How To Directory
HOW TO MAKE UP TO $1,000 EVERY WEEK WITH YOUR CAMERA!
As
millions of Americans look for greater control over their
financial destiny, the dream of self-employment has become more
compelling that ever. Just the idea of launching a small business
to become their own boss, and financially independent, drives
many people to stake their life savings on everything from
franchise opportunities to some gadgets they've invented.
To
entrepreneurial spirit is, of course, a part of our great
national tradition. The problem is that many people devote a lot
of their time to half-baked ideas and high-risk flings that have
little chance of success.
There
is always some gamble involved when you start a business,
whether your investment is $50.00 or $500.00, or more. But once
you begin to view your new business as a "gambling" the
risk-reward radio tilts out of wack! The shrewdest and most
successful entrepreneurs know that "taking the plunge" works best
when you take along tested principles that put the odds in their
favor.
TAKE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED AND BUILD YOUR BUSINESS AROUND IT
If
you decide to join the ranks of self-employed freelance
photographers, you will soon discover there is no magic in being
able to earn thousands of dollars every year. Forget about the
notion that you can start up a business just because you have a
camera laying around you know little or nothing about. If you try
the casual "learn on the job" approach with photography and
competitors will capitalize on your mistakes, promoting customers
to turn elsewhere for the products and services you market. Then
your business will be floundering by the time you get to know
what it takes to succeed. Never expect people to pay you while
you practice on them and waste their time and money. And never
take an assignment you can't handle. Being honest with yourself
and your customers will be your benefit in the long-run.
The
best approach to starting your freelance photography business
is to start off slowly and build on a base of knowledge and
experience. In other words, take the knowledge that you presently
have about your camera and build a company around it. Start out
by offering a particular service where you can be competitive
from the first day you are open for business.
YOU DON'T NEED A STUDIO & FRENCH PROVINCIAL FURNITURE TO GET
STARTED
You
don't have to open a studio with elegant french provincial
furniture, glass showcases, and large expensive frames all over
the walls, to go into business as a freelance photographer. It's
actually just the opposite; you don't need a studio at all!
What you will need, is a camera, a couple of stobe lights, lights
stands, and a black-and-white darkroom setup. From there, it's
just as easy for you to go to your customers as it is for them to
go to a studio.
How
much money you make will depend on the amount of time you
want to devote to your business. The beauty of being a freelance
photographer is that you can create your own markets, and
establish your own rates. If you go into freelancing with the
intent to earn extra money working on weekends, you should be
able to earn $1,000-$2,000 per weekend if you did nothing but
shoot weddings followed with package deals. If you decide to go
into business on a full-time basis, then you could earn up to
$50,000 and more depending on your specialty. It really boils
down to one important thing; you must have the ability to use the
equipment you have to produce a good photograph. People are
willing to pay top dollar if you produce quality results. They
don't like paying for poor work that isn't pleasing or effective.
BEING SUCCESSFUL IS SELLING WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO PRODUCE
In
this report we are assuming that you already know something
about operating a camera, taking pictures, exposure, lighting,
composition, and darkroom procedures. This is the production end
of it. Turning your knowledge into salable photography is the
next step.
The
first rule to remember is that if you are offered a job, and
you don't even know the basics, you better say "no thank you,"
and tell the client why you're passing it up. Tell him what you
do specialize in at the moment. When the next job comes around,
you will have an established reputation on being honest and that
same person will be back 1) because he respects your honesty; and
- because
if you say you can do a job, you can.
ADVERTISE YOUR WORK IN A PORTFOLIO
Make
up a portfolio of quality 8x10 prints to show your potential
clients. It should consist of both color and black and white
prints. Mount your 8x10 prints on attractive 11x14 boards, that
way you can include a few 11x14 prints as well.
A
complete portfolio should include some 35mm slides. Display
them in 8 1/2x11 plastic sheets, which hold 20 slides. If you
intend to produce 2 1/4x 2 1/2 transparencies for commercial and
industrial assignments, sheets are available.
When
you are satisfied with your portfolio, call on advertising
agencies and show the art director what you are capable of. Make
appointments with the art and fashion directors of department
stores and boutiques. Show business and industrial firms and
consider beforehand how their advertising and public relations
departments could use your services.
Be
prepared to show your work to anyone at anytime. Everyone is a
potential customer, and you never know who will be needing your
services next. Carry your portfolio in the car at all times. If
you are proud of your work, show it! Make advertising what you do
part of your everyday life.
