5 Ways to Make Money with Your Camera

Digital cameras have evened the playing field between professional and amateur photographers.  The combination of easy-to-use cameras and digital editing software allow just about anyone to capture high quality images without an extensive background in photography.  Because of this fact, many amateurs have developed lucrative business models with their cameras.  Here are some simple ideas that will help you join the ranks of these budding entrepreneurs.

Event Pictures
Ever wish you would have taken a picture of you and your friends at that John Mayer concert last summer?  Well, you are not alone, and event photography can be easy money fro the right person.  Take a second to think of all of the attractions, events, and tourist destinations in your area.  You can make money at these places by simply taking pictures of people having fun and handing them a business card with your contact information.  You can post the pictures on a website or email them a watermarked copy as a sample.  Setup a paypal account for the money transaction and you are in business.

Create Customized Products
There are plenty of websites out there where you can create your own greeting cards or novelty items by superimposing a picture on the product.  Luckily for you, not everyone knows about them or perhaps doesn’t trust their services.  Use this to your advantage by offering these items directly to your customers.  They will appreciate the face to face interaction, and you will make money by adding your fees to the cost of the products.  Your customers will think you are a genius and you will be able to outsource most of the work.

Sell Stock Photography
The stock photography marked has skyrocketed in the past year.  More and more businesses are turning to amateur sites to find pictures for their marketing pieces and publications.  By learning which niches are the hottest, you can build a very profitable business model.  The best part is that these pictures can be sold over and over again.  Remember, it only takes one popular shot to build a nice passive income stream in the stock photography market.

Teach Photography
You may have not have imagined yourself as teacher, but your experiences with photography and the use digital images can make you just that.  There are plenty of people out there who are intimidated by technology.  They have the money to spend on cameras and computers, but they simply don’t have the patience to learn how to use them properly.  Post an ad in Craigslist offering a digital photography class for beginners.  Word will spread quickly if you make it fun and affordable, and you will likely get additional requests for private sessions from those who need more help.

Offer Editing and Production Services
Even those who are comfortable using a digital camera can still struggle with the more advanced editing applications.  This includes designing slide presentations, greeting cards, and simple family websites.  Use your skills in these in areas to make even more money with your photography services.  Make sure you always carry business cards with you to promote yourself, and be able to provide samples of your work upon request.

This is just a sample of the many ways you can transform yourself from amateur photographer to full-time entrepreneur.  As with any business, the harder you work at it, the higher the rewards will be.  Focus on mastering a particular niche to start with and build your empire from there.  Before you know it you will be getting paid to take pictures.