HOW TO TURN THE HOBBY OF PHOTOGRAPHY INTO CASH.

Photo credit: www.freshbooks.com

Do you enjoy taking photographs? Are you the kind of person who brings

the camera everywhere you go? Do you never miss an opportunity to take

a picture? How good are your photographs?

If you possess some skill at camera work and love doing it, then you have

a marvellous opportunity in front of you if you wish to take it. There are

many people who have taken an enjoyable hobby and turned it into a

thriving business. There are others who have simply made a lot of extra

cash doing something they would have been doing anyway, pay or not.

What about you? If photography is your hobby, your passion, what about

exploring the numerous openings out there for good photographic work?

People love pictures and virtually any occasion for picture taking is an

opportunity for the photographer to earn some extra money.

Cameras are so sophisticated today, you don’t even have to be an expert

at picture taking just be able to read and follow directions. If you have the

motivation, this is an area that has plenty of room for new blood.

Your advantage over professional photographers is
that you can charge a

lot less and still produce the quality pictures your client will love. At the

same time, you can save that individual a considerable amount of money

for a fabulous result. What could be better than that?

If you organise your time well, you can spend some nights and especially

weekends seeing a lengthy number of clients. It would not be unusual to

earn more in your spare time with photography than you do in your

regular job. That could be an indication that you are in the wrong profession!

Whether it’s weddings, portraits, models, greeting cards, newspapers,

aerial photography or some other form of photography, the opportunities

abound for the person willing to give it a try.

Photography is here to stay. Even as people cut back during tougher

financial times, the desire for photos reasonably priced is, and always will

be, there. Yes, there is competition, but if you expand your natural market

of family and friends, there are plenty of jobs to go around.

You’ll probably even find a certain type of photography that you like best

and gravitate towards that almost exclusively. Who knows what could

happen once you launch your business?

Books are published annually in the thousands, many of which have a

demand for photographs, even if it’s only of the author on the back cover.

There are specialty books that are produced consisting almost exclusively

of photographs and designed for the coffee table.

How about local businesses? They may be doing a sales Photography

piece which requires a photograph. An insurance plan that’s intended to

be used as a savings vehicle for a child’s college education likely needs a

photo of a child or a teen in a cap and gown for its cover. These types of

possibilities are limitless.

The more versatile your photography exhibits, the better chance you have

of making a good living. A lot of photography is seasonal, thus your

ability and willingness to do all aspects of photography gives you

year-round possibilities. While you may have no weddings to shoot in

November and December, you could be filming portraits for holiday gifts

and cards. The important thing for you is to set a goal and stay with it. You might

want to start out small and work your way up to more and more types of

photography and longer and longer hours.

You don’t need very expensive equipment to get started. Some great

shots can be achieved by a regular camera you can purchase in a retail store.
Add a tripod and maybe a spotlight for certain shots and you’re in

business. A camera is one of the best ways to earn some extra money for yourself

or to transport you from active hobbyist to legitimate businessperson. The

key is your desire to get the job done.

Photography at weddings

A wedding is the most important day in the lives of many people. For that

reason, it is an occasion they wish to remember forever. What better way

than with pictures to look back on in the years ahead?

Part of the wedding preparation is the selection of a photographer. While

all couples want to remember this day in pictures, a number of families

cannot afford the services of a top-notch professional photographer. They

are willing to spend some money, however, which makes it a good

opportunity for the photographer willing to work a wedding.

The first thing to establish is what the bride and groom and their families

want in the way of pictures. One would assume they’ll want before,

during and after pictures, all dressed out in a memorable album or two

when the wedding is over.

You should know what your costs will be for the albums and the film

you’ll need to process to complete your task. You should then add to that

an hourly rate ($50, $75, $100?) based on the estimated number of hours

you’ll be working. This will help you arrive at your total costs to charge

the family. They should know this cost ahead of time and you should prepare and

sign a contract so that everyone is aware of what you are charging and

what they have to do. Sample types of contracts should be in your local

library to review. Once you set up a standard contract for your business,

you can use it for most occasions.