KNOWING WHAT TO CHARGE
The
first thing to remember is that you aren't going into
business to give it away. Being fair to both yourself and your
customers is the principle you should follow when setting fees.
The way to do that is to determine what amount will adequately
compensate you for your time, talent, and investment in equipment
on a job by job basis.
Don't
fall into the trap of charging less for your work just
because you aren't working out of a studio, or don't have
brand-new, expensive equipment. You still have overhead!
At
times your expenses will seem endless as you pay for photo
supplies, office supplies, advertising, travel expenses, water
and electricity if you operate your own darkroom, darkroom
supplies and equipment, taxes, business license, business
stationery, portfolio costs, business cards, and depreciation of
your vehicle and photo equipment. Never let anyone convince you
that you should work for less because you don't have overhead.
What
you ultimately decide to charge for your work is something
you will have to decide for yourself. the area you live in, the
economy in that area, the competition, and how much you need are
all influencing factors.
There
are basically two ways to set your fees: 1) You can charge
per individual photograph or job. On a job you would have to know
exactly how many different shots they would require, and allow
for differences in your price quote; or 2) You can charge an
hourly rate that compensates you for your time and talent. Your
hourly rate does not include the rolls of film you shoot, proofs,
processing, or prints ordered by your client. Your hourly rate is
for your time only, starting from the time you leave your home
until you finish the job and return home. In some cases charging
by the hour just wouldn't be practical. For example, prom sets,
graduation packages, dance schools, or Little League Teams where
you are further ahead to charge by the photo. Commercial shots on
the other hand, where you may be asked to take a single photo
that ends up taking 1-2 hours to set up, wouldn't pay if you
charged by the photo.
EARN $50,000 PER YEAR WORKING 1-DAY A WEEK!
Whether
it's a good or bad economy one thing for certain there
will always be weddings and work for freelance photographers.
Word-of-mouth advertising works well no matter what product or
service you are selling. But it works especially well if you are
a photographer in the wedding pictures business. When a bride is
pleased with the quality of your work, she will pay a $1,000 for
your time, talent, album for each of the parent couple, wall
photos, and her album. But it is her album that everyone she ever
knew, or will ever know, will be invited to look at.
Most
of the work will come through referrals from brides who were
happy with your work. You should also promote your business,
however, by showing samples of your work to florists, bridal
shops, boutiques, and caterers who normally have a lot of wedding
business. Just tell them you would be happy to send business
their way, if they will do the same.
Always
sign a contract with the bride so there are no
misunderstandings. Specific which photos will be taken, and of
whom. Always include a "release Paragraph" which states that you
are not responsible for the loss of photographs resulting from
camera malfunction, accidents in development, or film lost in the
mail. You may also want to include a "Model Release" which will
give you the right to use any photo as samples for advertising
purposes.
SETTING YOUR FEE
Make
certain the bride completely understands what your fee is.
and what she will receive in return. There are various ways you
can price weddings:
- Offer
a complete package that includes an engagement photo for
the newspaper, formal bridal portrait, and coverage of the
rehearsal party, wedding and reception.
- Coverage
of the rehearsal party, wedding and reception
- Wedding
and reception
- Wedding
only
Weddings
can be a goldmine. It's not uncommon for a complete
package that includes an 8x10 album for the bride, and a 4x5
album for each of the parents to run $1,000 or more. Many
photographers set a minimum charge of $500 for weddings. Even if
you only did two weddings per weekend at the minimum charge, you
could easily make $52,000 per year. The complete weeding package
per week would earn you over $100,000 per year. That's working
one day per week! Now imagine how much money you could earn
working full time.
OTHER FREELANCE JOBS THAT CAN MAKE BIG MONEY!
DANCE SCHOOL RECITALS:
Dance
recitals are only once a year, but taking photographs of
beautiful children in their costumes can mean increasing you bank
account substantially.
Dance
schools are everywhere and they come in all sizes. By
offering a photo package of 1-8x10, 2-5x7s, 4-wallet photos, and
1-5x7 class photo, you can make anywhere from $1,000 for the
smallest classes, up to $5,000 for a class of 400-500 students.
If you make the teachers responsible for posing the students, and
offer one pose per child, you can process the largest classes in
just a few days.
