Make Money with your Digital Photography

Make Money with your Digital Photography

Released May 2011
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9780470474310

Read it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Book description

Learn to find the opportunities and make money with your digital camera

Most digital photo buffs have thought about turning their hobby into a side business, but building a successful business takes more than passion and photographic skill. Erin Manning knows how, and she shares her expertise in this nuts-and-bolts guide.

Manning, host of the DIY Network's The Whole Picture, shows you how to identify and act on opportunities, make a business plan, and manage your business from day to day. Make Money with Your Digital Photography is also full of tips to help you improve your product.

  • Shows how to find opportunities to get paid for your photography and how to follow up on them

  • Helps photographers identify and prepare for pitfalls and problems they may confront

  • Packed with advice from the author's own experience in starting and building her own photography business

  • Explores popular genres, including wedding photography, shooting children's sports, and taking family portraits

  • Includes tips and tricks for improving your photos

  • Written by a successful photographer and host of DIY Network's The Whole Picture

If you've considered turning your digital photography hobby into a money-making venture, Make Money with Your Digital Photography shows you how to get there.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. About the Author
  3. Credits
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. INTRODUCTION
  6. 1. personal discovery
    1. 1.1. MY JOURNEY
      1. 1.1.1. IN THE BEGINNING
      2. 1.1.2. PROGRESS
    2. 1.2. SELF-EVALUATION
      1. 1.2.1. ASSESSING INTERESTS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE
      2. 1.2.2. CURRENT PHOTOGRAPHY WORK
    3. 1.3. LEARNING CURVE
      1. 1.3.1. DEVELOP YOUR CREATIVE EYE
      2. 1.3.2. TAKE CLASSES
      3. 1.3.3. JOIN PHOTO GROUPS
      4. 1.3.4. RESEARCH THE MARKET
      5. 1.3.5. BUILD A NETWORK
    4. 1.4. CHAPTER REVIEW
  7. 2. equipment essentials
    1. 2.1. DSLR CAMERAS
    2. 2.2. IMAGE STORAGE
      1. 2.2.1. MEMORY CARDS
      2. 2.2.2. EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES
    3. 2.3. LENSES
      1. 2.3.1. FOCAL LENGTH
      2. 2.3.2. LENS SPEED
    4. 2.4. LIGHTING
      1. 2.4.1. FLASHES AND STROBES
      2. 2.4.2. CONTINUOUS LIGHTS
      3. 2.4.3. MANIPULATING LIGHT
    5. 2.5. TRIPODS AND MONOPODS
    6. 2.6. MISCELLANEOUS CAMERA EQUIPMENT
    7. 2.7. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT
    8. 2.8. CHAPTER REVIEW
  8. 3. portrait photography
    1. 3.1. Q&A WITH A WORKING PRO
      1. 3.1.1.
        1. 3.1.1.1. 1. Can you tell me about your background — your personal, professional, and educational history? How about your continuing self-education?
        2. 3.1.1.2. 2. What attracted you to portrait photography?
        3. 3.1.1.3. 3. How did you start your business? How did it evolve? Did you have a studio or did you shoot on location?
        4. 3.1.1.4. 4. What was the toughest thing about getting started? What was your worst experience when you began? What did you learn from it that helped you in the future?
        5. 3.1.1.5. 5. What tactics and strategies were most useful in developing your photo business? Was there anything that marked a turning point in your business — a contact, a realization, an idea?
