Anyone making money with photo?

3

315jibber94

Member
just picked up my d90, i was taking really nice pics with my d3000 and seeing how i upgraded i want to see if i can make a little money, other than weddings etc, are any of you guys making money selling photos at markets etc? or not really bothering? if so hows it working? lol
 
You're probably going to have a tough time but stick with it. Try going to local coffee shops and asking them if they'll display your work. Don't charge them, just have them display pictures with a sign that says "Prints available for purchase" with your contact info. Try taking people's senior portraits if you're in high school. You'll probably have more luck making money by shooting gigs instead of just trying to sell your work at first. Keep an eye out for photography jobs.
 
its just a higher end camera... o thats a good idea, the board and prints etc, i tried doing senior pics last year, but my school was gay and needed like some electic transfer of pics which made it basically only studios could take senior pics... and ya senior pics for them to come to you was like 600 bucks, i could charge like 100 or 200 and get a fuck load of business...

any other thoughts guys?
 
local coffee shops are prime. and not the big chains like starbucks. just talk to them like was mentioned, usually the owner is always very nice. i know the owner of one of our local places, she displays some awesome photography and various art forms in her place. she has also asked me to do a little promo video for her which for me will be big $$$$. then maybe ask if you can leave some classy business cards with them as well to get your name out there. then the word spreads and people start contacting you for stuff.

i would recommend trying to keep the pics you display in there sort of themed with the shop if they have one. ie don't ask to display action sports pics if its an older style feeling shop unless they fit. if that makes sense. for instance the one in our town is called Cowboy Joe, so most of the work has a western feel and all of the photography is of the surrounding mountain ranges and ranches with horses and little horseshoe figures welded and what not.

anyway hope this helps you out and if its not a huge city and more of a moderate town like mine, you do lots of stuff for lots of different people and your name will spread real fast bringin in some cash flow. good luck!
 
This dude knows what's up.

Coffee shops are so prime because a lot of people don't get exposure to "good" photography frequently where they can buy a print like a painting. When people go into coffee shops they start feeling artsy so they'll want to buy pictures. I've never done it but I've seen it done really well. I was in this small shop in Seattle and this chick had prints on the wall for sale that weren't very good by any means, but people were still paying $50+ for them according to one of the workers that I talked to.
 
First off: I'm not a professional photog, and have never been paid for my photography.

I suspect there are many things in the photography industry that you don't yet understand. A couple of things, in my unprofessional opinion:

- Having a good camera doesn't make a good photo. There are many other factors at play, which I don't want to elaborate here on. The internet is full of info.

- Under charging for work is bad on the whole industry. That being said, if you are only using your "higher end camera", a kit lens, no strobes or other lighting equipment, no portrait techniques, etc, then charging 100-200 compared to 600 might not be under charging. If students want mediocre quality shots for a greatly discounted rate (compared to the 600), then that's what they will get what they pay for, or less. If your shots don't turn out great, they will not buy them.

If I'm wrong and you are well equipped (good portrait lens, lighting, backdrop, etc), then you might be successful if you know what you're doing.

Just don't expect to be able to have people pay hundreds of dollars for pictures just because you have a "higher end camera". The clients could care less about what camera was used. They will only care about the final product.

Any more experienced photogs out there, please correct me if I am wrong.
 
haha this is soooo true.

you might also have some small restraunts around your area like this as well, i don't know if they work as well as coffee shops but i have a buddy who has one of his large paintings and some other art on display in a little place on campus at college and at least its exposure if no one buys it.

but you never know who will walk into places like that. maybe someone who really appreciates all art forms with a fatty wallet that needs lightened.
 
ya i get that, im talking about out doors pics like when people have them come to your house etc, i dont have all that, but some people just want a nice picture and not really too worried about like shading or stuff as long as it comes out cool, thanks im going to start to find some shops, theres alot of wealthy little lake towns around here that i might be able to make some money with... thanks guys
 
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