[Otahyoni]

Sounds like a plan.

Besides the obvious need of a better camera, whats a good way to get into making money with photography? I've got a few good shots...

[XJ99]

I've got a cheap Slik U6600 I paid around $20
for, and it works great for the point and shoot,
along with the D40 with the kit lens. When I used
my buddie's 55-200mm lens, there was a lot more
camera shake after I depressed the shutter button.
I ended up setting the timer from 2 to 5 seconds to
fix it. Now that have the remote on it's way, it really
won't be a problem unless it's really windy outside.
Eventually I'll end up buying a better tripod, but this
will work for now.

[FmrVette]

Originally Posted by Otahyoni

I do admire your work Colton. I haven't seen FmrVette's or TJJP's work...

Yeah, Colton does very nice work indeed. Of course, he's using my lens .

My best shots come out of a Scotch bottle .

I will sometimes post snapshots but the 'serious' stuff...well, I shoot for myself and don't post it. I'm partial to photographing animals - they never complain that they blinked or their hair was mussed - but have done the odd pro-bono wedding and special event for folks who can't afford to bring in a pro. (They have to really be in dire straits - not that my photos are that bad, but that I wouldn't shoot an event for free if it took a possible job away from a pro. For the events I've done, if I hadn't been there no pro would have been hired anyway). I hate wedding photography; huge amounts of stress and the mothers-in-law are never happy .

Colton and I will agree to disagree about tripods - but I'm pretty sure we both agree with "go with whatever works for you". I've a friend who has been shooting for less than two years, uses a used Nikon D80, frequently borrows lenses and flash from me - and she consistently turns out better work than I do (using my gear!).

A couple of snapshots (hopefully the links will work!):

edit - well they didn't! I'll try again...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2527/3714682770_dfec9d3f94_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/3714633296_7d760b4547_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2567/3714633194_741ce01d95_o.jpg


Not a photo in the group - snapshots all.


Glad you were able to work out a decision - post some pics from your new 'pod!

[jeepsarecool]

I use a SLIK Pro 700 DX. It's a nice tripod that can be had for about $120. It's not as nice as the Bogen/Manfrotto or Gitzo tripods but as far as functionality, it is a good one. It isn't lightweight, but it's tall, very sturdy, and very adjustable. It comes with a regular 3 way pan head, but of course you can replace it with a ball head or a nicer head if you want. I'm still happily using the stock SLIK head that came with it, but I would like a ball head especially for my macro shots.

At the time I bought this, I didn't have the money for one of the more popular "nice" brands and I couldn't find a used one. But, I've been very happy with this tripod.

[Otahyoni]

Ok, I've got the tripod situation decided on. Now i want to shift gears a little.

To all of you who have made money with photography, how did you get started? What equipment did you have when you first started?

[FmrVette]

Originally Posted by Otahyoni

Ok, I've got the tripod situation decided on. Now i want to shift gears a little.

To all of you who have made money with photography, how did you get started? What equipment did you have when you first started?

The only folks I know who've made any reasonable amount of money out of photography sell cameras.

I'll be interested in reading further posts, but I'm afraid I can't contribute - photography is a money pit for me.

[AlTheKillerr]

are you just looking at selling your current pictures or doing services such working comercially, wedding photography, senior portraits. . . . .?

regardless youll have to put together a portfolio of your work. from there you have to learn how to sell yourself. once you decide on what exactly you are trying to do it can be narrowed down

Edit: i do agree to get what you think will work for you and i HATE wedding photography as well. ive never done it nor will i

[Otahyoni]

I know for the time being, I couldn't do much of an event due to the camera i have being a P&S. In the future, i wouldn't mind working as a photographer for certain kinds of events. I wouldn't want to do weddings for a while due to the amount of pressure... ( i know they make a killing, I got married a month ago and the pictures were insane).

How would one go about selling pictures?

Photography is something i've always enjoyed and i just wanted to see if i couldn't make some money doing it. I'm not looking to live on it, it will just be in my spare time.

[Otahyoni]

Just saw this at the bottom of the page>

Auctions | Cheap Nikon D90 12.3 MP DSLR Camera with 18-105mm Kit auctions - bid & win on Swoopo

Is this place for real?

[AlTheKillerr]

id post up on craigslist saying you have some photography you are willing to sell. if you want to get more serious then make some business cards with a link to a web site where the people can view your work. make sure its a real site and not flickr though. so when you meet new people you can hand them the card and they could either buy what you already have or they could hire you to take something specific. I had a lady wanting me to take pictures that were purple in nature. thats very broad but doable. just gotta talk to the person to see what they are like and what they like. luckily i live in an extremely artsy city and all the shops downtown will hang up local artists work for sale. there one place called Kirby Lane (restaurant) that sells pictures and they are smaller than 8x10 framed going for ~100 bucks! total rip off considering alot of the work sucks. ive also just walked into a wine shop and showed them one of my prints and asked if they could hang it up for sale. they will take a small percentage of what it sells for but its usually worth it

Edit: also its good to keep your camera with you at all times. photos from accidents, fires, robberies and such can be used in newspapers and magazines. when i was downtown doing an assignment with my class one of the students was at the right area when someone decided to commit suicide by jumping off of a parking garage. I havent seen the photos nor do i but from hearing about them she was there from before the jump all the way through the end. those are one hell of photojournalism set but i think id rather skip something like that

[XJ99]

Originally Posted by Otahyoni

Just saw this at the bottom of the page>

Auctions | Cheap Nikon D90 12.3 MP DSLR Camera with 18-105mm Kit auctions - bid & win on Swoopo

Is this place for real?

