Make Money With Your Basic Digital Camera
For more than 25 years, I've made good money taking photographs. For 12 years I had my own studio, which was built on past experience as a freelancer. For the next 12 years I worked for a manufacturer of criminal investigation equipment—writing technical manuals and taking accompanying photos.
I was introduced to digital photography shortly after joining this company. I was handed a Canon D30—a 3.5 megapixel, single lens reflex model. I literally wore out this camera. It got to the point that the sensor was showing weakness in the center of the images I was getting. This camera was replaced with a Canon Rebel, 10.5 megapixel model.
I tried to buy a D30 for my personal use, but it had been discontinued, so I settled for the Canon D-60 with 6.5 megapixels. The D-60 was discontinued about six months after I bought it.
Now some of what I've said so far may already be over your head. I plan to show you how to gain the knowledge you need to do what I suggest—make money—even with a basic camera.
My current personal arsenal of cameras now includes three Canons: a 50D, a Rebel XSi and a PowerShot A630. The PowerShot is rated at 8.0 megapixels and it is the camera I carry with me in the trunk of my car.
Now let's get to the meat of this article. How you can make money even with a low cost basic "point-and-shooter." My PowerShot is a wonder of digital engineering. It has many of the bells and whistles of my 50D (15.1 megapixels). Notice I said MANY, but not all!
I paid over $1,000 for the 50D with lens. I paid $200 for a used PoweShot. Most of the photos I take with the PowerShot look absolutely great in the standard print size of 4" x 6". My 50D can produce full color, knockout prints, up to 24" x 30" and possibly larger.
The moral here is if you want to earn extra money using a basic camera—like my PowerShot, you need to explore markets that require smaller images. Here are just a few:
Seven Ideas for making a Good Part Time Living
1. Website photos. I recently did a photo shoot for a local attorney at his office. He staged the entire photo shoot and supplied the people(Family and friends) depicted in the shots. It took about 1½ hours. My regular charge in this city is $300.00
2. Home Inventory. Fire, storm damage and theft are best proven by photographs. But photos are also an ideal method of recording what you had in place before the incident occurred. Don't expect to claim that your 54" flat screen plasma TV was stolen if you don't have a photo showing it in place. I charge a basic fee of $75.00 plus $25.00 per room.
3. Newspapers and local magazines. The economy has slammed the print media over the past few years. News reporters and photographers have been laid off or furloughed. But editors still need photos. Make up a portfolio of your work and visit the editors. I charge $20-$25.00 per hour, and this is a bargain for most places since they save on employee benefits, salaries, etc.
4. Real Estate. Many realtors take their own photos and some I've seen really look like it. Anyone can shoot exteriors—it's the interior shots take pose the biggest challenge. Since your point-and-shooter has a tiny little fixed flash that may be good up to about 10-12 feet., a different light source is called for. I consider lighting one of the most critical elements of a photograph. My answer is to use available light, but this is a subject you can learn.
5. Low Budget Weddings. In the past few months I completed two of these. And yes, my PowerShot was used as a backup camera. I also did a 25th anniversary party. My charge for three hours of coverage is $595.00. I guarantee a minimum of 100 usable images and these are provided to the couple on a DVD. Additional DVDs cost $15.00 each and we put these same images up on a FREE website where family and friends can download the images they want.
6. Special Events. This is a broad topic that includes birthdays, retirement parties, neighborhood block parties, performances (school plays, musicals, graduations, etc.)
7. Fund Raisers. This is can be a real money-maker, depending on the size of the group. This idea sells well for churches, volunteer organizations (Fire and EMS services) and civic organizations. The deal I offer is that the sponsor has no expense. I give each family participating one free 8" x 10" print. From that point on we offer packages. This need not be seasonal in that people like to have family photos all year ‘round.
So how do I get business? I depend on three sources:
1. Word of mouth from family, friends and acquaintances. I have two large budget weddings scheduled during the peak wedding season that will each produce over $1,000 in profit for about four to five hours work.
2. Website: I maintain a website for my studio without walls. All of the work I do is on location.
3. CraigsList. I advertise on CraigsList, which is free so I have no advertising costs.
Have I given you some good ideas? I have barely scratched the surface of the potential for you to make a great part time income, which could easily grow to full time—so long as you get good referrals. And this will happen if you provide VALUE and SERVICE. In other words, you must produce memorable, excellent quality work. To accomplish this, please consider some formal training. You will only learn so much from your camera's owner's manual.
