As a photographer, I’m asked one question over and over again. How do I make money from photography? I would say almost everyone I know owns a camera in one form or another, but only very few of them have found a way to turn a profit from their photos. Today we’re going to suggest a few quick ideas you might not have tried before!
Shoot and Sell Stock Photography
Taking stock photos has never been easier. The principal being simply go out and shoot high-quality photos, upload them to a stock website and then wait for people to buy them (for use in magazines, websites, design – you name it).
People are after all different types of stock images – from textures to fashion models. My advice would be to shoot one particular style of stock and become good at what you do. Trying to sell a random mix is often difficult, as my fellow friends have found. When people view your images, they often look for a collection of the same kind.
If you are thinking about selling stock as a complete beginner, you might be frustrated at first. Many stock photo websites have a high standard, and you may need to brush up on various aspects of your photography before you start seeing success!
Good sites to sell stock photography include:
- iStockPhoto – One of the best known stock websites, although you have to reach certain criteria to be accepted
- Getty Images – Sells a high range of different styles of stocks – very pro!
- Jupiter images – One of the leading stock sites at the current time.
- Fotolia – Very popular, but with thousands of images, yours can easily be hidden.
We covered a few more of these in our article entitled 15 Stock Photography Sites to Sell Your Photos – For Beginners and Pros.
Market Your Images as Prints
Putting your prints up for sale can be really easy. The hard part is getting people to purchase them!
To begin with you could try and upload your images to a printing website, and then just hope someone will stop by and purchase one. If this happens, the website you upload them to will often take a chunk of the profit. In return, they deal with all the printing and posting of the end product. It’s easy to do, but the returns can be minimal.
A few sites to explore for this are:
- Red Bubble – An attractive website with growing popularity
- Imagekind.com – One of the biggest print websites online
- Picasso Mio – Showcase to 200,000 monthly visitors with free unlimited uploading
Secondly, you could print your own images and then attempt to sell them straight to the customer (or get a local gallery to sell your images on your behalf). This takes more time, but is likely to have a higher success rate. Remember to sell prints which people would want in their houses – a photo of your cat or dog probably isn’t the way to go!
Get Hired!
Being hired as a photographer, in my opinion, is the hardest thing on this list. It can be a slow ride getting to the top. I remember my first time was an exciting experience, being the official photographer for a music video to raise money for a local charity. I didn’t earn a penny by the time I added transport costs, but I got my name out to a lot of companies at the shoot.
The easiest way in my opinion to start out is to advertise yourself as a photographer to local businesses. You might be lucky and find yourself getting yourself your first job. Building your portfolio this way is important, and you’ll receive more work through word-of-mouth if you’re good.
My word of caution would be not to take on more than you can cope with. For example, attempting a shoot a wedding without preparation or the correct gear could be disastrous. Don’t accept a job you know you cannot do!
Buy and Sell Equipment
It sounds silly, but instead of taking photos why not try and sell photographic equipment? If you’re already a photography expert, you’re in a perfect situation to advertise and sell to the correct kind of people.
I have friends who have sold simple accessories (such as filters) to help pay for their university tuition fees. To start, simply be brave. Order a bulk batch of a certain item, and then use the internet to sell them. eBay already offers plenty of interest and traffic – all you have to do is set a reasonable price and deal with people professionally.
Share Your Knowledge (For a Price!)
If you feel you’ve reached a good enough level to be able to teach people, then go ahead! You could always set up a camera club and charge people to come and learn new techniques. Others take people away on photography courses to a new and different location – a beautiful landscape, for instance.
A You a Profitable Photographer?
Is photography just a wonderful hobby for you, or do you manage to make a living from it as well? Let us know in the comments!
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By Peter Sawyer
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I sometimes get hired for some underground party’s. If it are cool party’s, I might just do it for some guestlists and drinks. I’m looking for some cool party’s to shoot in America and around Europe, so if you know any cool party’s. Please let me know! (you can contact me via the website)
Check out my work on http://www.thesarosnake.com > PHOTOS
hey can somebody answer, how much should i charge if i get hired to take pictures?
