How To Make $$$

First make certain you can deliver what you’re selling. Might consider a small investment in some courses or workshops with a professional instructor.

I did this after I retired from 60 years of shooting pro and had a lot of fun learning how to shoot in different ways and how to edit my images. Made me a much better photographer.

Second setup an only gallery or webpage to help market your services. Publish only your very best images and keep to a single theme. No shots of the dog or the kids or the vacation.

If you need images for your online portfolio volunteer to shoot for non-profits or charities. Get some marketing materials like inexpensive business cards. I made a lot of cash shooting local politicians during elections. I shot a lot of freelance news photos. Didn’t pay a lot but got me a press pass (I’d make my own now.)

If you’re interested shoot marketing images for up-and-coming musicians and bands. Won’t pay much but you’ll get some great images to help market yourself.

Get creative. Sandy Puc who’s made a ton of money shooting babies in Lilliton, Colorado marketed her services in the early days by providing big free prints of newborns for her local hospital walls.

Take your stuff around to local advertising and marketing firms. Download a standard contact and rate sheet.

If you’re interested in shooting wedding remember that this is a sacred trust and you’re going to need both the right skills and equipment (two pro bodies, off-camera flash, wide, medium and long telephoto lens and a macro lens and maybe a fast portrait lens.

Going into wedding photography without knowing what you’re doing will get you sued these days.

See if you can get a paid gig shooting as a second photographer for a wedding pro photographer. If you’re any good consider teaching or offering workshops yourself or through area clubs.

I taught for years at clubs and for a national retailer. You’re only limited by your own creativity and desire.

Everyone is going to tell you that there’s no money in photography. Heard the same story from when I started in 1970. And everyone who believed this never made any money in photography. The rest of us over the years did alright and had a great time doing it.