Using photog skills for a little extra cash?

[NewsMom]

Retired after being a one-man-band, producer, reporter, anchor, manager, you name it. But I still love to shoot. Stills, mostly, these days. Heck, after you crop them, the framing is perfect!

Anyway, I've done lots of shoots for friends: weddings, website photos, even a few portraits. I get terrific feedback.

Can I cash in on this passion/talent/skill? Can you folks who've actually done this refer me to a book, or web site, or somewhere to get some insight on how to make a business out of this? NO, I'm not stupid, and I don't expect to make tons of money, but a little extra cash would be nice!

[ewink]

You don't really need a book. Just put up an ad on like Craig's List or other places like that, then word of mouth starts to kick in (assuming you just want to do it as a little side income).

But it sounds like you already know how to do everything, you just need to get people to know you. You can get a free web page from your internet service provider (or a really cheap one with your own domain name - ie newsmom.com - from places like godaddy.com) where you can put your porfolio online for people to see. And like I said, just put up ads on Craigs List and various other services in your area and off you go!

Good luck and don't spend 50$ on a book you don't need!

[Sigonfile]

Just avoid those Craigslist ads that state, "open minded couple seek photographer for intimate video shoot":shifty:

[The Fedora]

Retired after being a one-man-band, producer, reporter, anchor, manager, you name it. But I still love to shoot. Stills, mostly, these days. Heck, after you crop them, the framing is perfect!

Anyway, I've done lots of shoots for friends: weddings, website photos, even a few portraits. I get terrific feedback.

Can I cash in on this passion/talent/skill? Can you folks who've actually done this refer me to a book, or web site, or somewhere to get some insight on how to make a business out of this? NO, I'm not stupid, and I don't expect to make tons of money, but a little extra cash would be nice!

heya NM...

I just found a new site about still photography. new to me anyway.

http://www.SLRGeek.com (http://www.slrgeek.com/)

Check It Out... And I agree with Ewink, don't buy a book...

[Consider This]

Just avoid those Craigslist ads that state, "open minded couple seek photographer for intimate video shoot"

Why? Those are the ones you can make the most money from!

More seriously, are you familiar with http://www.meetup.com/? Check to see if there are any photography meetup groups in your area. Some of them set up fake weddings using models to practice shooting. You can also network with other people with similar interests.

(I have no stake in meetup.com, I just have used it myself.)

There are, I suspect, message boards devoted to photography that might also offer some useful guidance.

[Another side]

I know what you gurs are saying, and I'm sure you're right, and it's the best advice you can give.

But it's REAL hard to get my arms around the phrase, "Don't buy a book." Seems anti-American or something.

[The Fedora]

Why AS? You can find pretty much anything ya need online.

[Another side]

Yeah, I know, and as I said, I'm sure the advice is solid.

But somehow the teacher dismissing class for the day with, "And remember, children, don't buy a book," just seems so wrong.

[Bureau Chief]

If you are going into the wedding photography business, be careful. Its a lot more work then you think and the bride is NEVER happy with the finished product. Carry insurance. Photogs get sued regularly. Camera screws up, pics didnt turn out as expected, you have car crash in route and fail to show up etc etc...and they sue.

I know of three different wedding/event photogs who have quit the biz due to law suits or customers who failed to pay. Ive done a couple of weddings, infact I have one to shoot on New Years eve....and I only do it for friends and with the express understanding that you get what I take, no guarantees.

Aint saying dont do it, just go into it fully prepared for it to be harder than you think. Its fun as a hobby, but turning a hobby into a business makes it WORK!

[John M.]

First, I second the recommendation for http://www.SLRGeek.com. Great info there.

Second, if you do begin to take jobs from strangers for money, you will need backups for equipment including your camera body. The wedding happens whether your camera is working or not so you have to have two.

Visit web sites of professional wedding photographers in your area. Many list the equipment they own and that will give you a good idea of what you'd need.

You will also need liability insurance. People will not only sue you if you fail to show up or if the pictures turn out poorly but if someone trips over a camera bag and suffers a concussion.

You'll want a web site to display samples of your work and to list your pricing packages. Visits to other photographer sites can give you a guideline of what they do and how much they charge.

