How To Make Your Passion For Photography Pay The Bills
Turning Your Passion Into A Business
If you build it, will they come? You know that iconic movie line. If only you could count on this being true for you and your passion for photography. After all, everyone has to make a living, right? And while knowing how to use your camera can help get you a job, you might want to extend your reach and make photographing something that people are paid to create. Today we'll look at where to go to market with your photography (online and off) and get clients that want to pay you in return.
Selling Your Pictures Online
There are lots of ways to sell your photos online. You can use print-on-demand sites like Zazzle or Society6, or you can sell prints directly from your own website. You can also use sites like Etsy and Amazon Handmade to sell your products such as mugs and pillows with your images printed on them. And if you're really serious about making money with your photography, there's no better way than selling stock photography through Shutterstock or Getty Images.
The easiest way to start selling your photos online is by using a site like iStockPhoto or Getty Images. There's no cost to join, but they do take a cut of the sales from each photo that sells through their site (usually between 25% and 50%). The upside is that it's very easy to set up an account and upload images for sale — no technical skills required!
Start A Photography Blog
If you have a flair for writing and have some good photos to show off, starting a blog can be an excellent way to start earning money from your photography. Photography blogs are usually quite visual, so there's no need to worry about writing long and detailed posts — just share some of your best pictures and write a couple of sentences about each one. You could even include affiliate links in your posts if they're relevant.
Become A Freelance Photographer
Another way to make money from your passion is by getting paid to take photos. With the rise of social media and online marketplaces like Fiverr, it's become easier than ever before for photographers to offer their services as freelancers. You can set up an account on Fiverr or Freelancer and offer your services as an inexpensive alternative to more expensive photographers.
Write An Ebook/Online Course
If you want to get started with this, here are some of the things that you can do:
1. Write about your experiences
If you have been taking photos for several years now, then there is a good chance that you have come across some situations where you were able to use your photography skills in order to help others. You could write about those experiences and share them with others so that they can learn from them as well.
2. Create a course on how to take better pictures
If you know what makes a good photograph and if you know how to take good photos yourself, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to create a course on this subject matter. This will allow people who are interested in learning how to take better pictures to do so easily and without too much hassle involved. It will also help them improve their skills as well so that they can become better photographers themselves in the future.
Teach Photography Lessons
Photography lessons are a great way to monetize your passion. If you have a background in photography, or if you're just starting out and willing to learn, you can teach others how to make the most of their cameras.
The benefits of teaching photography include:
You get to spend time doing what you love.
You can earn money while doing something that's fun and rewarding.
You'll meet new people and discover new interests.
The internet makes it easy to find students who need photography lessons. You can even start by offering free workshops at libraries or community centers, then charge for private lessons once you've built up your reputation as an expert in your field.
Produce Photography Tutorials For Youtube
One great way to monetize your passion is by creating tutorials that show others how to use their cameras properly or how to edit photos on their computers. By making these videos available for free on Youtube and other video hosting sites, you'll be able to reach a large audience and earn some money in return for your efforts.
In some ways, this list may seem extravagant to some: there are certainly a lot of platforms available for photographers to showcase their work, whether it be on the Internet or at various local events. But one should never underestimate the power of getting noticed by showing your work off as much as possible. If you have any passion for photography, which I hope you do after reading this article, then go out there and do something about it. Be sure to share your results with me!
Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which can provide compensation to me at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. These are products I’ve personally used and stand behind. You can read my affiliate disclosure in my privacy policy.