Make sure you identify all of the various people who will be at the

wedding. The couple and their parents may have specific people they

want you to take numerous shots of during the affair. Be sure you ask all

the right questions to clarify this information. This album is important to
them and you want to be sure they are getting what they want to the best
of your ability.

Other contract features should include a disclaimer for photographs that

don’t come out due to equipment failure through no fault of your own. In

addition, you should keep the negatives and the contract should contain a

release allowing you to use those photographs in advertising for other

wedding business.

Get as many photographs as possible taken before the wedding begins.

This way you avoid competing with other "photographers" who are

snapping pictures at the same time. Walk around the church ahead of time

and find out where you can stand and where you can’t to get the pictures

you need during the actual ceremony. Some churches restrict your

photographing area, so know this in advance and plan accordingly.

You should construct a standard list of pictures the bride and groom

would want you to take. This will make it easier for them to select the

pictures they want. Here’s a standard list, put together by various wedding photographers:

Pre-ceremony

- Bride with her mother

- Bride with her father

- Bride with both parents

 -Groom with both parents

- Bride with grandparents

- Groom with grandparents

-Bride with maid of honour

- Groom with best man

- Bride with flower girls, etc.

- Groom with ushers

Just prior to ceremony

- Groom’s mother entering church with usher

-Bride’s mother entering church with usher

- Groom’s father entering the church

- Bride with father, about to walk down the aisle

Ceremony

 - Bride’s and groom’s attendants as they walk down aisle

 - Bride with father walking down the aisle

 - Bride with father approaching groom at altar

 - Shots of wedding party at the altar

 - Shots (if permitted) of bride and groom at altar

 - Bride and groom kissing                                                                                                                 
 -Bride and groom leaving altar

Post-ceremony

- Bride alone at altar

- Bride and groom at altar

-Bride and groom with bride’s family

-Bride and groom with groom’s family

-Bride and groom with minister, priest, rabbi, etc.

-Bride and groom with wedding party

- Bride and groom kissing

- Bride’s attendants (all) alone

-Ushers alone

Reception

- Entry of wedding party

- Different shots of guests (table to table)

- Different shots of guests not at tables

- Bride and groom dancing

- Parents of bride and groom dancing

- The wedding cake                                                                                  
- Bride and groom cutting the cake

- Bride feeding groom

- Groom feeding bride

- Best man’s toast

- Bride and groom kissing

- Bride tossing the bouquet

- Groom removing bride’s garter
- Groom tossing the garter

-The band

-The servers

-The "getaway" car, especially if decorated

- Bride and groom driving away in car.

These are the essential choices that usually comprise a wedding album.

Couples and their families will modify these standard options to suit their

needs. In addition to these usual shots, you should try and take as many

unusual pictures as you can, especially those that will add some humour

and/or sentiment to the day. Remember it is a memorable occasion for the

participants, and your ability to capture the moments as naturally as

possible will get you many recommendations and referrals.

You should collect a deposit before you begin work. This should cover

the cost of the supplies plus at least an hour of your time. The balance can

be collected when you deliver the album(s). You might want to split the

payments up into two even amounts. If the total bill is $750, collect $375
before you begin and the balance when you’ve completed the album.

Speaking of weddings, don’t forget wedding anniversaries. Oftentimes,

the couple will come back for shots on their anniversary, especially the

5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and so forth. The 25th and 50th anniversaries are often
 marked by parties and celebration, that may require your services.
 Don’t overlook the wedding anniversary market as it is a natural extension of the
wedding market for you. Keep an eye out for anniversary announcements and contact
 the couple to see if they would like a professional photographers touch at the festivities.

They probably will!

Portraits

With so many young families today placing a renewed emphasis on

family gatherings, the art of portrait-taking is as in vogue as ever. With

virtually every household in your area a potential portrait customer, this

portion of the photography business is too large to overlook.

