Making money “It’s one thing to sell great photography to others, but it’s another to share with someone the skills to make great images themselves”
but the biggest barriers are often a lack of money and space. To eventually compete on a serious level, you’ll need to find a dedicated studio and all the gear to match. Hiring is an option but can be expensive. Events and weddings – A much more accessible way to sell a service is to get into event photography like
or advertising; or editorial work for news or magazine articles. Commercial, product and editorial – For many people, the title ‘professional photographer’ conjures visions of a studio environment with lights, props and large backdrops. With enough skill and motivation, this can certainly become a reality,
weddings, conferences or concerts. The beauty of this is that you don’t need a studio. It’s just you, your camera set-up and your quick reactions. Remember that you’ll likely still need transport and professional photo-editing software to survive in this competitive industry. Great choices of programmes are Affinity Photo 2 or ZPS X because they’re packed with professional features at an affordable price. Oh, and a pair of comfortable shoes is also a must. Sell your expertise It’s one thing to sell great photography to others, but it’s quite another to share with someone the skills to make great images themselves. Imparting knowledge and experience can be not just lucrative but also highly rewarding. Run workshops – Workshops are enormously popular in photography because they teach attendees new skills while also helping them meet like-minded people. Be warned, however, that while it might seem straightforward at first thought, setting up and running a successful workshop requires a huge amount of planning – and that’s before you even consider the bureaucracy involved. So be sure to do your homework! Create look-up tables (LUTs) – Are you a post-processing whizz? If so, why not capitalise on that skill? LUTs and presets are essentially cheat codes for working in image- editing software. Dialling in these presets allows photographers to streamline their workflow or create a specific look. If you have a unique look or process, why not package it up and sell that? One thing to note, though, is that if your look underpins your brand, you might want to think twice before giving away that secret recipe to others.
SPECTRUM OF SKILLS Client work (above), on location at events (left) and running workshops to impart knowledge on others (below)
34 Photography News | Issue 118
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