Summertime and i wanna make money

Xios

Ok guys, sorry if this has been done to death on the forum, but i ain't been chatting on here for a good while, so here goes.

Right, I've got a camera with some skillz and i wanna make money this summer, doing nixxers and what not, here are my means.

Camera: Olympus E-500 with standard twins lens pack. 17.5mm to 45mm f1:3.5-5.6 and 40mm to 150mm F1:3.5-4.5
Tripod: cheap, light and plastic, it'll do.
Computer: I have a very powerful PC at home, with Photoshop, also a light but powerful laptop with backpack.
Skillz: I can tweek images in photoshop, understand how most of the tools work, i can use RAW and i know how to use websites like flickr/devart etc.
Transport: I've my motorbike, quick and easy on the fuel, so i can get around, pretty much anywhere, bar offroad stuff. Also, a car, but parking is always a hassle.
Experience: Limited, flickr haven't been out with the camera in a while.

So i'd like to know how you guys have been earning a little extra from your camera. I understand that it's difficult to make any money through photography without having a studio or doing weddings, but there are other ways, such as selling to papers or selling art prints through websites or galleries.
This will be just a casual thing for the summer and possibly through college, a little extra on the side won't hurt. Where should i start? Dignity is an issue, i ain't gonna be waiting outside Jedwards house trying to get a paporazzi shot, but politicians are fair game imo (at public events).

I appreciate your replies,
Ciaran

PCPhoto

Xios wrote: »

Ok guys, sorry if this has been done to death on the forum, but i ain't been chatting on here for a good while, so here goes.

Right, I've got a camera with some skillz and i wanna make money this summer, doing nixxers and what not, here are my means.

Camera: Olympus E-500 with standard twins lens pack. 17.5mm to 45mm f1:3.5-5.6 and 40mm to 150mm F1:3.5-4.5
Tripod: cheap, light and plastic, it'll do.
Computer: I have a very powerful PC at home, with an 'unlimited' Photoshop trial, also a light but powerful laptop with backpack.
Skillz: I can tweek images in photoshop, understand how most of the tools work, i can use RAW and i know how to use websites like flickr/devart etc.
Transport: I've my motorbike, quick and easy on the fuel, so i can get around, pretty much anywhere, bar offroad stuff. Also, a car, but parking is always a hassle.
Experience: Limited, flickr haven't been out with the camera in a while.

So i'd like to know how you guys have been earning a little extra from your camera. I understand that it's difficult to make any money through photography without having a studio or doing weddings, but there are other ways, such as selling to papers or selling art prints through websites or galleries.
This will be just a casual thing for the summer and possibly through college, a little extra on the side won't hurt. Where should i start? Dignity is an issue, i ain't gonna be waiting outside Jedwards house trying to get a paporazzi shot, but politicians are fair game imo (at public events).

I appreciate your replies,
Ciaran

Selling to papers doesnt earn you a lot of money....unless you get printed in a couple of papers EVERY DAY !

magicbastarder

it's basic enough kit you have (i have the same twin lens E500), and is unsuitable for weddings and the like, so i suspect that since there are hundreds of people like you with the same skills and kit, you're going to find it tough going getting work.

and selling your own work is tough.

Fionn

there probably isn't a lot of money in it, unless your lucky and get some jobs and people recommend you.

lots of people do their own photography these days, i experienced the same situation years ago when i used to do desktop publishing - i was in big demand then, eventually it tailed off as computers began to saturate the market and people began doing their own posters/layouts etc. however bad :rolleyes: the same can be said for photography - the market is very crowded too

maybe take a look at stock photography, cant think of anything else unless you buy specialist equipment and pick a niche market, which might not work either.

melekalikimaka

i was chatting to a lad from college the other day, talk about a niche, he photographs hookers for their 'folios'

CabanSail

Firstly I think you should be very careful when offering your services for a fee. There are certain legal things that change when you are being paid. You become a professional and can be sued if things go wrong. To counter this you need to look at insurance cover for public liability at least as well as professional indemnity. With quite basic kit, without any spares, if you take on a contract to do some work and have a gear failure the client could come after you for damages. If you shoot for someone else then they have to have you covered, so that may be a better option.

I have had a quick look through your Flickr and I have to be honest, while you do seem competent I do not see much there that has much to offer as a portfolio which would inspire someone to part with their cash. I am being blunt here and not saying this to put you down in anyway. It just seems that a lot there is snapshot style photography & while there is nothing wrong with that, many people today can capture very similar stuff with a reasonable compact camera, so why would they then pay you?

My advice would be to seek to get some work with an established photographer & learn some skills and observe how they make a living. Use that to adapt to find your own niche in the future. There is the Services Thread at the top of the page which you can post a request in looking for a placement. It will be live for two weeks, or a bit longer if you request it.

charybdis

melekalikimaka wrote: »

i was chatting to a lad from college the other day, talk about a niche, he photographs hookers for their 'folios'

Actually, photographing hookers is a time-honoured photographic practice.

hbr

melekalikimaka wrote: »

i was chatting to a lad from college the other day, talk about a niche, he photographs hookers for their 'folios'

Were they Galway Hookers? Very photogenic boats

Xios

Thanks for the replies guys, i gotta get better at posting as much info as possible into the OP, but anyway, i'm only looking to earn maybe 30-50 quid a week on this. I'm a business student and have no intention of pursuing a career in photography. As for making money from this, i don't really want to sign into contracts or do art work for commission.
I think i will look more into stock photography and maybe showing up at as many news worthy events as possible. Anyone got experience in these areas?

PCPhoto

have tonnes of experience in news photography - been covering stuff for the papers for over 10yrs.....my advice is ...while its fun (most of the time)...theres not a lot of money involved in it.

decent money in Weddings/PR photography - but its difficult to do and takes a lot of time to become good at.

dinneenp

I'd say frame some pics and ask a stall at local Market to sell. Same with cafes etc.
Worth a try.

AnCatDubh

dinneenp wrote: »

I'd say frame some pics and ask a stall at local Market to sell. Same with cafes etc.
Worth a try.

what he says.

with effort, 30-50 per week should be possible if your content is compelling.

take a look at humberklog and katiemaloe's endeavors. similar idea but bigger scale i'd think.

DutchGuy

you could try selling them here, they have free stalls for students who are selling stuff they made themselves. Remember you will have to present them professionally, they will look a lot better mounted but this will also make your initial outlay bigger.

Anyway - good luck.

humberklog

I've gotta agree with Cabansail's post and say that the quality's just not there on your flickr. Unless you're holding back on a batch of photos that you haven't uploaded to that site.

If you seriously want to make money (as opposed to making serious money) from selling pics that people want to hang in their house then I think you've got to go back to the drawing board and put this summer down to improving your photos. Earning 30 to 50 quid really isn't easy, it's just as easy to make 100. There's really no difference between these figures when out selling.

However selling stock photos or snapping at important events may well be a step to earning money. I've no experience in this but if this route did at least get you out and about and using your camera more then that would be beneficial to you. It would also get you asking questions about the "hows" and "whys" of figuring out how to make a buck from photography out in the real world which is a priceles experience in itself as you get in on the trade secrets a lot easier.

I really don't mean to offend about the pictures on your flickr. They are damn fine personal snaps but that really is all they are. However they do show the presence of some skill (if not artistry) so perhaps fine tuning and directing these skills towards work that will sell over this summer would be time well spent?

lifford1

Why not check out some local photographers and see if they will take you on as assistant at no charge. This will give you an opportunity to develop your skills and you may also earn a few €.