        6. 3.1.1.6. 6. Do you have any tips for creating better portrait photographs?
        7. 3.1.1.7. 7. Can you name some of your favorite equipment (cameras, lights, computer, software, printer, and any photo-related gadgets)?
        8. 3.1.1.8. 8. What feeds your creativity? Where do you find your inspiration — for example, other photographers' work, art, or any particular travel experiences?
        9. 3.1.1.9. 9. How do you market your work (newspaper, referrals, Web site, online marketing, social networking, printed collateral)?
        10. 3.1.1.10. 10. Are there multiple ways that you make money with your portrait photography? Which area of distribution have you found to be the most profitable?
    2. 3.2. ESSENTIAL GEAR
    3. 3.3. BEFORE THE SHOOT
      1. 3.3.1. SCOUTING LOCATIONS
      2. 3.3.2. SELECTING PROPS
      3. 3.3.3. WORKING WITH WARDROBE AND MAKEUP
    4. 3.4. AT THE SHOOT
      1. 3.4.1. CONNECT WITH YOUR SUBJECT
      2. 3.4.2. CHOOSE THE BEST LIGHT
        1. 3.4.2.1. Natural light
        2. 3.4.2.2. Artificial light
        3. 3.4.2.3. Studio lighting basics
      3. 3.4.3. POSITION YOUR SUBJECT
      4. 3.4.4. CAPTURE CANDID MOMENTS
      5. 3.4.5. GENERAL TIPS
    5. 3.5. PHOTOGRAPHING BABIES, KIDS, AND TEENS
    6. 3.6. PHOTOGRAPHING GROUPS
    7. 3.7. CHAPTER REVIEW
  9. 4. sports photography
    1. 4.1. LESSONS FROM A PART-TIME SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHER
    2. 4.2. ESSENTIAL GEAR
    3. 4.3. BEFORE THE SHOOT
    4. 4.4. AT THE SHOOT
    5. 4.5. GENERAL TIPS
    6. 4.6. Q&A WITH A WORKING PRO
      1. 4.6.1.
        1. 4.6.1.1. 1. Can you tell me about your background — your personal, professional, and educational history? How about your continuing self-education?
        2. 4.6.1.2. 2. What attracted you to sports photography?
        3. 4.6.1.3. 3. How did you start your business? How did it evolve? Did you have a studio or did you shoot on location?
        4. 4.6.1.4. 4. What was the toughest thing about getting started? What was your worst experience when you began? What did you learn from it that helped you in the future?
        5. 4.6.1.5. 5. What tactics and strategies were most useful in developing your photo business? Was there anything that marked a turning point in your business — a contact, a realization, an idea?
        6. 4.6.1.6. 6. Do you have any sports photography tips for better photographs?
        7. 4.6.1.7. 7. Do you shoot RAW or JPEG? What software programs do you use to review, edit, organize, and enhance your images? How do you handle your workflow?
        8. 4.6.1.8. 8. Can you name some of your favorite equipment (cameras, lights, computer, software, printer, and any photo-related gadgets)?
        9. 4.6.1.9. 9. What feeds your creativity? Where do you find your inspiration — for example, other photographers' work, art, or any particular travel experiences?
        10. 4.6.1.10. 10. How do you market your work (newspaper, referral, Web site, online marketing, social networking, printed collateral)?
        11. 4.6.1.11. 11. Are there multiple ways that you make money with your sports photography? Which area of distribution have you found to be the most profitable?
    7. 4.7. CHAPTER REVIEW
  10. 5. wedding photography
    1. 5.1. Q&A WITH A WORKING PRO
      1. 5.1.1.
        1. 5.1.1.1. 1. Can you tell me about your background — your personal, professional, and educational history? How about your continuing self-education?
