The Best ways to Make Money from Photography
“You can’t make money from photography” is one of the biggest misconceptions that you can hear while surfing the internet or even from some people around you. Unfortunately, this also prevents a lot of hobbyists from pursuing their passion in this field and turning it into something bigger.
If you are willing to think outside the box, you can make a lot of money with photography in a number of ways. Better yet, you can — the more experienced you are — you can outgrow any income that an unloved desk job could have brought you.
So, what are some of the best ways to make money from photography? lets take alook.
1. Doing photography work for clients
Perhaps the most obvious way to make money from photography is by taking pictures for others. Many businesses need promotional and marketing photos for them, and any couple about to get married will want someone who can take perfect photos of the most beautiful day in their lives.
Professional connections are the most important asset you have if you are interested in becoming a freelance photographer. get to know people in your local area; You can go and say hello to people in person, along with sending LinkedIn emails and networking requests.
Marketing is a good idea too, so consider creating a website that specifically lists what you have to offer and tries to rank in local search engines. Once your income is stable and comfortable, you can switch to the genre that you find most interesting.
2. Start a YouTube channel
The idea of becoming a YouTuber is an excellent way to make money from photography. First of all, documenting your journey provides a valuable marketing tool that you can send to others to get a brief overview of who you are and what you have to offer.
With time, you can also generate income potential with YouTube ad revenue. However, you need to have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours for this — so it’s something you can think of as a long-term project.
Creating a photography YouTube channel can also help drive traffic to other parts of the internet. Therefore, if you are selling items on your store or on an online marketplace, this is an excellent way to draw attention to your items.
3. Sell presets
When you start editing your photos, you will notice that you can add presets to them. Besides facilitating your post-production workflow, it can also provide you with an empowering way to make money from your photography.
To sell your presets, you’ll need to create them within Adobe Lightroom and export them from the app. Then, you can list the presets on your online store or a marketplace like Etsy. Once purchased, your files should be sent in a downloadable format.
Successfully selling your presets requires you to have a distinctive style that sets you apart from everyone else trying to do the same. Try the test by donating some for free before you put a price on them.
4. Blogging about photography
Right now, you are reading an article about photography. Since someone is getting paid to put this article together, who’s to say you can’t do the same?
Photography is a skill that many people would like to learn. And for some, it is easier to absorb information by reading an article than by watching a video. You don’t need the professional expertise to meet these needs; You only need to have picked up the camera and tried a few things before.
Many websites (and some print magazines) will pay you to share what you’ve learned with others. You’ll need to know how to put sentences together, but you don’t have to worry about being on the same level as Shakespeare. If your language of expression is not good, try to find places to write in your native language.
5. Host photography tours in your hometown
When people visit a new place, they want tips from the locals. If you live in a place that is popular with tourists, hosting photography tours can be an excellent way to make money from your photography.
You can advertise your photography tours via social networks, as well as create a booking link on the website. Moreover, you can list your experience on Airbnb.
When people travel, many of them want good pictures of themselves to share with everyone back home. So, in addition to photo tours, it is worth considering hosting photo sessions.
6.Train others
When you gain enough experience in photography, you can sell what you have learned to others through training.
There are many training opportunities that you can explore. For example, you can create comprehensive online video courses. One-on-one coaching and mentoring is another possibility, as is writing e-books.
If you’re worried about how many coaches there are actually, don’t be. We all have different personalities and want to work with people we can relate to best, so you will find paying clients — as long as you have experience and advertise yourself properly.
7.Add your photos to photo distribution sites
While there are plenty of free stock image distribution sites out there, they don’t always have the exact image that companies and marketing flyers are looking for. Many will turn to paid image distribution sites like Getty Images and Shutterstock to get what they need.
Image distribution sites don’t pay much up front; It may take years before you start to see the attraction. However, uploading your photos isn’t hard — and it’s a simple way to finally earn passive income.
Many photo distribution sites will have specific rules that you have to adhere to, so it’s worth checking them out before you sign up.
Lots of ways to make money from photography
In decades past, making money from photography was much more complicated. But thanks to the internet, you have so many possibilities to explore. The traditional ways of earning income from taking photos can still work, but sticking to them limits your possibilities.
If you don’t want to take pictures of others, you can take steps to start monetizing yourself today. Creating a YouTube channel or building a large enough audience can probably take a few years — but if you’re persistent enough and learn from your mistakes, you’ll get where you want to be in no time.