Families keep portraits forever. Parents use them to watch their kids grow

up and then remember those days years later. Not only is every household

a prospect, but a well-done first portrait can bring you repeat business

from the same family for years.

You don’t need a studio to do portraits. You can rearrange one of the

rooms in your house and accomplish the same thing for no overhead!

Earlier, we suggested a tripod and a floodlight or two. The only addition

to those items to set up a portrait studio at home would be some kind of

coloured background material you can tape up on the walls. Presto! A

home studio!

This is not only a home studio, it can serve as a travelling one, too! Bring

your background material, your lights and your camera and tripod and

you can do your portrait almost anywhere: a client’s house, an office, a

school building. You have to be prepared to hide any "alien" elements

like other lights, tables, pictures, whatever might distract from the

centrepiece: the picture of the family members/individual.

In portraits, it’s important to have everyone doing the right things. With

several people, be sure they are arranged properly so that no one is

blocking anyone else. Ask the kids to smile, not to make faces. You can

take a serious shot or two as well. You’re in charge, although you must

do it in a manner that is pleasant and controlled, but firm. After taking a

few portraits, you will know what works best, not only in photography,

but in the discreet suggestions to clients to better ensure a portrait they will

be pleased with for years to come.

There are thousands of memories stored away in pictures and that’s a lot

of responsibility for you to get it right. But you can do it! Work with a

child to make him or her happy, even if you know (or it’s obvious) they

would like to be somewhere else. Years later, these precocious young

clients will be pleased with the effort you made to get the portrait right, as

they pull down an old album.

If you’re in the position of trying to build up a portrait (or photography)

business, you can try an idea many photographers use to get started. They

advertise a free or low-cost $1.00 portrait special for a family member.

You sign up as many as you can take and then, as they sit, snap a few

different shots of the person. You present your free or low-cost portrait

framed (their choice of photo) and then you offer the additional shots and

sizes that good pictures are likely to encourage. Not many people can

pass up wallet-sizes, for example, of a good portrait. Your add-on sales

should make up for the giveaway, generate your own portfolio of portraits

to show other potential clients, and get your name known about town as a

competent portrait photographer.

Children also have their pictures taken at school. The school photos are

often done by a portrait photographer like yourself! Get down to each of

the schools, put a bid in to do the portraits and leave samples of your past

portrait work. Large towns have several schools as prospects. In addition,

drive out to schools that are off the beaten track, but within a comfortable

driving distance for you. They may not have someone they use regularly

and your professional approach may attract a few offers to do the school

portraits. It may come as a surprise, but portraits don’t have to be only of people.

Families keep a lot of valuable items and heirlooms in their homes.

Unfortunately, crime being what it is today, these luxury pieces are often

the target of thieves.

To assist with a potential insurance claim if any of these precious items is

stolen, a good picture with the current date on it can be critical evidence

in not only identifying the object for the police but in appraising it for the

insurance company. Be sure you get a complete shot, brand name (if

appropriate) and any specific identifying marks that can help recover the

item. In addition to material things, people often like pictures of their pets.

Humans’ obsession with their pets certainly extends to photography. If

people will dress up a pet or have a special burial plot as if the animal

were a family member, you can assume that a portrait is part of the

process of pet ownership, too. If you’re particularly fond of animals, then

it makes sense to pursue this part of the photography business for yourself.

Along with your normal advertising, you can leave your card and a

sample pet shot or two at pet stores, grooming places, veterinary clinics,

kennels, any place where a pet owner is bound to turn up. People who

have show-dogs are good candidates for portraits, as are breeders looking

to show off their pet, too. Getting pets to sit for their portrait may require a special touch.
 If you have a toy for the animal to play with or some proper food, that can

usually put the animal into positions from which you can get a good portrait.

Cards

The holidays are great occasions for pictures, not only portraits but for

cards that are mailed out by the millions. Whether it’s Christmas,

Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day or another holiday, photos and

photo-cards are very much a part of the holiday mail.

