“I make up to $5,500 per photo I shoot!”

“Photography has been a hobby of mine since I was a child. About 10 years ago, our family took a trip to Turks and Caicos, and loved it so much, we continued to vacation there. I started to shoot photos of the beach and the waves and I was shooting so much, I decided to sell my photos and turn it into a business in the U.S. So in 2017, I started Sand Dollar Images (SandDollarImages.com).

“I created a website, found a printer and started an Instagram account—where people often repost my photos—a Facebook page and donated to charitable events and youth art fundraisers to market the business. In the beginning, a lot of my business was word-of-mouth Sharon Weil referrals—I talked to everyone I could Hornstein, 56, about it! I targeted interior designers Wayland, MA, in both Turks and Caicos and the & Providenciales, U.S., as well as other vacationers who Turks and Caicos

wanted photos for their homes.

“I sell photos of the beaches, waves, sunsets, animals and underwater shots, which are so much fun to do! My photos are simple but have a big impact. People can purchase large prints, such as 40" x 60" and 48" x 96", create photo installations in their homes or buy small acrylic boxes for a desk. They purchase the photos I have available, but every order is custom. For example, folks will give me the size of a wall in their house or a certain color tone, and I’ll choose photos that fit the bill. Recently, a publisher approached me about using my images for a book project!

“Depending on the size of the photo, I make between $90 and $5,500—money that goes back into the business and is saved for a longterm house we’re building in Turks and Caicos! The best part is that I can be barefoot on the beach or on a boat and make money doing what I love.”