If Santa can do it so can you!

If Santa can do is so can you as photographers! Do you know what I am talking about? I am not talking about taking kids photographs but you could to make money! Do you know what I am talking about now? I am talking about pets. You can make some good money photographing peoples pets. Pet lovers spends a lot of money on there pets. If you  photograph their pets.They may use your services to make postcards for their kid’s pet who is away at college to a large print to put on the family wall. Most pet owners will treat their pets like a part of the family. I am a pet lover also so I know this. I hate to say this but if my pet is getting up there in age I would want to get the best image of my pet to have up on the wall before something bad happens to my pet that I love. They say mans best friend is a dog for a reason. If you are not a pet owner then you don’t understand. lets say you do a family portrait at a clients house. If you see a pet. Always after the family photo session. Let them know you also photograph pets. If they want prints of their pet try to shoot their pet while you are there and offer a discount because you will save gas money and time.Work the up sale to fit you and the client. Also for the future let them know you would love to set up a photo session for christmas cards. See if they are interested especially if you are near christmas. If its not near christmas get that email and phone number for the future. Offer a special rate for repeat customers. If they can recommend me to their friends and If I get at least two more photoshoots out of it.( Family Photoshoots) I will give them a free photoshoot. Don’t forget the up sale because it was free they could spend some money on extra prints or a larger print. Offer each one of them the same deal. Thats how you can build clientele fast. You may bring in a lot of cash in a short time period. This is just an example. You need to set what will work for you. You may need 3 photoshoots before you are willing to give a free one. You need to figure out your sales model on your own. 

You are wasting your time trying to make money as a photographer!

You are wasting your time trying to make money as a photographer! Have you ever heard this? I hate to say I have. From people I thought who would support me! I was wrong. So were they. I have made money as a photographer. Not always 50% of my income But I made money selling prints,hand made coasters,T-shirts,magnets,gift cards,and many more items. I have sold items at fairs, artisan craft show,online, and custom request. From the skills learned as a photographer using an editing app like photoshop®. I also was able to make a custom Item for a company using there logo making many of the same item for display and as gifts. I will leave you with this just go prove them wrong. If you sell one print for more than it cost you to print. You made money. Start by one step at a time and see how far you will go. I will leave you with a motto.

 NEVER STOP IMPROVING! 

Never work for free!

Never work for free! Thats what schools teaches students. If you only work for fee you will never make money that true. But working for free can be very beneficial for you. The questions to ask yourself before you turn down free work is can I profit from this. How can I profit from free work. No money equals no profit right. No not always. The free work could be you biggest way of getting your name out to other potential paying clients. Working for small profit free charities in you area is a great way to get your name out in your area. A larger or a charities that make profit for themselves. Do not do it for free. If they are going to get paid so should you also get paid. A local theater that puts on plays could get your name out fast. If they put out flyers and have brochures with your photographs and crediting your name about the newest play. This is a good one to do it at least the first time for free. You just goto know how to approach the theater. Tell the theater how much you normally charge to photograph the actors in their costumes for their brochures. You goto come up with a great reason why you want to do it for free. You love the theater or the play that they are putting on. Make it about them way more then you. 

Heres another tip. The theater may say no because they already have a photographer. Don’t take no for an answer and give up. Ask questions like is that photographer getting paid,is he a photographer or just someone they may know? If yes is the answer that he gets paid. and they have been using him or her for years. Then you got a chance to still photograph the actors. Sell the free aspect. Tell them how much time you need ( Make sure you finish before the time you told ) to get the images and you can do the shoot at a practice dress rehearsal.  Make sure to shoot before the other photographer. Tell the theater if they don’t like your work no harm no foul. They can just go with the other photographer. But if they do go with you because it free you need credit for all you your images. You still own the all right to the images. They may use your images online for promoting the theaters play. Any image they use must be credited by your name or your brand. Just because its free still make a contract with the theater. This will cover you and them. You own the rights to your images. Use those same Images to promote you. No one need to know you did it for free. If your work is better than the paid photographer they may call you again but now you can charge them at full price or at a discount price.

I will leave you with a list of local places to offer free work to help get your name  out that could potentially get you paid work. Non profit charities,theater,churches, SPCA, pet adoption, or the humane society can turn into paid work. Think of it this way if one free job can turn into many paid job is it worth your time. I think so but that me, You will have to decide for yourself.

Never Stop Improving!