In recent years, the field of Photography has seen a considerable amount of growth, partially due to technology becoming more readily available to more people, and how simple it has become to share your work with others. Whereas before you would have to create a portfolio of your best work, and show it to potential clients, today you can share your portfolio with the world with the click of a button thanks to Social Media. As more and more people begin to flock to social media platforms, those same people are beginning to discover their affinity for photography which has led to one common question… How can I make money taking pictures?
Like every other field, there are often gatekeepers who will tell beginners they need expensive gear, schooling, training, etc… but I am here to tell you that you don’t really need all of that to get started, all you need is a camera, and commitment.
Just Get Started
One mistake many people make is putting off getting started because they feel like they do not have enough experience to justify selling their photos. Experience, however, is hardly a prerequisite for making money through photography, what matters is what you are able to show prospective clients. One thing I did when I first started taking photos was to upload my best shots onto my Instagram, which I would then casually show to others in an effort to sell photoshoots. Without much experience in professional photography, I was able to build a solid portfolio while building a small base of clients who would often reach back out to me when they needed another set of seasonal photos. For any beginner photographer, this is more than enough to jump-start your career in photography, but there are still other methods you can take advantage of if you are still on the fence about getting started.
Sell Stock Photos
Another avenue that I took advantage of early in my career, and is still generating money for me today is Stock Photography. There are many companies online that will allow you to sell your photos on their platform and will pay you a portion of the revenue they generate. Stock Photography offers a great way for you to get started by allowing you to take advantage of a platform that has already been built for you, all you need to do is provide quality content that will sell. The great thing about stock photography is once you upload a photo to a stock photography website, it will continue to generate passive income for you until you remove it from the website. This isn’t exactly the fastest way to get started, but if you build a catalog of photos on these websites, over time the income begins to add up.
Shadow A Professional Photographer
Another method you can use to get started is to work as a backup photographer for an already established photographer. This gives you the opportunity to gain experience and also learn from a photographer in the field. This benefits both of you because it provides you an opportunity to learn, and also gives the photographer more photos and different angles during a photoshoot, which is always welcome. The best way to go about this is to simply look up photographers in your area and give them a call but don’t become a nuisance… Remember, you are offering them a service that will help both you and them, but if they don’t want or need it, just move on. Let them know you are also a photographer and are looking to shadow a professional to gain more experience. Once you develop a relationship with other photographers, you may eventually even begin to talk about compensation and maybe earning a little bit of money while on photoshoots with them, but don’t expect a whole lot right away.
Get an Education in Photography
Being a photographer is one of the few fields where you don’t absolutely need a formal education to be successful. It is entirely possible to teach yourself everything you need to know about photography, but having a formal education can often give you the confidence you need to get started as well as increasing the value of yourself as a photographer. If you aren’t looking to become an entrepreneur and starting your own photography business, but would rather work for another company, schooling might be your best bet. There are many intro courses that you can take at any local college which will teach you the basics and give you a solid foundation to build upon but remember… you don’t necessarily need formal education or a college degree to become a successful photographer.
Photography Is an Art
Lastly, remember that Photography like any other art form is SUBJECTIVE, meaning different people will respond to your art differently. Just because one person doesn’t like your photos or editing style, it doesn’t mean your photos are bad. It just isn’t an art style that they particularly enjoy. There will always be critics and while it is important that you take critique and learn from it, do not let it discourage you and stop you from taking photos.
If you are really looking to start a career in photography there are a lot of ways to get started, the methods I mentioned here are just a few that I used when I first started my career as a photographer. But there are plenty of other ways to start a successful career in photography. The best advice I can give anyone who is interested in being a photographer is to just go for it. Photography can be a lot of fun and a creative challenge for many, but the best way to learn is to go out there and do it.
