Table of Contents<\/p>
- Sell your work <\/a>
- Sell your photos as prints or artwork<\/a><\/li>
- Sell your images as merchandise, keepsakes, or memorabilia<\/a><\/li>
- Sell stock photos<\/a><\/li>
- Sell your photos to magazines<\/a><\/li>
- Go local:\u00a0Take photos at local events and sell them<\/a><\/li>
- Work with local businesses<\/a><\/li>
- Work with bloggers<\/a><\/li>
- Offer your skills and service<\/a><\/li>
- Create a photo booth at events<\/a><\/li>
- Be a second shooter or photographer\u2019s assistant<\/a><\/li>
- Offer photo editing and retouching service<\/a><\/li>
- Sell photography materials<\/a><\/li>
- Other<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
Sell your work <\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Sell your photos as prints or artwork<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nThis is probably the easiest solution, as you can start with the photos you already have. From landscape, animals, to distinctive colors and patterns, you can turn any subject into beautiful prints.<\/p>\n
Where to sell your photography prints: Your own website, Etsy<\/a>, 500px<\/a>, PhotoShelter<\/a>, SmugMug<\/a>, Society6<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Tip: You can sell individual prints, but you can also sell them as a set, like these beach poster prints<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Sell your images as merchandise, keepsakes, or memorabilia<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
There are so many things you can use as a medium for retailing your photos, for example:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Greeting cards and postcards;<\/li>\n
- Calendars – Have you ever noticed that calendars usually use thematic photos? If you have a series of photos with a theme, then this is the perfect option for you;<\/li>\n
- Notebooks and journals;<\/li>\n
- Phone or laptop cases;<\/li>\n
- T-shirts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Where to sell your products:\u00a0Society6<\/a>,\u00a0Etsy<\/a><\/p>\n
Read:<\/strong> 50 Ways to Market Your Photography Business<\/a><\/p>\n
Sell stock photos<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nIs selling stock photos still worth it when there are a lot of websites that offer free images?<\/p>\n
The answer is yes.<\/p>\n
Think of it this way: rather than having your huge collection hidden in your hard drive, it\u2019s better to sell them as stock photos and generate an additional income for it. There are many websites you can use to sell your work as photos, among them are\u00a0Dreamstime<\/a>, Shutterstock<\/a>, iStockphoto<\/a>, 500px<\/a>, Alamy<\/a>, PhotoShelter<\/a>, EyeEm<\/a>, and Fotolia<\/a>.<\/p>\n
To succeed, there are a few important tips you need to know:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Remove all visible product logos or brands in your photos<\/strong> – photos with brands in it are considered the intellectual property of the manufacturer, and therefore can\u2019t be used for commercial purposes. Make sure you remove all logos in the post-processing.<\/li>\n
- Select the keywords carefully<\/strong> – Choose specific, relevant keywords that describe your photos. For example, instead of putting \u2018dog\u2019, you can put \u2018golden retriever dog\u2019, \u2018running dog\u2019, or \u2018running golden retriever\u2019, which are more specific and descriptive.<\/li>\n
- Provide lots of negative space<\/strong> – designers will need it to add text, logo, or something else. Having blank space on the photo to work with will be useful for designers, and this will increase the chance of them buying your photos<\/li>\n
- Sell a series of related images or images with a specific color scheme<\/strong> – designers often need more than one image to work with, so use this as an opportunity to earn more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This goes without saying, but make sure the photos are of high quality. The higher the quality is, the more you can earn<\/p>\n
Sell your photos to magazines<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nSelling your photos to magazines is hard, but it\u2019s not impossible.<\/p>\n
There are countless magazines out there, with a wide array of fields you can explore. Travel, fashion, culinary, business, you can choose the magazines that fit your line of work.<\/p>\n
So what are the most important tips to get your images sold to magazines?<\/p>\n
- \n
- Have a strong portfolio – this goes without saying, and yes, you need it for any pitch you are going to do, whether you want to sell your work to magazines or somewhere else. But we can\u2019t stress this enough, as magazine editors have exacting standards when choosing photos<\/li>\n
- Start small – the competition is fierce, so you\u2019ll have a better chance with local and regional magazines.
