the first steps
If you got into photography to make a quick buck, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. But there are some cheap and cheerful ways to make some pocket money with minimum fuss…
unless you’re fortunate enough to be flooded with offers after one of your pictures becomes an overnight hit on social media, it’s unlikely that you’re going to landing the big bucks in a day or two of going semi-pro. That’s not to say you can’t spend a few days putting the ground work in, and one of the easiest things you can do is to make use of the photographs you already have.
Submitting your pictures to a magazine or entering a competition is something that you can do in an evening or two. It might take longer for you to supply additional information and high-res images, but as long as you’ve organized your images properly it won’t take you very long.
Rather than approaching a large national or international publication, have you thought about emailing a small selection of seasonal views you have on file to local-interest magazines? Choose images that are for an upcoming season – so, send wintry shots at the end of summer – as magazine editors like to plan far in advance.
Monetize your hobby
If you enjoy a hobby alongside photography, whether it’s fixing up motorbikes, homebrew or fishkeeping, then chances are that you have some pictures in your collection that are connected with that hobby. Why not get in touch with a book publisher or specialist magazine that focuses on that hobby to see whether they’d be interested in printing them?
There is, of course, the opportunity to submit your images to the readers’ pictures, gallery or showcase section of a photographic magazine. Again, you probably won’t be retiring on any earnings you make, but it’s a great stepping stone to bigger things.
The better your photography is known, the more likely it is that you will get published. Once you’ve had some initial work accepted you can move on to submitting article ideas, especially if you’re able to write to a decent standard.
Submitting your pictures to a magazine or entering a competition is something that you can do in an evening
Once a magazine knows your work they are more likely to use your images, and ultimately they may contact you if they are looking for images that they know you might be able to supply. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to make sure that your website or online portfolio is up together and that your contact details are easy to get hold of.
Weigh up the competitions
Then there are competitions. We might be stretching the idea of making a quick buck with this one, as an entry deadline may be a year away, but at least you can fire off an entry over a weekend and forget about it. Not all competitions offer money as a main prize either, but those that do typically charge an entry fee. Even if you don’t win, being shortlisted in a popular, prestigious contest, like Wildlife Photographer of the Year or International Garden Photographer of the Year, is a great marketing opportunity. Naturally there’s no guarantee you will be shortlisted, but if you don’t enter you have no chance at all.