        2. 5.1.1.2. 2. What attracted you to wedding photography?
        3. 5.1.1.3. 3. How did you start your business and how did it evolve?
        4. 5.1.1.4. 4. What was the toughest thing about getting started and how did you learn from it?
        5. 5.1.1.5. 5. What tactics and strategies were most useful in developing your business?
        6. 5.1.1.6. 6. Do you have any tips for creating better wedding photographs?
        7. 5.1.1.7. 7. Do you shoot RAW or JPEG? What software programs do you use to review, edit, organize, and enhance your images? How do you handle your workflow?
        8. 5.1.1.8. 8. What are your favorite pieces of equipment?
        9. 5.1.1.9. 9. What feeds your creativity and where do you find your inspiration?
        10. 5.1.1.10. 10. How do you market your work?
        11. 5.1.1.11. 11. Are there multiple ways that you make money with your wedding photography?
    2. 5.2. ESSENTIAL GEAR
      1. 5.2.1. CAMERA
      2. 5.2.2. LENSES
      3. 5.2.3. LIGHTING
    3. 5.3. BEFORE THE SHOOT
    4. 5.4. AT THE SHOOT
    5. 5.5. TRENDS
    6. 5.6. CHAPTER REVIEW
  11. 6. food and product photography
    1. 6.1. Q&A WITH A WORKING PRO
      1. 6.1.1.
        1. 6.1.1.1. 1. Can you tell me about your background — your personal, professional, and educational history? How about your continuing self-education?
        2. 6.1.1.2. 2. What attracted you to food photography?
        3. 6.1.1.3. 3. How did you start your business? How did it evolve? Did you have a studio or did you shoot on location?
        4. 6.1.1.4. 4. What was the toughest thing about getting started? What was your worst experience when you began? What did you learn from it that helped you in the future?
        5. 6.1.1.5. 5. What tactics and strategies were most useful in developing your photo business? Was there anything that marked a turning point in your business — a contact, a realization, an idea?
        6. 6.1.1.6. 6. Do you have any food photography tips for better photographs?
        7. 6.1.1.7. 7. Do you shoot RAW or JPEG? What software programs do you use to review, edit, organize, and enhance your images? How do you handle your workflow?
        8. 6.1.1.8. 8. Can you name some of your favorite equipment (cameras, lights, computer, software, printer, and any photo-related gadgets)?
        9. 6.1.1.9. 9. What feeds your creativity? Where do you find your inspiration — for example, other photographers' work, art, or any particular travel experiences?
        10. 6.1.1.10. 10. How do you market your work (newspaper, referral, Web site, online marketing, social networking, printed collateral)?
        11. 6.1.1.11. 11. Are there multiple ways that you make money with your product and food photography? Which area of distribution have you found to be the most profitable?
    2. 6.2. ESSENTIAL GEAR
    3. 6.3. BEFORE THE SHOOT
    4. 6.4. AT THE SHOOT
    5. 6.5. CHAPTER REVIEW
  12. 7. travel photography
    1. 7.1. Q&A WITH A WORKING PRO
      1. 7.1.1.
        1. 7.1.1.1. 1. Can you tell me about your background — your personal, professional, and educational history?
        2. 7.1.1.2. 2. How did you start your business and how did it evolve?
        3. 7.1.1.3. 3. What was the toughest thing about getting started and what did you learn from it?
        4. 7.1.1.4. 4. What tactics and strategies were most useful in developing your business?
        5. 7.1.1.5. 5. Do you have any travel tips for better photographs?
        6. 7.1.1.6. 6. How do you fund your travels?
