10 Tips on Making Money as a Photographer
If you have been a photographer for any length of time, you will know that you can never get enough tips on how to make money working as a photographer. This week, I have looked back at my career in photography and pulled out my top 10 tips on making a consistent income as a professional photographer.
Do an Excellent Job EVERY Time!
As a photographer, I have always made it my aim to let my work speak for itself. Photography is a visual medium and it can not be faked very easily. If you take stunning, dynamic photographs, it will be evident in your work and it will serve as its own advertisement. Aim to leave your customers satisfied every time.
Offer Great Customer Service
Adopt excellent customer service policies. Dealing with customers is always a challenge. It is important though that you develop a relationship of trust with customers, and that people know that you will take care of any conflicts that arise. Be willing at least to address any complaints made by your customers, even when you truly believe the customer is being unreasonable.
Get Referrals from Customers
Asking your customers for referrals is something that you should adopt as standard practice. Word of mouth is of such high value to the photographer. Every person that you photograph or that you do work for has friends and family that would also hire you if they knew about you. In fact, your photos will speak for themselves in many ways, however the boost of being able to contact someone that knows someone you have worked with will help you to no end.
Promote your Business Any Way You Can
Of course, every photographer should have a business card and they should give them out as often and as freely as possible. However don’t stop with that. Find more creative ways to promote your business such as with bumper stickers, fun promotion items like magnets, videos for your photography site, stress balls and greeting cards.
Advertise in Local Telephone Directories
Although we are moving towards a more web-dependent business world, local directories still have strong relevance when it comes to services that you are marketing to the local community. There is still a significant enough number of people that still pick up the Yellow Pages or the White Pages when they need a local service provider. Be sure that you are listed each year in your area telephone directories.
Get Online!
In the 21st century having your own web site is a must not an option. Yes, your friend’s son can probably build you a web site on the cheap, but that is not what you want to present to potential customers. Invest in a professionally developed web site that presents your work in the best way possible. Here’s a good alternative.
Sell Your Work
It takes time to establish your reputation as a photographer and artist. Begin to get your name out there by making your photos available for sale on stock photo web sites and on photo repository sites. If you are like most, your popularity as a stock photographer will increase gradually. Stick with it and only post your very best photos.
Advertise in Local Newspapers
As a photographer, most of your work will come from those in your local community. It makes sense to target them in as many ways as you can. The local newspaper is still very popular in most regions and it is usually very inexpensive to advertise in it. Place an attractive ad in your location newspaper in a section that is relevant to the photography you do.
Be Strategic
Bride relaxing
Use every opportunity possible as a stepping stone to where you want to go as a photographer. Be willing to do wedding gigs for a while even if they are not exactly your ‘thing’. The key to using stepping stones is focus; it is in remembering to keep moving forward and not to become complacent or satisfied staying on top of a stepping stone. By the way, wedding photography can be lucrative.
Advertise on Popular Local Web Sites
Many communities have one or two web sites that cater specifically to their community and serve as a portal for local businesses and a resource for local residents. If your area has a popular site such as this, be sure to take your place on that web site. In situations like this, it is important to be listed in relevant sections of the web site, such as wedding announcements, births and other sections of the site that celebrate life and its milestones.
Kathleen Cruz
Those are really great tips. I have a question, how can you create a studio in your home that does not cost a lot?
September 19th, 2009 at 11:12 amAdministrator
You could try this page it has some good ideas and may help – http://photography-business-tips.com/2008/06/11/work-at-home-with-a-photography-business/
September 20th, 2009 at 6:48 pmDannii
Hi, I am still learning and advertised for baby, kids and families to let me practice on them. Word has gotten out and alot of people love the work I’ve done but I only have an average camera at the moment, I’m saving for an SLR.
September 20th, 2009 at 8:42 pmI want to charge for my time but considering I only have a Canon S5 IS, the quality is not quite what an SLR would produce. What would be a fair amount to charge for my time. I do a 1-2 hr shoot and edit all images with photoshop then put them on a usb for the client and all images have my watermark.