\nThe success might not be instant and it might take a while, but it\u2019s definitely worth a shot. The high rewards, recognition, and exposure you\u2019ll get by having your photos featured in magazines will be a huge boost for your career.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nREAD:\u00a020 Tips to Make Your Photography Portfolio Stand Out<\/a><\/p>\n
\nGo local:\u00a0<\/b>Take photos at local events and sell them<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"http:\/\/blog.photojaanic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/03\/how-to-earn-money-from-photography-photojaanic-2.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nKeep up to date with local events in the area where you live. Whether it\u2019s a festival, community project, or local fair, wander around with your camera to document the events if possible. Focus on the stories that your lens can capture. Human interactions, facial expressions, and body language often deliver ineffable stories. Photos with captivating stories tend to perform well in sales.<\/p>\n
Work with local businesses<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"http:\/\/blog.photojaanic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/03\/how-to-earn-money-from-photography-photojaanic-4.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nThese days, having mediocre photos for business is really out of the question. Every business needs great photos, whether it\u2019s for promotional purposes, showing off a portfolio, or something else. Here are a few ideas where your skills can come in handy:<\/p>\n
- \n
- For restaurants or catering services:<\/strong> Take dish photos of their menu cards and website<\/li>\n
- For event\/wedding venues:<\/strong> Take photos of the venues, the surroundings, and detailed features for their websites or brochures<\/li>\n
- For Airbnb, hotels, and guest houses:<\/strong> This is a bit like real-estate photography; take photos of the rooms, buildings, and surroundings that can attract potential customers<\/li>\n
- For creative artists:<\/strong> Offer to take beautiful, professional product photos for them. This includes the product in a white\/plain background, the product in use, or something else that your client requests.<\/li>\n
- Bonus tip:<\/strong> If possible, ask the business owners if you can leave your business cards in the premises. If they\u2019re happy with your service, hopefully, they\u2019d be happy to help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
READ:<\/strong>\u00a012 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Food Photography<\/a><\/p>\n
Work with bloggers<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nWith the rise of the blogging industry, every blogger now strives hard to provide high-quality imagery to attract their readers and social media followers. Gone are the days when bloggers could get by with photos taken haphazardly.<\/p>\n
Who should you approach? For a start, you can try reaching out to fashion bloggers. These are the bloggers who most likely need help with photography, as it\u2019s far easier to have someone shoot them and all their outfit details rather than using a tripod and a self-timer.<\/p>\n
You can also try lifestyle bloggers, travel bloggers, or content creators that regularly share full-body photos of themselves.<\/p>\n
The advantage of this strategy:<\/p>\n
- \n
- You get exposure for your work, especially if the blogger has a large audience<\/li>\n
- You can utilize the blogger’s social network, which can give you opportunities to work with other bloggers in the industry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nOffer your skills and service<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
It\u2019s a bit obvious, isn\u2019t it? This is what photographers do, after all. But let us offer a few creative ideas.<\/p>\n
Shoot kids events and sell the photos<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"how](\"http:\/\/blog.photojaanic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/03\/how-to-earn-money-from-photography-photojaanic-12.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s no secret that parents love anything about their kids, including photos. It\u2019s not easy to get candid or action shots of kids, so if you can use your expertise to do that, then you should definitely consider this.<\/p>\n
There are many kids events that can be your opportunities to earn more mo. A few ideas:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Children\u2019s birthday parties<\/li>\n
- School events like plays, end-of-year performances, award ceremonies, etc.<\/li>\n
- Sports days<\/li>\n
- Some of these events might require permission and consent from involved parties, so make sure you take care of that beforehand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
READ:\u00a0The #1 Tip for Kids Photography, as Shared by Experts<\/a><\/p>\n
Create a photo booth at events<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Photo booths are a popular thing right now, and no party feels complete without one. From corporate events, family gatherings, to kids’ birthday parties, this is a great way to get an additional income.<\/p>\n
All you need is a\u00a0backdrop<\/a>, creative props, artificial lighting (if needed), a camera, and a tripod, and you\u2019re ready to go. This is considerably easier than event documentation, as you don\u2019t have to change the camera settings and angle the whole time. Once you have the settings ready and the camera mounted on a tripod, all you have to do is click away.<\/p>\n
How to sell the photos from these events?<\/em><\/p>\n
The easiest thing is to upload it to a website that provides printing service, like Photojaanic<\/a>. This way, you can share the photos with the customers, and they can choose themselves which photos they want to print, and on which products. They\u2019ll get the photos and products they choose, and you will profit from each sale.<\/p>\n
The development of this service is well underway, so watch this space!<\/p>\n
