So, you love photography, and want to earn a living doing it. What about these options?
Teach Independent Classes
Finding a decent basic photography skills class is often limited to the local community college continuing education department. Why not create a portable class and take it small groups, or lead small independent classes? Scrapbookers are a huge market that already gets together to assemble their albums and share stories. Partner with someone selling scrapbook materials to offer a variety of classes from basic skills on up. Another angle would be for a specific demographic such as kids, college students, seniors.
Lead Photo Expeditions
This doesn't have to involve trekking around the world. Similar to the classes, but with the added allure of actually getting people out with their cameras to take pictures, and then receiving feedback. You could have theme classes, such as "photographing interesting doorways," where you walk around with several students taking then have a lunch and learn debrief where you upload the photos and critique them. The possibilities for this are practically endless.
Specialty Photography
Do you love taking pictures of something in particular? Why not become the known expert in your area for taking these photos? For example, one lady has a thriving business doing outdoor dog portrait photos. Heavily beach oriented, she takes photos of the dogs running, and playing, then creates a portrait photo or grouping of photos. She works on commission, makes a tidy income, and spends her days playing fetch on the beach with dogs, camera in hand.
Traveling Scanning Service
This one might be a better side-business to one of the above, than a passion in itself. But those scrapbookers I mentioned above, and many others, have reams of photographs in shoeboxes that need to be digitized. There are high-speed portable scanners than run about $1500. The prices that most services want for drop off/pick up scanning are very high. Priced competitively, this service could provide an entree to whatever other photography oriented income you choose.
Stock Photography
You want to work alone? Take some time and get serious about stock photography. While the old photography purists lament the loss of photography as fine art, the good stock photographers are getting rich. There are multiple sites, and you can choose to work with just one or several. The money here is made two ways - a few great photos that get downloaded frequently, or lots of photos that sell less often. Read the stock photo site's information - they will usually tell you exactly what kind of photos they need the most. I know of one gal who was perusing a magazine rack, only to see one of her stock shots on the cover!
Love photography but have another interest that doesn't quite match up here? That's what I do - work with clients to come up with creative ways to combine their passions into profits. Fill me in on your interests and let's get creative!
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