        7. 7.1.1.7. 7. What are your favorite pieces of equipment?
        8. 7.1.1.8. 8. What feeds your creativity, and where do you find your inspiration?
        9. 7.1.1.9. 9. How do you market your work?
        10. 7.1.1.10. 10. Are there multiple ways that you make money with your travel photography?
        11. 7.1.1.11. 11. How do you determine what conveys a sense of place? Do you research your locations prior to traveling?
        12. 7.1.1.12. 12. What essential gear do you pack when going on a travel photography trip?
        13. 7.1.1.13. 13. What is your best-selling image and why? Also, how long did it take you to begin making money?
    2. 7.2. ESSENTIAL GEAR
      1. 7.2.1. DSLR CAMERA AND LENSES
      2. 7.2.2. COMPACT CAMERAS
      3. 7.2.3. FILTERS
      4. 7.2.4. TRIPODS, MONOPODS, AND HEADS
      5. 7.2.5. LAPTOP
      6. 7.2.6. EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES AND DVDS
      7. 7.2.7. GEOTAGGING
      8. 7.2.8. EQUIPMENT BAG
    3. 7.3. BEFORE THE SHOOT
      1. 7.3.1. TRAVEL PLANNING
      2. 7.3.2. EQUIPMENT SECURITY
    4. 7.4. AT THE SHOOT
    5. 7.5. CHAPTER REVIEW
  13. 8. show me the money
    1. 8.1. SELLING TO CONSUMERS
      1. 8.1.1. FAMILIES
      2. 8.1.2. BUSINESS PORTRAITS
      3. 8.1.3. ACTORS
    2. 8.2. SELLING TO BUSINESSES
      1. 8.2.1. TAPPING THE STOCK-PHOTOGRAPHY MARKET
      2. 8.2.2. PURSUING PUBLICATION WORK
        1. 8.2.2.1. Magazines
        2. 8.2.2.2. Trade Journals
        3. 8.2.2.3. Newspapers
        4. 8.2.2.4. Books
        5. 8.2.2.5. Greeting Cards, Calendars, Posters, and Other Products
      3. 8.2.3. THE FINE-ARTS MARKET
        1. 8.2.3.1. Partnering With a Gallery
        2. 8.2.3.2. Preparing a Portfolio
      4. 8.2.4. Q&A WITH A FINE-ART AGENT
        1. 8.2.4.1. 1. What are the basics that a photographer needs to know about submitting work for the fine-art market?
        2. 8.2.4.2. 2. In the corporate-art realm or décor market, what are agents and buyers looking for?
        3. 8.2.4.3. 3. What criteria do you use for photography in the corporate-art space?
        4. 8.2.4.4. 4. Are online sales outlets such as Etsy.com viable places for selling photography as art?
        5. 8.2.4.5. 5. Is there an identifiable hierarchy of exposure and commercial viability in the fine-art world?
        6. 8.2.4.6. 6. Is it possible to make a living of fine-art photography?
        7. 8.2.4.7. 7. Who are some of the top-selling fine-art photographers, and in your estimation, why are they successful?
      5. 8.2.5. COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING
      6. 8.2.6. ENTERING CONTESTS
    3. 8.3. CHAPTER REVIEW
  14. 9. marketing
    1. 9.1. RESEARCH THE MARKET
      1. 9.1.1. LOCAL DEMOGRAPHICS
      2. 9.1.2. LOCAL COMPETITION
    2. 9.2. DEVELOP YOUR BRAND
      1. 9.2.1. YOUR STYLE
      2. 9.2.2. YOUR COMPANY NAME
      3. 9.2.3. YOUR LOGO AND OTHER DESIGN ELEMENTS
    3. 9.3. MARKETING TOOLS
      1. 9.3.1. BUSINESS CARDS, LETTERHEAD, AND OTHER PROMOTIONAL PRINT MATERIAL
      2. 9.3.2. WEB SITE
        1. 9.3.2.1. Web Site Design
        2. 9.3.2.2. Choosing Your Domain Name
      3. 9.3.3. BLOG
      4. 9.3.4. SOCIAL MEDIA
        1. 9.3.4.1. Facebook
        2. 9.3.4.2. YouTube
        3. 9.3.4.3. LinkedIn
        4. 9.3.4.4. Twitter
        5. 9.3.4.5. Flickr
      5. 9.3.5. E-MAIL MARKETING
      6. 9.3.6. ADVERTISING
      7. 9.3.7. REFERRALS
      8. 9.3.8. NETWORKING
    4. 9.4. CHAPTER REVIEW
  15. 10. digital darkroom
    1. 10.1. ORGANIZE YOUR IMAGES