You must be well organised to be sure your card assignments are

completed on time. Pictures must be taken, developed and converted into

"cards" (a photo lab can help with this) well before the holiday to leave

the client plenty of discretionary time to mail them out.

Here is an approximate time table in which to prepare your "card" business:

Holiday Month :                                 Take Pictures No Later Than:

Christmas                                                August

Easter                                                       November

Mothers' Day                                           January

Fathers' Day                                            February

Valentine’s Day                                       October

Birthdays or Anniversaries                     4 months prior

In addition to the cards, you should encourage portraits or other pictures

as a holiday gift. There are many memorable moments when a picture

arrives of a grandchild, a nephew, a niece, a cousin. You can earn

substantially more by processing picture and portrait orders in addition to

the card work.

The other card opportunity is with new babies. Most of the time, the new

parents like to notify their relatives and friends of the new addition to

their family. What better way than with a birth announcement card,

complete with picture?

This is all part of working with and staying with families over the years.

There are so many special picture moments in the lives of people that a

good photographer can almost be like a member of the family, having

participated in all of the special occasions that dot the landscape for all of

us. Don’t ever underestimate this! Remember your clients on their special

days. Sending out cards is entirely appropriate to commemorate the

holidays or a birthday or anniversary. 

If you took the wedding photos, you will know when an anniversary is coming.
 If you took a birthday picture, you will have that date. Get as much information about your

clients as you can. Not only will they appreciate the remembrance, the

opportunity to keep your name in front of them will work to your

advantage the next time an important picture moment arrives.

So, cards have two meanings here. First, you can build a nice business

creating holiday picture cards. Second, a card and a note to honour special

occasions in the lives of your clients can remind them that you truly care

about them. Both are important!

Newspapers.

Think about it. You buy the newspaper regularly, don’t you? As a

photographer, the photos in the paper are probably of special interest to

you. While others linger over the headline or perhaps even the story, you

are studying the picture to look for technique or maybe how you would

have taken the shot. Small towns have publications that go beyond the scope of normal news

reporting, preferring to concentrate instead on the events that effect the

local community. It might be a Friday night or Saturday afternoon

football game, a charity ball, a church bazaar, an historical

commemoration event these are all local news stories that weekly

publications will have an interest in covering. This means pictures!

Smaller publications, especially of the free variety, are not likely to retain

a full-time photographer, so freelance work is relatively easy to come by.

Good pictures often sell these publications, especially to locals who like

seeing their faces in the town tabloid. 

Keeping track of school events whether it’s sports activities, talent shows, plays, 

dances, contests and, of course, graduations can keep you busy from week to week. 

There are also important community meetings which are held such as council or school

board events. Someone will be there with a pen to record the proceedings,

but a photograph to accompany the story is always welcome. Many

writers would prefer to write and leave the picture taking to someone who

is professional and reliable rather than have to worry about both story and

pictures. Many editors of small publications don’t necessarily have the time to get

to every event to shoot the necessary film, either. They are usually a

one-person band and need any and all the help they can get. They

probably have a small budget for pictures but once you develop a

reputation for being there with your camera and getting good shots, you’ll

have regular work. Start by taking a few shots of events and bringing them in to the editor.

An editor will want to see examples of the types of pictures the paper is

most likely to want, hence the importance of attending events and

snapping shots. The editor may well be interested in what you’ve already

taken and you can discuss fees at that point. You may even want to give a

couple of the shots away in exchange for ongoing work. If you live in a

small town, you will be familiar about where to get information about

events of interest to the paper. The editor may give you assignments, but

you can often come up with your own ideas. Visiting the local businesses

regularly can get you both the town gossip and news about potential

photo opportunities. You may even find potential advertisers for the

paper! Awards ceremonies, neighbors’ hobbies, church youth programs,

library-sponsored readings almost anything you can think of has the

possibility of being a photo-worthy event. All you need is your camera.

Low overhead. Great potential. What could be better than that?