Most wedding sites use Flash programs. That offers some protection from people being able to rip off your images, as do watermarks, but it can annoy some viewers whose computers get bogged down running Flash.

I shoot stills only for fun and use a non-flashed based site to show my photos. (JohnMcQuiston.com/photos.html (http://www.johnmcquiston.com/photos.html) if you're curious)

Most photogrphers insist on a payment structure that limits the risk of non-payment -- something like 1/3 at time of booking, 1/3 day of wedding, 1/3 upon delivery of finished product.

[NewsMom]

WOW, you folks are terrific!

I love the http://www.slrgeek.com/ website---I could spend hours going through it. It gives me the impression that with hard work, I could actually make a couple of bucks! Since I really enjoy shooting stills, this seems like a good thing to pursue.

The experience/heads up on insurance is valuable.

And the warning about brides---an understatement---most are real bridezillas.

[s'news]

Hey John, I enjoyed a brief visit to that link of yours. I either didn't know you shot stills or had forgotten. Nice pics.

[John M.]

Thank you for the kind words.

Mostly they're proof that if you take enough shots you'll get a few good ones by simple dumb luck.

[The Fedora]

Hey John, I enjoyed a brief visit to that link of yours. I either didn't know you shot stills or had forgotten. Nice pics.

Agreed... Great pictures. I really enjoyed them.

[Roy Hobbs]

How about some more photos for us to enjoy? You know, holiday photography if you know what I mean. Candids. Wink, wink, nudge nudge .
http://www.therealestatebloggers.com/images/Nudge_nudge_small1.jpg

[s'news]

Does she go, eh?

And John, remember the old rule, at least for me, that if you get one real good shot out of a roll, you shot par.

[Another side]

In my newspapering and sportswriting days, it wasn't uncommon for the photographer to shoot 6 rolls of film to ensure he had at least ONE money shot for the sports cover.

Then they would bring the "film" back to a "darkroom" where they would remove it from the camera, and they'd have these trays of liquids set out and they'd got through the process of "developi ... " ... Geez ... I feel so old right now.

[John M.]

John, remember the old rule, at least for me, that if you get one real good shot out of a roll, you shot par.

Thanks to digital, my ratio doesn't have to be that good. Good thing, too!

My attempts to shoot have certainly given me a new respect for people who can reliably shoot quality images and I don't have any illusions that I could do this for a living without a lot more practice.

That's something for NewsMom to consider. When you're shooting as a favor for friends, they're grateful if you get anything good. When you're marketing yourself as a pro, you have to get everything good.

[s'news]

In my newspapering and sportswriting days, it wasn't uncommon for the photographer to shoot 6 rolls of film to ensure he had at least ONE money shot for the sports cover.

Then they would bring the "film" back to a "darkroom" where they would remove it from the camera, and they'd have these trays of liquids set out and they'd got through the process of "developi ... " ... Geez ... I feel so old right now.

Ah, the snickering that happened in class when the photo prof said he wanted to discuss darkroom procedures.

[cinehead]

If you are going into the wedding photography business, be careful. Its a lot more work then you think and the bride is NEVER happy with the finished product. Carry insurance. Photogs get sued regularly. Camera screws up, pics didnt turn out as expected, you have car crash in route and fail to show up etc etc...and they sue.

I know of three different wedding/event photogs who have quit the biz due to law suits or customers who failed to pay. Ive done a couple of weddings, infact I have one to shoot on New Years eve....and I only do it for friends and with the express understanding that you get what I take, no guarantees.

Aint saying dont do it, just go into it fully prepared for it to be harder than you think. Its fun as a hobby, but turning a hobby into a business makes it WORK!


I don't really agree with this advice. In the past I've shot tons of weddings (on video) and I made more shooting two weddings on a weekend than most news photographers at a television station make in a week. - And, still photographers shooting weddings make much more than videographers.

The Bridezilla stererotype is just that a stereotype. Most brides are very easy to work with and very easy to please.

The bottom line is that if you want to make good money shooting stills, wedding photography is the way to go. Shooting fashion or ads can take years to break into. Getting a job shooting for a newspaper is very hard these days as newspapers slash their staffs. Start looking for Birdes on Craigslist that are looking for a bargain. Use that to build your portfolio.