      1. 10.1.1. SELECTING AND EDITING
      2. 10.1.2. NAMING FILES
      3. 10.1.3. METADATA
      4. 10.1.4. TAGGING
      5. 10.1.5. KEYWORDS
    2. 10.2. CHOOSE SOFTWARE
    3. 10.3. ENHANCE YOUR IMAGES
    4. 10.4. IMAGE HANDLING TIPS
    5. 10.5. PRESERVE YOUR IMAGES
    6. 10.6. PRINT YOUR IMAGES
    7. 10.7. CHAPTER REVIEW
  16. Epilogue
  17. A. taking care of business
    1. A.1. DEVELOP A BUSINESS PLAN
    2. A.2. CHOOSE A COMPANY CLASSIFICATION: AN OVERVIEW
    3. A.3. REGISTER YOUR COMPANY NAME
    4. A.4. OBTAIN INSURANCE
    5. A.5. PRICE YOUR WORK
    6. A.6. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR MONEY
      1. A.6.1. MAKING TAX TIME EASIER
    7. A.7. HANDLE MODEL AND PROPERTY RELEASES
    8. A.8. COPYRIGHT AND REGISTER YOUR IMAGES
      1. A.8.1. Q&A WITH A COPYRIGHT ATTORNEY
        1. A.8.1.1. What is the best way to copyright your images?
        2. A.8.1.2. What is the advantage to registering your images with the U.S. Copyright Office?
        3. A.8.1.3. What are good online resources for copyright law?
  18. B. resources
    1. B.1. PERIODICALS
    2. B.2. DIGITAL PHOTO PRO
    3. B.3. MAC LIFE
    4. B.4. DIGITAL PHOTO
    5. B.5. PHOTO DISTRICT NEWS
    6. B.6. POPULAR PHOTOGRAPHY
    7. B.7. ORGANIZATIONS
    8. B.8. AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTISTS
    9. B.9. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHERS
    10. B.10. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PHOTOSHOP PROFESSIONALS
    11. B.11. NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION
    12. B.12. PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA
    13. B.13. PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS OF AMERICA
    14. B.14. STOCK ARTISTS ALLIANCE
    15. B.15. THE PICTURE ARCHIVE COUNCIL OF AMERICA
    16. B.16. WOMEN IN PHOTOGRAPHY INTERNATIONAL
    17. B.17. PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
    18. B.18. MAINE MEDIA WORKSHOPS
    19. B.19. SANTA FE PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOPS
    20. B.20. ONLINE PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOFTWARE CLASSES
    21. B.21. RENEEPEARSON.COM
    22. B.22. LYNDA.COM
    23. B.23. PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT AND REVIEW SITES
    24. B.24. ADORAMA
    25. B.25. B&H PHOTO
    26. B.26. CNET.COM
    27. B.27. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW
    28. B.28. EPINIONS.COM
    29. B.29. PHOTO- AND VIDEO-SHARING WEB SITES
    30. B.30. ANIMOTO
    31. B.31. KODAK GALLERY
    32. B.32. SHUTTERFLY
    33. B.33. SNAPFISH
    34. B.34. PHANFARE
    35. B.35. PHOTOWORKSHOP
    36. B.36. SMILEBOX
    37. B.37. SMUGMUG
    38. B.38. PHOTOSHELTER
    39. B.39. PICTAGE
    40. B.40. FLICKR
    41. B.41. FOTKI
    42. B.42. PICTURETRAIL
    43. B.43. IMAGE ORGANIZING, ARCHIVING AND SLIDE-SHOW SOFTWARE
    44. B.44. ADOBE PHOTOSHOP LIGHTROOM
    45. B.45. APERTURE
    46. B.46. BOINX FOTOMAGICO
    47. B.47. IPHOTO
    48. B.48. MOZY.COM
    49. B.49. TREND MICRO SAFESYNC
    50. B.50. PICASA
    51. B.51. SMALL-BUSINESS RESOURCES
    52. B.52. STARTUP NATION
    53. B.53. BLU DOMAIN
    54. B.54. ENTREPRENEUR.COM
    55. B.55. U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINSTRATION
    56. B.56. SMALLBUSINESS.COM
  19. glossary

Product information

  • Title: Make Money with your Digital Photography
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: May 2011
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9780470474310