If you are fond of or have a keen desire to click the images on the go, being a photographer is a profession that is ideal for you. Contrary to conventional thinking, photography can help you churn money. Here, we have enumerated a few lesser-known ways to make money as a photographer.
How To Make Money As A Photographer
1. Sell the photos online
If you have enough practice in clicking the shots, you might now know the demand for stellar photographers. Online is the best platform to sell those prints.
There are various websites where you can display your photographs and earn a commission. One of the great platforms for novice and expert photographers is Etsy.
To submit the photographs, you need to click the image and put it on the website, and get rewards for it. However, if there are any complaints or refunds, you have to take care of them.
Here we have written websites to further your photography business.
- Etsy
- Fine Art America
2. Sell it through shops and restaurants
Another way to sell the prints is to visit the hotels or restaurants nearby your area.
For example, if you have clicked the photo, you can approach the café or a nearby restaurant where they will help you display your photo and provide you with a commission.
It is how you can spread the voice of your artwork to thousands of people and make money as a photographer.
3. Start with photography classes
If you are not an expert at online displaying photographs, you can start with your photography classes. These classes will help you to display your knowledge and skills masterfully.
However, you need to understand that being an excellent photographer doesn’t translate you into a good teacher. Teaching is not a cakewalk; it requires patience and never giving-up attitude.
How to get started?
- Take lessons from expert tutors: Find a topic and see how you can explain it to the students by following classes of expert teachers.
- Improve your social media presence: Aspiring teachers need to perfect their social media portfolio because today’s generation is internet savvy. The first thing is they will look at your Instagram reels and Facebook stories.
- Select your niche: Don’t just teach them basic photography skills; stay true to your niche. For example, if you are a wildlife photographer, you can spell out the nuances of how to become a wildlife photography guru. You can disclose technical aspects too.
4. Engrave the photos
Think beyond the traditional way of selling photographs. You can approach the profession with innovativeness.
For example, you can engrave photos on different products like home decor items, t-shirts, mugs, hats, and other souvenirs.
You can also add in business logos, posters, templates, invitation cards, postcards, photo prints, etc.
5. Create the videos
Another way to flaunt your talent is to create preview or teaser videos and publish them on the YouTube Channel.
Ensure that it includes a bird eye view of the course and not too much detail otherwise, it will derail the whole purpose.
6. Create blogs
If you live to write, blogging can be another profitable venture to explore your photography skills.
To stand out tall among the photo bloggers, you can give an exciting angle to your blog; for example, you can write about your experiences with photography, tips, and tricks on how to click an amazing shot, a philosophical intake, about fashion photography, fad photography tips, how to take the best food photographs, etc.
In simple words, explore the different topics from your journey, and follow fellow bloggers for new insight.
How can you earn as a photo blogger?
- You can place ads and be paid if the visitor clicks on them.
- Create reviews about different cameras, their definition, and other photo gear. People will be thrilled to know rave reviews about the products they are going to buy. On the other hand, the brands will readily offer sponsorship to you.
7. Upgrade the content
You can upgrade the existing content by adding videos, online tutorials, consultations about related products, etc.
8. Affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is an old way to earn money.
Create a blog around the products describing the details from a photographer’s angle; when the reader clicks on it, you will get a percentage of the deal; in this way, you can provide useful advice to the audience and earn money.
9. Create guest blogs
The world of SEO provides an opportunity for everyone.
As a professional photo blogger, you can publish informative content on reputed blogs and get paid and noticed as a guest contributor.
10. Upload the photos on stock websites
Many websites have propped that pay a handsome sum to the photographers without thinking twice. The most popular microstock sites are Shutterstock, iStock, Dreamstime, and BigStock.
The amount they pay for each downloaded photo is less, so the best trick is to upload maximum photos and get noticed. You can also add relevant keywords which people would love to search.
Here are a few tips to consider before uploading the photos
- Use the correct size and file type for each photograph.
- Create metadata for every image (caption it with relevant keywords)
- Aim for the long term, not for a week or next month
- Keep on uploading large quantities of photos to earn revenue
- Select low revenue competition area with high buyer request
- Follow the photography trend to know what is in demand.
Final Thoughts
You can make money as a professional photographer in several ways.
You can sell the prints on the website, create an e-book, share your images on social media, enter photography competitions, start lecturing the children, create a blog or a website, start writing a post, assist other photographers, try wedding or real estate photography, publish the clicks in the hotel, etc.
These are the tiny ideas to earn rewards if you struggle as a photographer.
