How To Make Your First $1000 from Portrait Photography (while doing it part-time!)
So you've heard you can make money from photography but you have a vague idea as to how to actually start. Perhaps you have very limited gear or you are doubtful that you can even charge your work for money. Everyone photographer feels this way when they first start out so don't feel discouraged! In this blog post I will share how I made my first $1000 with only a crop-sensor camera and two lenses.
How To Make Your First $1000 From Portrait Photography (While Doing It Part-Time)
In this blog post, you will find out:
The Steps to Making Your First $1000 From Portrait Photography!
How To Calculate How Much You Should Charge for Portrait Photography
The Part-Time Hustle
Starting a business is a daunting task, especially when you have a full-time commitment like work or school. When I first discovered I could make money off of photography, I was in grade 11, about to enter my last school year of high school, with a new Canon Rebel T6s and 18-135mm kit lens. I also bought a 50mm f/1.8 lens that year in hopes of getting serious with portrait photography - but I had no idea where to start!
P.S. Every photograph on this page was taken with the gear above!
As you read onwards, note that I provide these tips in the context of portrait photography. That's what I do and that's what I have experience in. Similar steps can also apply to other kinds of photography! Now let's get to the juicy part.
Tip #1: Educate Yourself.
Learn the basics of photography. YouTube will be your best friend but also consider mentoring from a local photographer. Join photography forums, Facebook groups, subreddits, and discords to meet others in your shoes. Learn the exposure triangle and basic light/shadow techniques. Listen to podcasts that talk about the business of photography. Read my blog for more photography business tips. Watch videos as to know how to pose your clients. Take notes.
As you gain new opportunities and technology evolves, photographers can always learn new things. Especially when you're starting out, you realize that using Auto on a camera is not acceptable if you want to be considered a professional. I highly encourage to weave yourself into groups for the potential of learning something new or getting a last-minute gig. Remember: there is always something to learn so don't be afraid to ask questions!
In my own journey, constantly staying on top of social media trends and editing techniques let me grow to where I am today.
Tip#2: Take your education and apply it practically by practicing.
Work with the products you have laying around your home to apply light/shadow techniques. Keep track of what worked and what didn't and then revisit the concept. Ask family or friends to pose for you. Go for walks and take photos of what's around you.
Learning how to consistently produce great images is a constant process so it's best to understand this early on. Collaborate with friends and work with products you have at home to get used to manually controlling a camera. You don't need to have a solid list of clients before starting out. No one has to see the photos you take if you aren't satisfied with them. The point is to consistently practice to get comfortable with using a camera and learn by applying.
And note, you won't be good just after 4 shoots with your family and friends. It can take 40 to 100 shoots before you truly find your own style. This explains why some photographer's have histories that span decades - the only way to improve is to consistently shoot.
Tip #3: Set up photography social media accounts, separate from your personal accounts.
Today this is Instagram. Tomorrow it may be different. But for when I first started, it was Facebook because as mentioned in Tip #7, my friends were my first clients.
When you're first starting out, I would emphasize taking photos consistently and leave social media strategy after you've completed this list of tips. I'll be going more in depth as to why you should separate your personal and business accounts in a later blog post, but by having an Instagram specific to your photography, your peers will start thinking you're more serious about photography and any potential clients in the future will see you as more of a professional.
I didn't have many followers when I first started out and that way okay. I didn't know how to voice myself through captions or manage a feed, but having that low follower count (consistently of literally only my friends) allowed me to make a fool of myself experimenting with social media with no one watching.
Your social media is your digital portfolio so remember to keep it classy.
Tip #5: Have a photo release form - or better - a contract.
By having some sort of written agreement, you can have a record of what's expected and what's not expected. For instance, in a free or low budget shoot to build your portfolio, have both parties sign an agreement that says you will be giving them __ amount of photographs. By having a formal written document, you can refer to this in the case that the individual swears you promise ___ + some number of photos. I also highly recommend not relying on text messages or DMs to keep track of agreements- it's highly unprofessional and can cause more problems than not.
Tip #6: Have a humbled but confident mindset.
Because it's all about your mindset. You will start making money once you see the worth of you and your craft. Be confident when you market yourself to potential clients. Don't be rude, you're still talking to your teacher, but don't approach someone while you're stumbling with your words. Saying stuff like, "I mean, I guess, I kinda think it'll cost $40". Don't ever charge only $40 please.
And a way to show that you are approaching this as a professional is to know your rates. How to calculate this is different for every person, but some tips to keep in mind: Have some other options like what if the senior graduate wants to have a few pictures of them and their escort. Definitely plan. You're a beginner so it is expected that your prices will be cheap in the ~$100, give or take $50 range. I started off offering high school graduates 15 photos for $80. Before all the experienced photographers go off, you have to realize that you can't stay at these rates for ever.
Tip #4: Have a portfolio.
Don't charge your first portrait photoshoot when you yourself have never experienced it. Be fair to the other person spending money on you, and be honest with yourself. Would you really pay a person money if they've never taken a portrait in their life?
If you're unsure of what a portfolio is - it's basically just a collection of shoots pertaining to the type of photography you want to get paid for. For instance, for portrait photography, you want photos of people to be shown on your digital portfolio - your Instagram.
A website isn't need so early in - so don't worry about a website until you're ready!
Tip #7: Start With Your Circle
Reach out to your circle. Your friends, families, classmates. I started getting paid when I did senior portraits in high school. Then it was my friends who were interested in modelling. This was where I found majority of my work when I first started. Word of mouth will be the start of how you market yourself so shoot, shoot, shoot.
Case-study: Let's break it all down
A good way to not feel overwhelmed starting a freelance business is to break down the goal into digestible bits.
"To make $1000 in one summer,
and if I charge $100 per session,
I just need to find 10 clients."
But Joanna!!! That's the problem!!!! I can't even find 10 clients!!!!
Well let me be honest. It took me two summers to hit my first $1000 from photography. Granted, I also wasn’t charging $100 for a session. (it was embarrassedly less than that)
Be patient. Since you're not investing full-time hours you shouldn't expect a full-time cheque. That being said, the only way you'll grow is to humbly educate yourself, consistently shoot and share your work on social media.
What would you like to learn about next? Reach out on my Instagram for more photography tips and tricks!
