from me.
We would have had to meet somewhere.
DW4GDF just got out of work and wanted to start a photo business but that can't happen over night. Takes years....
Bryan Christopher is right but that takes years also.
That's one reason I said there is no money in photography.
Didn't mean to take over the subject but this is a learning lesson for those who want to make money with photography.
Feb 1, 2012 12:06:36 #
naturalite
Loc: Up state NY
Roger Hicks wrote:
Very true, but you know the classic rejoinder:
So does scum.
Cheers,
R.
heyjoe wrote:
cream rises to the top
Very true, but you know the classic rejoinder:
So does scum.
Cheers,
R.
Roger...you kill me with laughter.. so very true your rejoinder. :-P :-P :-P :-P
Feb 1, 2012 12:09:01 #
Feb 1, 2012 13:31:49 #
gledor42 wrote:
Have you sold anything from it?
Jambulee wrote:
I've been with smugmug for two years and love it.
cwilliams31 wrote:
Smugmug has been on my agenda for quite some time.
That's my next stop.
That's my next stop.
I've been with smugmug for two years and love it.
Have you sold anything from it?
No I had the professional Smugmug for the first year and never sold anything from it but I must say I never marketed myself either. Marketing is always the key. The second year I downgraded to the med size of website just so I have a place to put my final work and send people to when they want to see my work. www.lightrays-photography.com
Feb 1, 2012 13:36:24 #
cwilliams31
Loc: Salisbury, North Carolina
I checked and the problem is they can get and save their photo's. I aim to avoid that.
Feb 1, 2012 16:20:38 #
Talk about good timing! How about a free ebook telling you how to make money.
http://photoextremist.com/photocash
http://photoextremist.com/photocash
Feb 1, 2012 16:45:14 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Talk about good timing! How about a free ebook telling you how to make money.
http://photoextremist.com/photocash
http://photoextremist.com/photocash
thanks for the link Jerryc41 I'll check it out later.
Feb 1, 2012 18:03:08 #
Feb 1, 2012 18:27:51 #
cwilliams31 wrote:
I quoted a church member a price for her wedding. ... (show quote)
Maybe your price was too low, therefore you are not a pro (in their mind). Maybe print a few with the @yourname on it. Show them to a friend of theirs. It will get back to them. It may also get around the church that you do great work at a reasonable price "for church members".
Feb 1, 2012 18:45:10 #
cwilliams31
Loc: Salisbury, North Carolina
Thought I might put them on Smugmug when i get Smugmug.
Buy the pro so they'll be copywrited.
She can't steal them.
That's up in the air.
Don't even know if I should do that.
Might should leave it alone.
Buy the pro so they'll be copywrited.
She can't steal them.
That's up in the air.
Don't even know if I should do that.
Might should leave it alone.
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