Making Money

[Subfightersandman]

I am by no means a professional photographer, but I would like to try and make some money from my pictures. I think many of my pictures are at the level that people may desire them, based on myself and comments by others.

My question is what would be the best way to go about it. I have looked into stock photo places. I have signed up with istockphoto.com after signing up with them I learned the differences between microstock and the big stock agencies. From what I have read the microstock agencies are not desirable, especially if I am to grow in this field.

I joined one of the non microstock angencis (cant remember the name of it, it wasnt photoshelter) I could not upload any pictures to the site because they had a minimum file size of 45mb, which confused me I have never seen a photo file size anywhere around that size.

What are some recommendations for my scenario? Sorry for being so long winded.

Roshan

[PeaceFire]

Try setting up an Etsy account and then contacting some very active bloggers and offer them a free 8x10 and a reader a free 8x10. Usually the blogger has the readers go to your site and check it out and then come back and enter with their favorite shot. It gets your shop lots of hits and attention. And since an 8x10 isn't really that expensive, if you sell even one you'll make that back and then some. Just an idea. Not sure if that would even work for photography, but a friend of mine makes baby slings and she's made a small fortune advertising that way.

[Iversonperspective]

You can go into local coffee shops, art stores, or any other places that would sell photography, and ask them if you can put some of your work in. I did that at a store in my town and we framed it and everything and put it up and eventually someone bought it. Though it was only 25 bucks. I'm not sure how much money you would make from it, but you could have art exhibits set up at local places too. Just ask around, i'm sure a lot of stores would be willing to help you out.

[PhotosGuy]

Because you have a descriptive title, you can look at the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom-left of this page!
Each link you visit should provide more links at the bottom.

[Subfightersandman]

PhotosGuy, thanks for the info I read several of the threads at the bottom, but the majority of them just said the same thing over and over again "dont start making money from photography because it will no longer be an enjoyable hobby".

I am more looking for ways to sell prints online, things like stock sites or any other online system.

Maybe i should change my thread title

[MCS_80]

My opinion,

if you want to make some money from photography, get into covering events of some sort. ie. Weddings, Kids Birthdays, Family events etc.

Always be honest and show samples of what the client can expect from you.

I have found this the easiest and most enjoyable way to make some extra cash and enjoy your hobbie at the same time.

Please, always be honest with your client and they will come back for more. If you cant offer or do what they require, let them know and they will appreciate the honesty and you will appreciate the headache you will avoid.


Cheers


Mick :cool:

[Subfightersandman]

MCS 80 thanks for the advice, what would you suggest for still life photography. Still life is by far my forte, although I am getting into people photography i think at this point I would be more successful with still life.

[amfoto1]

If you want to make some money from photography, the basic nature of your work will nearly always change to some extent.... That's not to say this is good or bad. That depends upon you and you expectations.

Essentially you want to transition from being an amateur photographer to a self-employed business person who happens to take photographs.

Instead of shooting what you want, when you want, any way you want... You might easily find yourself shooting what the client wants, on the client's timetable, in the manner the client wants it done.

Good or bad? Again, that depends upon you and your perspective.

There are literally dozens of possible ways to make money in photography. Very few professionals choose and stick with just a single one. For example, almost no one who is truly at the pro level in stock ever describes themselves as a "professional stock photographer". The top paid stock photographers in the world are assignment, location, travel, lifestyle and sports photographers, who happen to also offer stock images on the side. It can be a big part of their business (Bill Bachmann employs two people full time to edit, keyword and upload his images to six stock agencies), but it's usually supplementary to their other, primary work.

So think in terms of a mix of ways that you feel you can proceed and make some money, then all you have to do is figure out how to get there.

Still life photography is your thing... Okay, that doesn't lend itself to stock particularly, since probably 80-90% of successful stock images have people in them. Not to say you might not manage some stock sales, too, just that it's not as likely as it would be if you were more focused on people doing the things they do.

Now still life photography just might lend itself to small product photography. This depends upon how you do your still life work, I suppose, for example whether you work with studio lighting or ambient light. But, the same setup and skills might lend themselves to catalog images for jewelry makers, website shots for auto parts manufacturers, magazine ads for a candy store or a million other things.

Still life may sell as fine art, too. There you might try getting into a gallery, or hang your work in coffee shops, or sign up to show it in juried art shows, or all three. (Note: I deliberately mentioned juried art shows because I haven't had good luck with wine & cheese/crafts & arts fairs in my area, but maybe you would in yours).

I would think a strong website and a good portfolio of 12 to 20 images would important to market your work as fine art.

Depending upon your body of work, you might look into doing a book.

Or write and illustrate some articles.

Or maybe you should be making products with your images on them: Jigsaw puzzles, mouse pads, coffee mugs, t-shirts, tote bags, etc., etc., etc.

The list can go on and on, and if you have another specialty or are expanding your repertoire, you need to go through a similar process to think of ways to market those images, too. Just try to pick your strongest potentials to work on first, then add others over time. Get busy developing whatever you need to do to market your best potential images, then go from there.

Oh, and I think 45MB files are about what you end up with if you convert an RGB RAW to 16bit TIFF, then make a copy of it as an 8 bit RGB JPEG. But, I may not be right about this, so check for more guidelines on the stock agency's website. If you're referring to Alamy (I think they have a 45MB minimum), then I know they tell you right on the website exactly how you should process your images. Look to see if they have a FAQs posted.