The price of an image or work varies greatly depending on the job, use of the image, how important it is to the client, and licensing/rights. Then there is also the P.I.A. factor which can greatly increase the price for your client.
There are at least three separate parts to being “hired”: 1) The job itself; 2) The deliverables; 3) The rights.
The job is where you’re actually taking the photos (i.e. labor, equipment, etc.). The deliverables are the images themselves (prints, disc, etc.). The rights are the controls, permissions, and uses assigned to the deliverables. The more difficult a job is, the more deliverables, and the more rights or exclusivity you grant, the higher the price.
In the end: under promise, over deliver.
It’d probably start by looking around at some local competitors, and see what they charge.
thanks for the advices, very useful
I am 16 years old. A junior in Highschool. I love taking photos, and decided to give senior portraits a shot. I made some business cards, put them in a school at the front, and I have already made $250 :)
The trick is being confident and knowing that you can get good photos. You have nothing to lose.
Next year I’m sure my number of photoshoots will increase enormously.
Keep it up. Its handy money at the age of 16!
I myself am only 18 and agree with you about being confident. I have been the main photographer on afew shoots and get some weird looks by those who have been in the industry for years, but it all comes down to confidence.
I shoot hotels and restaurants, mostly for their websites. As a foreigner living in Morocco, I traveled a lot around the country and have a stock of more than 30’000 pictures of Morocco. These Morocco pictures I sell to travel agencies for their websites.
Further I upload to many micro stock agencies, my portfolio is small and the income also just a tip, but I hope to improve that.
I also have a small portfolio on Imagekind, Red Bubble, Flickr: with no sales so far.
It is my full time job (7 days a week….) since 3 years. So far I cannot live from it (even in Morocco). But every successful photographer tells you that it takes 5 years or more to succeed. I hope I will…..
My website: http://www.rosafrei.com. Thanks for visiting.
To Rosa Frei:
Rosa you aren’t making money from your photography because you do not know how to market yourself. I went to your website. BREATHTAKING!
Your biggest number one problem is what you mentioned in your own post:
“…every successful photographer tells you that it takes 5 years or more to succeed.”
I got so angry when I read that! Who are they???? Let me tell you who I am:
I am a guy who got his first camera in March of this year for a 30th birthday present. It was the first time I’d ever TOUCHED a real camera.
In May I made $7,000 from my photos! I’ve done just as well ever since. I’ve even been hired at a salary of $5,000 a month to shoot for a growing magazine….PART TIME!
Why am I telling you this? BECAUSE YOUR PICTURES ARE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF MINE! YOU ARE BEYOND TALENTED!
My shots are “OK” to “good.” I know that, and I strive to improve, but hell I’ve only been shooting for 6 months.
What’s the difference between me and you? I’ll be damned if I let somebody, successful or not tell me I must wait 5 years to succeed at ANYTHING!
YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU CAN CONVINCE SOMEONE YOU ARE. If YOU are better than THEY are, they will PAY YOU to do it!
Find out where you want to shoot, how much you want to make, grab your portfolio, walk in there, find the person in charge and CONVINCE them–don’t ask them, don’t offer them–CONVINCE them that they will make more money WITH YOU than without you. If they have the power/resources/ability, they WILL give you the job.
Or you can sit there for another two years waiting for the Gods of Nothing to grant you “permission” to succeed. The world doesn’t work that way. I make more money than just about everyone I know with a camera and I have the LEAST experience because I BELIEVE that I can make other peoples lives better with it. And since I believe in me, THEY believe in me.
Go believe in you! Stop making excuses and hiding behind others excuses. If you would have offered me your work in a gallery, I’d have bought it for hundreds. If you said it costs thousands… I’d have paid that too. YOUR only limit is YOU!
I really liked Cleo’s article, he/she is so right, thanks Cleo it was a real motivator.
I agree with Wayne Roulez. Very inspiring!! I have had my 1st “real” dslr camera for a week. I’m already being asked to take pictures from my local Occupy Wall Street organizer. I went to them the day after I got my camera & simply asked them if I could photograph their activities. I sent them the pictures & they liked them, posted them on their website & asked me to return for their Black Friday protest. He also offered to let me formally interview him. If you can’t tell, I want to break into photojournalism. So for me this is a great way to build up my portfolio. I’m not waiting five years to make it! I’m taking it now!
