Do you like to take pictures? If you do, I've got eight great ways you can earn money with digital photography.
If you're a camera bug and take a lot of pictures, you know how easy digital cameras are to use, they also take much better pictures than even just a few years ago. You can even take a not so great shot and make it perfect just by using a variety of simple software options.
Best of all, pictures can be printed on quality paper on your printer or you could even take it to your favorite camera print shop for just a few cents per picture.
Even memory cards like the flash drive storage medium will allow you to file and save your pictures for sharing on the Internet. That means you can easily upload pictures from the memory card for your friends, family or to your blog or website.
The options for how you could earn money with digital photography are almost endless. So if you're thinking about how you might earn cash for your photos, here are of few of my favorite options…
1. Stock photography. With so many websites online, this business is growing. There are thousands of website, newsletters, magazines and article publishers who need photos that capture the essence of their articles. It's not terribly convenient for publishes to run out and snap a few pictures every time they need one so if you can provide them with quality business photos they can download instantly, you've got a great business.
Selling stock photographs to businesses and individuals is a convenient service not only for them, it's also a lucrative way for you to earn money as well.
2. Wedding photographer. You don't have to be a professional wedding photographer for this one. In fact did you know that many modern day brides and grooms are doing away with the formal wedding photos and taking a more cost effective approach by going with the more candid, party snapshots? With this more informal approach you could be hired to take candid shots before during and after the wedding and reception. This could be an excellent opportunity for you to take great pictures and organize them into a memory theme that the happy couple will enjoy for the rest of their lives.
3. Newspaper Shots. If you are in the right place at the right time, you could capture photos that are worthy of being used in the newspaper. When news happens, a newspaper photographer might not be on the scene. If you happen to be there, you can capture the moments and sell them to newspapers. Snapping shots at community events might also earn you some money from local newspapers.
4. Magazine photographer. Create a portfolio of photos that you’ve taken and submit them to magazines. Looking at your work, they may hire you for assignments. Magazines are a tough market to break into but you could get some great exposure with smaller assignments for local newspapers.
5. Local photography business. Have you ever been on a mailing list that shows houses, motorhomes or cars for sale? Someone had to take those photographs. It could be you. Hire yourself out to area businesses to do the photographs for them.
6. Personal Event photographer. Many families like to document their events like family reunions, christenings, sports events and birthday parties. You can be the eyes in the room catching candid shots of everyone. Place an ad in the local newspaper for such an event photographer.
7. Photography website. If you know quite a bit about digital photography and cameras try creating a website about how to take professional pictures and how to buy a digital camera. Along with useful information for new photographers to learn from you caould also sell or promote photography products. Keep visitors and customers coming back with engaging content on various aspects of photography.
8. Teach a photography class. Those cameras look easy to use but some of those symbols can mix people up. Teach others to use their digital camera and create great pictures that they, too, can market as a business. The Google keyword research tools says the keyword phrase 'learn photography gets over 22, 000 requests a day! That tells me that you like photography, you've got the potential for a great new photography business venture.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I think photography can be a great way to earn a few bucks (considerably more if you go pro). Several of my friends have started doing professional family shoots recently. If you’re going to go for stock footage though, I suggest looking at the sites you want to sell on, first . . . they have some very useful tips on how to sell your photos.
Twitter: mikemiller1144
May 8, 2010 at 2:02 am
Another good way… I am searching for ways to make money online that are fast and easy and your post has helped me sort through it. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!
Twitter: VictoriaBPhoto
September 8, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I recommend trying stock photography and practising on friends and family – but wedding photography? Any amateur without appropriate equipment, experience, insurance, back-up equipment etc, would be crazy to take on a wedding!
Very true, my daughter is a wedding photographer and she’s invested quite a bit of money in it, but it’s her passion and that’s a lot of what having a successful business is all about, right?
Twitter: VictoriaBPhoto
September 9, 2011 at 3:08 am
Oh you’re right Liz, you need the passion for it. I liked your other points about ways to make money using digital photography..i’m just sceptical about the wedding photography comment – I don’t think that’s an area for amateurs to dabble
Real Estate Photography is another niche that is not easy for every amateur to get in to, but with some practice and study, you can become a professional and sell photos to all kinds of real estate sellers and promoters.