For those of you who make money with your photography, would anyone be willing to share some information about what is working for you right now?
I am most likely going to have to quit my job very soon (remote federal worker being called back to in-person). I am not looking to replace my whole (part-time) income, but we will need a little extra help from me. I want to stay home with my two girls, so I need something very flexible and would like to give my photography/art a go.
From the outside, it seems like selling prints has become extremely challenging in a saturated market, and people are moving towards workshops or more personal services/experiences. Is that true? I also assume I will have to try multiple income-generating streams.
If anyone is willing to share any information about what things have been the most or least successful for them, I would greatly appreciate it!
Hi Amy, I work in a corporate career full-time so take my advice on making an income off of photography with a grain of salt, but what works for me well in my “side hustle” is multiple income streams. For me, it’s a combination of commercial sales to art consultants in a niche market (healthcare), workshop instruction in the field (as much as my schedule will allow), and speaking engagements at conferences and webinars. I started out very small working with one local art consultant, and it grew from there by building a professional reputation over time. The invitation for presenting at conferences grew out of doing a lot of presentations at camera clubs. I haven’t even tapped into e-books and the like because I have to be realistic about my time limitations, although I have alot of ideas floating around in my head. It has all taken years, but built slowly over time through making connections with other photographers, building a professional reputation and developing my own brand and style.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and journey, Beth! You definitely confirmed the strategy of multiple income streams. I hear you about making connections and building your professional reputation. I wish I had started this a bit earlier, but here we are! I really appreciate your response.