Thanks in advance
T Prather
Your tips and links are very helpful. Thank you! I was wondering if you can recommend a good book or other resource that covers all aspects of wedding photography, i.e. business, marketing, what shots to look for a capture, photo editing, industry associations, etc. I would really like something that I can curl up and study. Thank you in advance for any information you can provide!
September 21st, 2009 at 3:35 pmAdministrator
These articles (if you haven’t read them already) may help. If you are looking for something with more substance, I recommend the ebook you can access from the link at the bottom of the articles. Here’s the link to the category – http://photography-business-tips.com/category/photography-categories/wedding-photography/ I think they all have a link to the same ebook source.
Hope that helps.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:15 pmRoy
Mel Thompson
I am wondering if you can cover the subject of calibration? I have been given a canon printer which I am trying to get just right. I am on a pension and so can’t afford Spyder3 or anything. Is it important? I want to submit photos to stock agencies or get cards printed to sell locally, but I want to know that what I am seeing is what they will see as well and so obviously it is a good idea to proof the shots at home. I ordered some cards with VistaPrint once but they print in CMYK and so the image was dark and dull as I was unable to see this before I sent them off. My Canon PowershotA620 uses sRGB and so does the monitor and so they match but just not my printer and I am using Photo Paper Pr101 from Canon with the printer set for that profiled paper.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:51 pmIt is all abit confusing for me so I am wondering if you might be able to cover the topic one day?
Mel Thompson
Oh yeah sorry the printer is a Canon S9000 and I have used the Canon ICC guide but still doesn’t really work.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:53 pmOkumo Angwa
Hi Roy,
Sorry for writing late. I travelled for field work in an a location that is not accessable to electricity supply let a lone a cyber cafe. I checked my mail only to discover interesting hints on photography. The mails are good and I think it will help many photographers in this part of the world.
The 10 free Tips on making money as a photographer has opened my eyes to so many things. Though some of the Tips are not applicable in remote areas of the world like Cameroon where some of the Tips still have may be some years ahead to be dreamed of. I say so because the concept of digital photography is alien to most photographers in my Country. It is just entrying slowly but facing stiff resistance because of poverty or ignorance.
Few Photographers operate with tools afordable with up to $1000. Analogue cameras are still heavilly in use. The few who can afford digital cameras make do with the handheld Cameras, few have the pro.
With over one and half decades of practice, I only join the digital train early this year. Operating with the Fujifilm Finepix S1 pro, I have come to discover somany things of interest. I got slapped in the face by serious digital challenges especialy as the need for a computer confronted me. When I procured the computer, I got stung by the ignorance of it. I have however entered it,and honestly I find it very interesting.
All your mails and attactments have come to answer some of the problems I face. Thanks very much for them. I am right away downloading them for proper study in my home.
Please untill I read your next package, accept candid greetings from Cameroon.
Sincerely,
September 24th, 2009 at 7:08 amOkumo Angwa
Foto Clinic
Kumba-Cameroon
Tyrone
These tips and links are very helpful. We sometimes miss the basic principles and start with the big steps and the huge money costing methods – thank you for a quality starting point!!
January 9th, 2010 at 7:03 pmSuzanne Kish
Hi Roy, I didn’t like the video, but I do like the written parts. Good tips.
January 9th, 2010 at 11:44 pmroxy
I have found out that most people do not want a someone just new to photography
January 14th, 2010 at 8:07 amto do there pictures. and they don’t like the fact that it is in your home. I have put up cards and all they do is throw them away, why would someone do a thing like this and how can you get in to photography if no one want’s to give you a chance. any help full Ideas you can give me on this matter?
Administrator
Hi Roxy
January 14th, 2010 at 3:42 pmThere are a lot of people who read this blog who can give you some great ideas. Perhaps they will. While you’re waiting I suggest you consider my eBook on category section on photography business. They don’t provide as much as the eBook but they are helpful.
Roy
Sarah
Hi Roy
June 7th, 2011 at 10:19 pmI am wanting to start my photography business. I want to do maternity, newborns and family but feel stuck. I am not sure how to set up a website and start getting myself out there? Also how do I overcome the new photographer nerves when Im with a client?