A quick google search came up with this.

How to beat swoopo Home Is Where The Heart Dwells

Sounds like a lottery.

[Jeffro06]

Originally Posted by Otahyoni

Ok, I've got the tripod situation decided on. Now i want to shift gears a little.

To all of you who have made money with photography, how did you get started? What equipment did you have when you first started?

I've been taking pictures for over 25 years now. I started just because I always thought 35mm SLR cameras were cool...good reason huh?

About 6 years ago I would go to the local motocross track and take pictures of my buddies racing. I was using my Canon Digital Rebel and Canon 70-200L f2.8 lens. People kept coming up to me and aking if I sold pictures. I decided why not try it. I got a web site and started posting them. I talke to the track owner and struck a deal. I got free entry to the track in exchage for him using pics I took on his webpage, which included a link back to my webpage. I soon moved up to a Canon 20D, which is way better than a Rebel.

Soon after that I submitted pictures to the local district magazie, Cycle USA. I got some photos published, which included payment of course. Soon after that the track owner asked if I would cover the races for the district magazine. I decided what the heck. For the next three years I was the track photographer. I would get in for free, sell some of my pics, write a story and get paid by the district magazine. I even submitted the stories to CycleNews online, got published and paid there as well. It was fun. I did that for the next 3 years, give or take. After awhile I decided I wanted to do something else, so I bought my YJ. I hung up the track photographer job.

I've done senior portraits and a couple of weddings....which really aren't all that fun, very stressfull. It is after all one of the most important days in the customers life (at least until they get divorced 3 years later...)

I've done some commercial work as well, for a couple of local millwork companies, taking shots of their completed projects.

I've even shot some high school sports and musical programs.

So far photography has been just a hobby that has allowed me to make back some of the money I spent on the equipment and such. Someday, when I retire, I wouldn't mind getting into it full time.

I'd love to have some great wildlife lenses (meaning $6000+ lenses), but that is still just a dream. Oh, I'd also like to live someplace where there's more than corn and deer.

Ansel Adams I'm not, but I love to shoot.

Find something you like and pursue it. Just be prepared to compete, because everyone with a camera wants to get rich these days, and only a few are.

Good luck!

[jeepsarecool]

I've tossed around the idea of trying to make money with photography, but in the end, I decided that I enjoy it too much.

Maybe one of the best ways is to try to sell stock photography through some of the agencies. There's a couple of different types. "Microstock" requires that you sell a LOT of copies to make any money and regular Stock photos are expensive and are sold more to businesses for a lot of money, which means it's rare that you ever sell anything, unless you're very good and lucky.

[Otahyoni]

Like i said. I'm not going to be unrealistic and say i want to make a living on this. I just thought i might try to sell the product of something i'm going to do anyway, because i enjoy it.

Trying to sell photos, what is the target audience? Any specific group, or just everyone? Do I just post an ad on craigslist saying hey, i've got pictures, want to buy one?

Sorry for all the questions, i've just never tried something like this before.

[FmrVette]

Originally Posted by Otahyoni

Like i said. I'm not going to be unrealistic and say i want to make a living on this. Trying to sell photos, what is the target audience? Any specific group, or just everyone? Do I just post an ad on craigslist saying hey, i've got pictures, want to buy one?

I'll chime in with two tidbits (caveat as noted above, I don't sell photos so my tidbits may be worthless) - several of the online crowd I hang out with who actually sell photos have set up sites here:

SmugMug Photo & Video Sharing. You look better here.

Check it out - you can post your pics, folks can order if they like what they see. There are other sites like Smugmug, that one is just the one I see referenced most often. I can't give a personal reference since I don't sell or post my work.

A friend that I work with has had some success in photographing her kid's high school basketball team; she shoots, prints, and mats and sells the product to the parents. It's kind of expanding, with other teams wanting to get into the act (she shoots a Nikon 80...and my lenses ). She's looking into setting up a website and expanding. If you like photographing sports you might consider local teams; parents will apparently pay well for 8x10 glossies of little Johnnie hold the ball .

And if you're starting out and have equipment questions or want critiques on your work without being flamed, there's a beginner's forum on the this website:

The Photo Forum

You can post in the beginners section and pretty much not get laughed at or flamed - although sometimes the critiquing comes from amateurs who may not have any more skill than you do.