Mentioned in this Episode: David Tejada – https://www.davidtejada.com
Transcript
Hey, how’s it going? I’m Andy Jones, and this is episode 134 of the Photography Side Hustle podcast.
This week, I want you to think outside the box. You need to find ways to make money with your camera. So here are 7 ways I’ve come up with to help you.
#1
Kevin Cowley posted a photo in the Facebook group from a camping trip close to Mt. Hood in the middle of winter. In the foreground is his tent with a light inside, so it stands out as it was nighttime. The photo was very cool.
When I look at photos, I try to think of different ways you could make money from them. When I looked at Kevin’s photo, I wondered if he had ever offered his work to the company that manufactured the tent he uses. Then I thought he could take a photo of his skis with Mt Hood in the background.
Take photos of a company’s products and contact them to offer your services. You might get hired, or they might want to use one of the photos you sent. Just make sure all images are watermarked.
The worst thing that can happen is they say no.
#2
A few months ago I took a photo of an old rusty mailbox leaning against a fence at sunset. The mailbox has my surname and house number on it.
Using Adobe Photoshop, I can remove my name and put a different name and number on it. Now, I can offer a customized version of the image on my website. I am currently looking around for more scenes I can photograph that can be customized similarly.
#3
Books are an excellent way to get bookings. A few weeks ago, I did an episode called “Selling Photobooks,” where I explained how to produce a book to help raise money for a charity. The result is that you introduce yourself to a new network and get lots of bookings.
You can offer to make books, trade books, and magazines for businesses. A company celebrating 50 years in business might be interested in having a book made. Some companies might be interested in producing a quarterly magazine, but you won’t know until you ask.
#4
Calendars are great for sports clubs looking to raise money. The club makes money by selling the calendar to the kids’ parents and grandparents, plus they get the money from the business ads.
You make a profit selling the calendar to the sports club and put your name in front of everyone who buys a calendar from the club. Just remember to include an ad for your business.
#5
Taking photos in and around the area of a local town or village can make you money in a few ways.
Capturing picturesque images of local landmarks or landscapes can be sold as prints. This is especially true if it’s a tourist area.
Using your photos in a calendar can work well. If you sell advertising to local businesses and print a fixed amount of calendars, you can sell them to the public or even give them away, depending on how much you make from the ads.
The other option is to make a calendar with no ads and sell it in local stores and through your website.
You can also use the photos in a book. Local stores would be a great place to sell a photobook with images of the town.
Publishing a book or calendar with a local interest will help promote your business around town.
Take photos of local storefronts and offer them to the store owners.
Once you’ve done the local towns and villages, move out and do the same for other areas.
#6
When I think of travel photography, I see photos of the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. All the honey pot locations are where the majority of tourists visit.
Instead of worrying about the destination photos, consider all the businesses you will use to reach your destination. All the hotels, airlines, limousines, ferries, trains, car rentals, and restaurants between your home and your destination.
I follow Thomas Heaton on YouTube; he’s a professional landscape photographer. A few months ago, he went to Iceland from England for a landscape photo shoot in his van. That required him to go on more than one ferry.
He contacted the ferry companies to try to reduce his costs and offered to take some advertising photos while on their ferry. One of the companies hired him, and he made money while he was traveling.
As I said, consider all the businesses you will use on your journey. Make money while you travel. Even if it gets you a few free meals at a restaurant or a few free nights at a hotel.
If you plan your journey in advance, you can have work waiting for you, and there is nothing to stop you from getting more work while you are there.
#7
Headshots and business portraits are next. When you think of headshots and portraits, you probably think of a studio setup.
But why do you need a studio when you can carry a lightweight setup in your car.
Instead of waiting for business people to come to your studio, get in your car and go to them. Studio space is expensive, and you really don’t need one.
To prove my point, I will introduce you to David Tejada. He is a corporate photographer from Florida. I came across his work 17 years ago, and his corporate headshots and portraits are incredible.
His work is done on location; most of the people he photographs are in their offices. Check out DavidTejada.com; I’ll put a link in the show notes and the episode page over at PhotographySideHustle.com/134.
I used to read his blog, and his approach and setup is very simple. His photos look incredible compared to a headshot or portrait done in a studio.
If you can copy David’s style even a little, you will be busy for the rest of your career.
Think about offering local business owners on-site portraits and headshots. If you haven’t done any before, offer some free of charge and start your portfolio.
There is so much opportunity out there. Just think about how many stores and offices there are in your area. Even if you only get to book 1 or 2% of them, you will be super busy.
Conclusion
Whatever you shoot, think about how to wring every potential dollar out of it and maximize your time.
Right, that’s enough waffling. If you need help with anything, you can join the Facebook group or contact me through Messenger.
I’ll be back next week, talk to you soon, bye.