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You dont need to be a professional to make money from photography.
You dont even need one of thebest cameras.
Turning your hobby into a source of income is one of lifes big wins.
The good news is that photography is probably one of the easiest hobbies to monetize.
And if you want to earn more significant sums, a bit of persistence can really pay off.
At university, I offered my services covering sports and events.
Now I write about cameras for TechRadar.
These can then be licensed for use in designs, magazines, websites and more.
Youll receive a fee each time one of your images is licensed.
There are several sites which allow you to sell your images as stock.
Some of the biggest areAdobe Stock,Shutterstock,iStockandAlamy.
Once your account is approved, you could start uploading.
Tagging and categorization is key, as it helps people find your photos.
Sell print-on-demand products
Creating physical products featuring your images can be a great way to make money.
The alternative is to upload your photos to print-on-demand services, such asPrintfulorRedbubble.
This makes it a low-risk and low-effort way to make money.
If you want to increase your sales, you could also try marketing your products on social media.
you’re free to also use websites such asWhiteWallto create a book of your best stills.
you’re free to offer these for sale through a website of your own or via social media.
From passport photos to family snaps, people are always in need of portraits.
Personal recommendations tend to go a long way.
Posting on local Facebook groups and classified listings will also help to get word out about your services.
The kit you need depends on the throw in of portraits youre shooting.
Weve put together a handy guide onhow to set up a home photo studio.
Check out ourportrait photography tipsfor more insights.
Shoot events
Event photography can be a regular and lucrative earner.
As with portraiture, getting events gigs as an amateur photographer will often require a portfolio of previous work.
That might mean offering to shoot a few events for friends and family.
Its a good idea to share that portfolio on a website or social media feed.
Be open-minded about the kind of events youre willing to cover.
That could be music gigs or football matches; weddings or birthdays; even corporate events.
They wont all be the glitziest at this stage, but its all experience.
That includes setting out timescales for editing and sharing files.
Pricing can be a tricky one to fix when youre an amateur photographer.
you could look at other photographers in your area to see what the going rate is.
Some event photographers charge by the hour, while others will ask a fixed fee.
You want to price in your time, not just at the event, but also in the edit.
You also need to set a price that reflects your experience.
Enter competitions
A quick online search will reveal hundreds of photo competitions open for entry at any given time.
Youll find these regularly popping up on social media, too.
Most competitions have a theme, whether thats wildlife, travel or something else.
If you need software to help you, check out our list of thebest photo editors.
Whats more, photography competitions usually offer the potential to give your stills more exposure.
Thats especially true nowadays, which makes commercial photography a potentially fruitful avenue to explore as an amateur photographer.
Shoot for businesses
One option is to offer your services to local businesses.
The smartest way to go about this is to look up their online presence.
Then its simply a case of delivering the goods.
That will differ based on the punch in of business.
Make a list of the shots youll want to capture on the day.
Shoot interiors
Interior photography is another route to earning money as an amateur.
Besides businesses, this will often be for homeowners who want to sell their property independently.
Youll need two key bits of kit to shoot high-quality interior images: a tripod and a wide-angle lens.
Doing freelance interior work gives you a lot of flexibility.
It could also lead to a more permanent role with a real estate agent.
Many agencies retain interior photographers to shoot properties going on their books.
As an amateur photographer, you’re able to fill this gap.
All you really need to get started is a Lightbox.
This gives you a stage on which to shoot evenly lit products against a plain background.
The great news is that its easy to practise product photography at home using anything you have lying around.
Dont be shy about reaching out to businesses directly.
If youre familiar with scenic locations in your area, you could consider running photography tours for tourists.
Youd first need to check whether permission is required from local authorities.
A few test runs with friends and family would be a great idea to help you polish your delivery.
Then its simply a case of marketing your tours online and asking for testimonials.
Tips for success
1.
Market yourself
Marketing yourself online can help to increase your income.
Setting up an Instagram profile to showcase your portfolio could help you to win new clients.
- internet locally
Your first gigs are the hardest to get.
Offering services to friends and family is a good way to get started.
As you build your portfolio and word of mouth spreads, youll find it easier to win more work.
It can help to put your services out there on local Facebook groups and classified pages.
Be open-minded about opportunities that come your way.
Upgrade your skills
Even thebest cameras for beginnerswill produce saleable stills.
At this stage, it pays more to upgrade your skills than your equipment.
Be consistent
The key to making regular money as an amateur photographer is consistency.
That means committing to building up your portfolio, marketing yourself and delivering a good service to clients.