I was introduced to digital photography shortly after joining this company. I was handed a Canon D30—a 3.5 megapixel, single lens reflex model. I literally wore out this camera. It got to the point that the sensor was showing weakness in the center of the images I was getting. This camera was replaced with a Canon Rebel, 10.5 megapixel model.
I tried to buy a D30 for my personal use, but it had been discontinued, so I settled for the Canon D-60 with 6.5 megapixels. The D-60 was discontinued about six months after I bought it.
Now some of what I've said so far may already be over your head. I plan to show you how to gain the knowledge you need to do what I suggest—make money—even with a basic camera.
My current personal arsenal of cameras now includes three Canons: a 50D, a Rebel XSi and a PowerShot A630. The PowerShot is rated at 8.0 megapixels and it is the camera I carry with me in the trunk of my car.
Now let's get to the meat of this article. How you can make money even with a low cost basic "point-and-shooter." My PowerShot is a wonder of digital engineering. It has many of the bells and whistles of my 50D (15.1 megapixels). Notice I said MANY, but not all!
I paid over $1,000 for the 50D with lens. I paid $200 for a used PoweShot. Most of the photos I take with the PowerShot look absolutely great in the standard print size of 4" x 6". My 50D can produce full color, knockout prints, up to 24" x 30" and possibly larger.
The moral here is if you want to earn extra money using a basic camera—like my PowerShot, you need to explore markets that require smaller images. Here are just a few:
Seven Ideas for making a Good Part Time Living
1. Website photos. I recently did a photo shoot for a local attorney at his office. He staged the entire photo shoot and supplied the people(Family and friends) depicted in the shots. It took about 1½ hours. My regular charge in this city is $300.00
2. Home Inventory. Fire, storm damage and theft are best proven by photographs. But photos are also an ideal method of recording what you had in place before the incident occurred. Don't expect to claim that your 54" flat screen plasma TV was stolen if you don't have a photo showing it in place. I charge a basic fee of $75.00 plus $25.00 per room.
3. Newspapers and local magazines. The economy has slammed the print media over the past few years. News reporters and photographers have been laid off or furloughed. But editors still need photos. Make up a portfolio of your work and visit the editors. I charge $20-$25.00 per hour, and this is a bargain for most places since they save on employee benefits, salaries, etc.
4. Real Estate. Many realtors take their own photos and some I've seen really look like it. Anyone can shoot exteriors—it's the interior shots take pose the biggest challenge. Since your point-and-shooter has a tiny little fixed flash that may be good up to about 10-12 feet., a different light source is called for. I consider lighting one of the most critical elements of a photograph. My answer is to use available light, but this is a subject you can learn.
5. Low Budget Weddings. In the past few months I completed two of these. And yes, my PowerShot was used as a backup camera. I also did a 25th anniversary party. My charge for three hours of coverage is $595.00. I guarantee a minimum of 100 usable images and these are provided to the couple on a DVD. Additional DVDs cost $15.00 each and we put these same images up on a FREE website where family and friends can download the images they want.
6. Special Events. This is a broad topic that includes birthdays, retirement parties, neighborhood block parties, performances (school plays, musicals, graduations, etc.)
7. Fund Raisers. This is can be a real money-maker, depending on the size of the group. This idea sells well for churches, volunteer organizations (Fire and EMS services) and civic organizations. The deal I offer is that the sponsor has no expense. I give each family participating one free 8" x 10" print. From that point on we offer packages. This need not be seasonal in that people like to have family photos all year ‘round.
So how do I get business? I depend on three sources:
1. Word of mouth from family, friends and acquaintances. I have two large budget weddings scheduled during the peak wedding season that will each produce over $1,000 in profit for about four to five hours work.
2. Website: I maintain a website for my studio without walls. All of the work I do is on location.
3. CraigsList. I advertise on CraigsList, which is free so I have no advertising costs.
Have I given you some good ideas? I have barely scratched the surface of the potential for you to make a great part time income, which could easily grow to full time—so long as you get good referrals. And this will happen if you provide VALUE and SERVICE. In other words, you must produce memorable, excellent quality work. To accomplish this, please consider some formal training. You will only learn so much from your camera's owner's manual.
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Don Penven
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/make-money-with-your-basic-digital-camera-2040700.html#ixzz1Czl7tf2D
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/make-money-with-your-basic-digital-camera-2040700.html#ixzz1Czl7tf2D
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
_________________________________________________________________________