Be a second shooter or photographer\u2019s assistant<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Sometimes, it\u2019s a slow season for you but a busy season for other photographers. These photographers might need a second shooter, and why not take this opportunity to make money?<\/p>\n
This is also a good chance for networking, as these photographers might pass a job to you in the future if they\u2019re fully booked.<\/p>\n
Offer photo editing and retouching service<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"digital-photography-school-review-photojaanic](\"http:\/\/blog.photojaanic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2017\/08\/digital-photography-school-review-photojaanic-1.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nIf you\u2019re experienced in editing photos and favor the idea of working from home, this is a great side job for you. With just a computer and editing tools (Photoshop and Lightroom, depending on the requirements), you can earn money working from home.<\/p>\n
Where to get the gigs:<\/strong> Upwork<\/a>, Fiverr<\/a>, Freelancer.<\/p>\n
Tip: Create a portfolio of \u2018before\u2019 and \u2018after\u2019 photos, which will help attract\u00a0potential clients. Make sure it covers everything you can do, whether it\u2019s basic editing, retouching, photo manipulation or something else entirely.<\/p>\n
\nSell photography materials<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Sell Lightroom presets<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"how](\"http:\/\/blog.photojaanic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/03\/how-to-earn-money-from-photography-photojaanic-7.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nThese days, everyone has realized the importance of having a consistent tone for their photos. Bloggers, social media influencers, business owners, and even folks who post photos for fun strive to have consistency, especially on social media like Instagram. They don\u2019t mind investing in beautiful presets as it can help with their businesses and makes the photo editing process a lot quicker and easier.<\/p>\n
For those reasons, Lightroom presets have become incredibly sought after now, and if you enjoy creating presets, you can consider this option to make an additional income. Create a unique bundle of presets with various tones and settings, and build a portfolio that showcases photos edited using your own presets.\u00a0Just like the previous point, show the \u2018before\u2019 and \u2018after\u2019 images so people have an idea of what your presets can do.<\/p>\n
Tip: Give a few presets for free for your potential customers to try and play with. If they like the presets, they will be more likely to purchase more options.<\/p>\n
Where to sell your presets: Creativemarket<\/a>, FilterPro, Etsy<\/a>, your own website.<\/p>\n
Read:<\/strong> Instagram Hashtag Guide for Photographers<\/a><\/p>\n
Run workshops or online courses<\/b><\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nYou can also make money by sharing your expertise in photography, with workshops or online courses.<\/p>\n
Workshops<\/strong><\/p>\n
If you know people around your area who will be interested, you can try organizing a workshop. For local workshops, there\u2019s one secret that you can use to make the workshops appealing: offer specific, practical tips that will be beneficial for photographers in your area. Tailor the material to include these tips. For example, you can share some lesser-known spots for photo sessions, recommendations for collaborations with local businesses, or local opportunities for photography jobs.<\/p>\n
Online courses<\/strong><\/p>\n
You can also consider creating online courses, which might be even better than workshops. You can reach a wider audience with this, and there\u2019s no limitation to the time-frame (meaning, your online courses can generate money even long after you upload it).<\/p>\n
Where to sell your photography online courses: Udemy<\/a>, Skillshare<\/a>, Teachable<\/a>, your own website<\/p>\n
Tip:<\/strong> Be ultra-specific. Rather than trying to cover a big scope of a topic, choose 1 area that you can dig deeper into. It\u2019s just like the saying, \u2018Be a big fish in a small pond, rather than a small fish in a big pond.\u2019<\/p>\n
\nOther<\/span><\/h3>\n
Enter photography competitions<\/b><\/p>\n
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<\/span><\/p>\nPhotography competitions often give generous prizes for the winners, making a great additional income for photographers.<\/p>\n
But the monetary prizes are not the only advantages of entering photography competitions. This is also your chance to gain exposure for your work and network with fellow professionals in the field.<\/p>\n
\nDo you want to learn more about using social media to improve your online marketing and grow your photography business? Download our\u00a0FREE eBook: ‘The Ultimate Social Media Guide for Photographers in 2018’<\/strong><\/a>, and learn social media best practices and\u00a0how you can use these to create effective strategies!<\/em><\/p>\n
- For event\/wedding venues:<\/strong> Take photos of the venues, the surroundings, and detailed features for their websites or brochures<\/li>\n
- For restaurants or catering services:<\/strong> Take dish photos of their menu cards and website<\/li>\n
- Select the keywords carefully<\/strong> – Choose specific, relevant keywords that describe your photos. For example, instead of putting \u2018dog\u2019, you can put \u2018golden retriever dog\u2019, \u2018running dog\u2019, or \u2018running golden retriever\u2019, which are more specific and descriptive.<\/li>\n
- Remove all visible product logos or brands in your photos<\/strong> – photos with brands in it are considered the intellectual property of the manufacturer, and therefore can\u2019t be used for commercial purposes. Make sure you remove all logos in the post-processing.<\/li>\n
- Sell your images as merchandise, keepsakes, or memorabilia<\/a><\/li>
- Sell your photos as prints or artwork<\/a><\/li>