WOW what a motivator!!!!!!!!!!! god bless you !!!!! I cant even believe that this kinda ppl exist.It is a sort of privilege to see a inspiring comment in a site . Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Cleo. Needed to hear what you said…a nice reminder :)
Few days ago, I was with families celebrating our nana 85th birthday..and with my sisters Canon 450D camera, I pretended to be a professional photographer and take awesome pictures. I remember having high confident and got excited when I spotted a creative shot…..aim, focus..shoot and the results where fantastic.
My Photography journey has begun http://tinyurl.com/Jahz-Black-White-Photos and Thank you again for the great tips and encouragement.
Nice one guys. tried Redbubble, it’s been pretty good. Haven’t tried Imagekind before though, will have to give it a crack. Facebooked.
I don’t want to be a downer, but:
In reality, shooting for stock will take almost 1 year minimum to cover most production costs. (unless you are shooting photos of ants, and if so, why would you be reading this). Getting into stock is not for beginner photographers.
Asking people to pay for your expertise takes just that, expertise. Not for enthusiasts, or hobbyists.
People have to see your work in order to buy prints. Getting gallery space, or even wall space @ local cafes
takes a great deal of time, and money to ensure your work always looks great, and is properly displayed.
You’ve got to be dedicated.
He explained ways to make money in photography. I’m not sure he said it was going to be easy or not take time.
Have sold a few 6x4s of NZ Speedway cars for $3 each (print them off at the local store for 12c..) Get great money and they dont have to be perfect shots, because all the buyer wants is a photo of their car going vroom.
I didnt even think of putting some of my good photos on stock photo sites, and now it seems like a bloody great idea. Will put some of mine up on some stock sites today I thinks!
but how are you so sure of that price?
Well how did you get along with the rights to print ? and sell for money ? i have taken loads of Speedway pictures in England and find it’s a big problem i have numerous i would love to blow up and sell but would have problems with the riders i have been told, and have not taken one now for a year now really losing heart with the whole thing and have put off getting the camera i really want as i could not justify the money as just a pleasure hobby and not make a bit of money back on the cost of the camera wich is nearly a grand with the lenses i will be using.
I Agree with mike. Stock is not the way to go for a beginner. I know from experience.
And I would not bother at all with iStockphoto any more. They have recently changed their pricing structure so as a newbie you get a paltry 15% of each sale.
I know that Flickr.com has recently signed a deal so that you can now sell your photos as stock images.
Another way to make money from photography would be to shoot weddings.
Ive been doing photography (well just taking photos) for nearly 10 years but I would say after my 3 months course on photography (which wasnt very in depth as well), I started looking at things differently. Better gear slowly and that also meant better control over my photos.
Ive had the idea of selling stock photography for nearly a year now and havent actually sat down to upload my photos yet. Ive managed to get myself out there for engagement photos once and no weddings yet.
Also done lots of product photography.
Other types of photography has been mostly for fun, experience and building of my portfolio.
My new gear will be the EOS 60D from Canon. I love the HD Video and that opens up more opportunities for me since I do video as well (shooting, editing and audio as well)
If your budget can stretch to it I would recommend the Canon 7D.
Its an amazing camera, and is currently my camera of choice. It is nicer to use than the 5D IMO.
Am a hobbyist photographer. But would definitely love to make money out of it.
I’d love to just keep the photography just as a hobby, and I won’t use it as a job unless I’m really really desperate!
Interesting topic!
thanks
I appreciate your article. My interest are making a living in photography, I am just a little confused and still need to become more comfortable with my Nikon before this can actually take place.
Thanks!
Am a professional studio photographer. Photograph exotic cars like Ferrari, lamborghini, Porsche. I absolutely love my job, I love photography and I love cars and being able to combine the two and get paid for it is a dream come true! But the hard part for finding jobs like that is finding them. Photographer what ever catches your eye and if their is something you are particulary intrested in shooting, get really good at that one thing. Build a good portfolio and try to find someone that needs someone like you to photograph that thing. Like real estate or whatever. Good luck!