CHILDREN'S SPORTS PHOTOS:
Children's
sports, such as Little League baseball, football,
hockey, soccer, and basketball offer a very profitable
opportunity to make fast cash for freelance photographer. Every
team (and the hundreds of parents in the stands) all want group
shots and individual photos of every player. Most leagues will
have at least 8-10 teams, with up to 30 children on a team,
depending on the sport.
The
person to approach for working out arrangement for a
photographer session may be the coach, a director, committee, or
sponsor. Dealing with one person works best. Check with the city
or county recreation department. They will know who is using
their facilities.
REAL ESTATE & ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Some
of your best clients can be real estate agents, residential
and commercial contractors, and architects. Real estate agents
know that photographs are more effective in advertising a home or
business than the typical classified ad. Doing all of a real
estate agency's listings can add substantially to your income.
INSURANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Insurance
companies will reimburse a policy holder only for those
items they have documented. increasingly, insurance adjusters are
urging clients to photograph everything that's covered by their
policy on their home or business. It's difficult to argue with a
photographic inventory and for that reason people will way you to
photograph their possessions and file them away in a safety
deposit box.
FAMILY PORTRAITS
When
you take family portraits it's best if you don't use a
studio. people always act and look more natural in their own
homes or yards. Family pets are also easier to include when they
are in familiar surroundings.
You
can promote your "on location" family portrait service in the
Sunday newspaper. Note the fact that they won't even have to
leave the comfort and privacy of their home, because you will
come to them. Charge an initial fee, which includes the first
portrait (16x20 and 20x24 are not uncommon) plus travel expenses
and other shooting costs. Always promote the Christmas card
portraits, which the labs offer.
CHURCHES & SYNAGOGUES
When
church members become old enough to become regular members
they are confirmed and officially admitted to the church.
Churches usually want group shots of the entire class plus
individual photos for each family.
A
Bar mitzvah in the Jewish faith is similar to confirmation.
When a boy turns thirteen, he becomes a recognized member of his
religion and the synagogue in a ceremony. With a confirmation and
bar mitzvah are joyous occasions and are followed by a reception
for family, friends, and religious members.
ANIMAL SHOWS & PET PORTRAITS
Pets
and animals add up to a multi-billion dollar business in
America. What animal and pet owners spend every year on food,
grooming, pet-sitting, pet-walking, health products, and
accessories is staggering. Offer your services as a pet and
animal photographer and they will buy that also. There are
freelance photographers who make a good living just going from
show to another that features horses,cats and dogs. Get in touch
with your local veterinarian who should be able to provide you
with the names and addresses of sponsors for the various shows
and organizations.
ANTIQUE DEALERS & AUCTIONEERS
Some
large antique dealers have photos taken of their items for
sale, and send the photos or color slides of special or unusual
pieces to other dealers or customers.
When
auctioneers are hired to auction off items for an estate,
bankruptcy, a large business or industry, or any other large job
that has valuable items on their list of sale items, they will
often use color slides for TV ads, brochures, and other
promotional pieces.
GOLF COURSES & COUNTRY CLUBS
You
can make some fast cash by making arrangements with a golf
course or country club to have action photos taken of golfers
when they hold tournaments and there is a crowd. Set up your
camera on the first tee for foursome shots and action shots as
each player swings.
PONY & CHILD PHOTOS
Back
in the 1940s and 50s photographers would travel the country
and go door to door. For a fee, children could put on cowboy hat,
vest and chaffs, and climb onto a saddle less pony to have their
picture taken.
All
you have to do is rent a gentle-natured pony, have a three
piece (1-size fits all children) cowboy outfit, and an assistance
standing by just in case the pony gets skittish, or the child
decides to jump off. Then make arrangements to appear at crazy
days festivals, school carnivals, family reunions, shopping mall
promotions, parades, or any other place where crowds gather.
PHOTOGRAPHING SCHOOL & COMMUNITY BANDS
Make
arrangements with the band director or booster club and make
arrangements to take color group photos of the band and
individual members. Mail sample prints to band directors outside
your area and arrange for appointments to show your work and
explain package offers and fees.
GRADUATION PHOTOS
Contact
the senior class advisor and make arrangements to take
graduation photos of seniors in their caps and gowns as they
practice before the actual graduation ceremony. If you don't have
a portable background, use the stage curtains. Borrow a diploma
from the school that each graduate can hold.
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