Middle of the road wedding photographers in my part of the country make $3000/wedding. High end photogs demand $7,000 - $20,000/wedding.

A typical wedding is about 10 hours of shooting followed by about 30 hours of editing. So, basically you're making $3000/week. That's not bad.

[FadeToBlack]

Do Not I Repeat Do Not Shoot Weddings!!!!!!!

[Marty McFly]

...and why not?

[Bureau Chief]

I don't really agree with this advice. In the past I've shot tons of weddings (on video) and I made more shooting two weddings on a weekend than most news photographers at a television station make in a week. - And, still photographers shooting weddings make much more than videographers.

The Bridezilla stererotype is just that a stereotype. Most brides are very easy to work with and very easy to please.

The bottom line is that if you want to make good money shooting stills, wedding photography is the way to go. Shooting fashion or ads can take years to break into. Getting a job shooting for a newspaper is very hard these days as newspapers slash their staffs. Start looking for Birdes on Craigslist that are looking for a bargain. Use that to build your portfolio.

Middle of the road wedding photographers in my part of the country make $3000/wedding. High end photogs demand $7,000 - $20,000/wedding.

A typical wedding is about 10 hours of shooting followed by about 30 hours of editing. So, basically you're making $3000/week. That's not bad.

You said "in the past"...those days are over except in the well heeled areas of the country and I can tell you from my experience, the Bridezilla is alive and well. The loose of civility is a major factor in something like this. People, in general are a pain in the ass to deal with even for everyday things.

This "in your face" attitude makes me want to head for some remote area of the country and await the downfall of our country. Disputes are handled NOT by adult compromise and discussion but but arguing, fights, name calling, threats and law suits....Medialine is a case in point. We just went through a major discussion about being nice to each other here.

Im glade you had a good time and made some money shooting weddings, but the landscape has changed out there. Anyone who wants to put up with this kinda abuse for money, well more power to them and I wish them luck.

[cinehead]

You said "in the past"...those days are over except in the well heeled areas of the country and I can tell you from my experience, the Bridezilla is alive and well. The loose of civility is a major factor in something like this. People, in general are a pain in the ass to deal with even for everyday things.

This "in your face" attitude makes me want to head for some remote area of the country and await the downfall of our country. Disputes are handled NOT by adult compromise and discussion but but arguing, fights, name calling, threats and law suits....Medialine is a case in point. We just went through a major discussion about being nice to each other here.

Im glade you had a good time and made some money shooting weddings, but the landscape has changed out there. Anyone who wants to put up with this kinda abuse for money, well more power to them and I wish them luck.

Actually, I'm getting back into it. With TV stations and eveyone else cutting back, I need the money. I stopped shooting years ago. The equipment and technology used to make the whole thing a big headache.

Now, the cameras are lighter and better in ow light. Desktop editing has made post production much easier. Over the years, I've shot maybe 200 weddings. I can say I had, maybe 3 "bridezilla" experiences. I have a higher rate of bad experiences on the street shooting news, dealing with idiots that seem drawn to news cameras.

Maybe the experience varies in different parts of the country. I live in an area that is a hugely popular for destination weddings. The days are hard work but the money is good, people are nice, and you spend your day at beautiful venues. I have a production company that does commecial and documentary work. The wedding side is the most ressesion-proof part of our work.

Again, this is just my experience, YMMV.

[MoistureFluxCapacitor]

Find a niche...and exploit it.

I've been shooting motorsports and selling stuff on the side. Most "track photographers" aren't very good. That bridged into some graphics work, (posters, autograph cards), and now instead of paying to go to the races, I make enough money to cover my expenses and then some.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2576179195_efe1ce1498_m.jpg

Did some senior portraits for some family member's kids at cost...and that lead to doing more portraits outside of the family for money.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2846998228_f0f8dfdd9b_m.jpg
I have all new Nikon gear now purchased on what I made the year before.

It's slow to get started, but you can really run on it once you get some good work out there for people to see.

www.flickr.com (http://www.flickr.com) is a great resource too. Check out the Groups. You can find just about anything there. I found the photolab where I do all my printing by reading some of the group postings.