I live in South Africa. Just started my own place for photography. I take photo’s and I put photo’s on canvas. If someone in Rustenburg want to make use of me, pleas let me know. marissainindonesia@gmail.com. I also sell canvas work that I have in stock.
To those who think “hobbyists” don’t have as much expertise in photography as “professionals” is downright dillusioned.
The ONLY difference between the two is the hobbyists takes his pictures for sheer pleasure. The pro makes a dime or more.
There are people who are dentists or have other dedicated proffessions who have the skill and technique of the best pro photographers.
If you’ve been working with slr’s and are very familiar with using it, Id say give it your best shot. And if you are a bit hesitant, invest in a book on photography technique.
After being contacted by an advertising agency, and receiving a large sum of money for a photo of mine, I finally got a taste of what potential photography has next to an incredible hobby. I absolutely love taking photos, and if I can make a little bit of cash here and there to fuel my hobby, then that’s even better!
I went to your website. I love those fog shots you took. Nice work.
I’ve spent around 4 grand on used gear this summer, thousands which I shouldn’t have, although I’m now shooting with a Canon 5D mk1. I’d love to start making some money, but I’ve gotta update my website’s content if I’m to nail photoshoots, and that takes so much time. http://www.jongoings.com is $90 reasonable for generic portrait shoots? how would you price other sorts of shoots? weddings, grads, bands, engagements, etc
I have been working as a ‘Freelance Digital Photographer’ for the last 5 years, a “Freelance film Photographer’ for better than 20 years prior to that on and off and a “Freelance Traditional and Digital Artist” since I was in High school. In case you’re wondering I’m in my forties now.
I’ve done Portraits both Studio and Location shoots, Family Portraits, Holiday Portraits, Glamour, Boudoir, Event photography, News Footage, etc.
Over the years I have used various Press Passes both ‘legit’ and ‘not so legit’ when I needed to gain ‘free’ access to events to get up close access and photos in order to get paid (you know, Concerts, Sporting Events, etc.).
If you are confident enough it will get you in the door 95 % of the time. Perceived authority, if you believe you are entitled access and you are confident enough and don’t falter then those guarding the door will allow you to pass. He who blinks first looses!
Obviously I agree with Peter Sawyer; Confidence can be the difference between being paid and being shown the door.
I also agree with Cleo with regard to Rosa. The was a Kevin Bacon movie I remember seeing once and in it he said, “Someone is making a sale; Either you are selling to them or they are selling you on why they can’t or won’t buy from you.” Again confidence is the ‘key’ here.
“YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOU CAN CONVINCE SOMEONE YOU ARE. If YOU are better than THEY are, they will PAY YOU to do it!
Find out where you want to shoot, how much you want to make, grab your portfolio, walk in there, find the person in charge and CONVINCE them–don’t ask them, don’t offer them–CONVINCE them that they will make more money WITH YOU than without you. If they have the power/resources/ability, they WILL give you the job.
Or you can sit there for another two years waiting for the Gods of Nothing to grant you “permission” to succeed. The world doesn’t work that way. I make more money than just about everyone I know with a camera and I have the LEAST experience because I BELIEVE that I can make other peoples’ lives better with it. And since I believe in me, THEY believe in me.”
good list – one i’ve used http://www.jpg10.com for making money from images that I can’t sell as stock.
Great ideas to start with. Taking great shots is still the biggest challenge. -from Baton Rouge Photographer, (225) 773-3350. http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinwoolsey
if take pics of people,like at the park or an event… do you need their permission to post and sale?
This may seem like a silly question, but if you upload photos to a stock photography site, can you upload the same photo onto another site? therefore potentially having all you images on numerous different sites and earning money from all of them.
Thanks :)
I am pretty sure you can.
Feel free to take a look. http://www.flickr.com/photos/manodarkside/
Hi. I also thought many times the same question that how can i make money from photography and mostly i feel embarrassed. I really love your concepts which you had given in your article. I will definitely follow these tips or steps. Thanks for sharing this article and your valuable advice.