One of the questions I had when I started was how to get a job. How do I turn my hobby into money? Advice on the internet is few and far between. So here’s my advice to anyone looking to take the next step and make some money off their art.
I know the stress of going to a paid gig for the first time. You’re afraid to mess it up. Just know that if you come to your first paid gig, you’ve got everything right. All you need now is to display, capture and provision the files. But, let’s go back to the part where you get that gig, because that’s the part that’s not clear. Honestly, online authors make it seem really easy, but in reality, it’s not. It’s a problem if you already have some work experience, but completely different if you’ve graduated from high school.
In this article, we’re not going to discuss the basics of building a portfolio, finding a niche, and developing your own style. Those things come much later. Instead, we’ll simply talk about how someone with a camera can get money in exchange for their work. The three easiest genres to start with are events, weddings (with an event), and headshot photography. There’s a fourth option, but it’s the cherry at the top.
Event photography
I started out as an event photographer and that’s how I made my first income. You hardly need a portfolio to do that, and oftentimes someone needs their event to be photographed. In general, all event photography must be paid. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t start charging if you’ve included two or more events and the “customer” is happy with the photos.
While I don’t want to say that all event photographers are beginners, I am saying that it has a relatively low entry point. Professional event photographers are incredible people with millions of eyes capturing every little detail. I admire people who can run around with equipment around their necks. I am not a professional event photographer. For some work I have a camera, a single lens, and a Neewer half-working speedlite. The pictures were good.
One way to participate in filming events is to offer your services free of charge to the curator of any event. Then at that event, network and please say you film the events. There will almost certainly be a lead for paid work in the future. If you want paid work now, try visiting as many events in your city as you can and emailing the organizing groups.
Wedding Photography – Have a Catch
Please, please, please, don’t ruin someone’s special day by taking bad pictures. Don’t say you can shoot a wedding if you can’t. I’ve never filmed a wedding in my life, and I don’t want to change that. Those images would be horrible, despite all my event experience.
At the same time, you can join a wedding photographer as a second photographer or assistant. Knowing how busy and hectic weddings can be, it’s not easy for photographers. Standing on your feet for 12 hours, wearing a gown, and staying relaxed can affect anyone’s health. That’s why many wedding photographers have a second photographer and assistant. An average wedding kit includes at least 3-4 lenses, 2 camera bodies, a bunch of flashes, a stand, and more. Your job will be to capture the process from a different angle, capture the light for your boss and just be a helper.
The way to get this job is to contact a few wedding photographers in your city and ask if they need any help.
Take a headshot
Everyone needs a headshot. To do a good headshot takes years of practice. However, taking a simple white background close-up with basic lighting is quite simple if your people photography skills are good. Just figure out how to set up a 1-2 light setup for your head shot and you’re good to go. My personal go-to for headshot photography is a simple two-pane setup: one in the back for fill light and one to the right or left of the subject for the key. If you want to dive into the art of headshot photography, check it out tutorial with Peter Hurley.
So how is it done? It’s pretty simple, really. All you need to do is invite a few mates to join, make sure they’re well-dressed, and snap a few pictures that you can use for your ad later. Now that the marketing is done, let’s create a page on Eventbrite. Make it as simple as possible, something along the lines of “20 minutes in studio, two edited images in two weeks”. You’re not shooting King Charles III, you’re doing a mass photography session. Make it affordable, depending on the cost of top photography in your city. Eventbrite is especially good for this, as all the organization parts are automated to a large extent.
A lot of photographers have egos that are directly proportional to the cost of their camera. About this I say: read The ego is the enemy. If I never support, I will not shoot fashion. My first contacts in the industry only came from helping me with a shoot. Support is not only a way to make new connections, but also a way to see how professionals work. Good assistants always get perks from photographers. A good assistant is someone who makes your shooting day less stressful and infinitely better. By far the best assistant I have, Brandon, has done a world-class on-site neck massage (on top of knowing exactly where things are going).
Getting to know a photographer can bring a lot of benefits, believe me: everything from work, to contacts, to being allowed to use the studio and equipment for free.
Stop thinking
So here is a guide to start making an income in photography. Of course, these are just the beginning steps. Ahead is a long and exciting journey of image creation. And for me, making pictures is the greatest joy I’ve experienced so far.
