Tips to start a photography business in the Event Photography Niche

8 Tips How To Sell Amateur Digital PhotographyDo you want to know how to sell amateur digital photography? If you like to snap pictures at family events or just out in the neighborhood, put that camera to good use in ways that will earn you money for your efforts. This article offers eight tips that you can learn the simplicity of how to sell amateur digital photography.8 Tips How To Sell Amateur Digital Photography

1. Stock Photography. This business is growing. For website newsletters, magazines and articles, publishers look for photos that capture the essence of their articles. It is not terribly convenient to go out and snap some pictures every time you need one. Selling stock photographs to businesses and individuals is convenient for them and lucrative for you. Of course, the challenge is knowing how and where to begin. (Click here for a free report on how to sell your photos as stock photography.)

2. Wedding Photography. Okay so if you aren't a professional you won't be the main photographer at first but you can be hired to take candid shots at the reception or wedding photos after the ceremony. The happy couple can order as many pictures as they want and you can create wedding CDs of the pictures you took.

3. Newspaper Photos. If you are in the right place at the right time, you might capture photos that are worthy of the newspaper. When news happens, a newspaper photographer might not be on the scene. You can capture the moments and sell them to newspapers. Snapping shots at community events may also earn you some money from local newspapers.

4. Magazine Photography. Create a portfolio of photos that you've taken and submit them to magazines.  Looking at your work, they may hire you for assignments. Magazines are a tough market to break into so cut your teeth on other smaller assignments for local newspapers.

5. Local Photography Business. Have you ever received a mailing that shows cars for sale or houses for sale? Someone had to take those photographs. It could be you. Hire yourself out to area businesses to do the photographs for them.

6. Event photography. Some families like to document their events like family reunions, christenings, bar mitzvahs and birthday parties. You can be the eyes in the room catching candid shots of everyone.

7. Photography Website. If you know a lot about digital cameras and photography, create a website to sell photography products. Keep visitors and customers coming back with engaging content on various aspects of your photography work. You don't have to be a website wizard to build a successful photography website. If you have the skills to send, open and receive email, you have the skills to build a successful and profitable website that you can easily manage.

8. Teach A Photography Class. Those cameras look easy to use but some of those symbols can mix people up. Teach others to use their digital camera and create great pictures that they, too, can market as a business.

Do you have a passion for photography? That's what this website is all about - sharing that passion! What started off as a hobby can become a new business venture. Like everything else, it requires know-how. Having amateur digital photography (even if it's very, very good photography) isn't the same as knowing how to sell amateur digital photography. Photos, even the great photos, simply do not sell themselves. Very regular photos sell very well when you know how and where to begin.

Subscribe to the "Best Amateur Photography Tips Digest" ezine and get great content about how to 'make a few bucks' with your photography passion to support your photography passion. There's more information like this in the ezine. Not knowing can be expensive. Click Here To Subscribe Now

Receive as a bonus for subscribing a Special Report: "How To Successfully Build Your Own Photography Website:" A Step-By-Step Guide - FREE!!! Click Here Now

In event photography, there are basic tasks that the hired photographer is expected to perform. They include:

1. Attending the event on time and prepared (meaning you have fresh batteries, camera, etc.)


2. Take photos of the activities of the event


3. Processing and printing the event photos


4. Delivering and presenting photos to the photography customer.

Essentially, that's about it. However, as I mentioned earlier on this page, there are lots and lots of photographers in this niche. If you decide to focus and/or include this niche in your photo business, the information on this page will put you "head and shoulders" above your competition (all of those other 'photographers'). First of all, they all aren't clear on the four basic responsibilities of the event photographer. You are! Also, those that are clear on the basics, do just that - the 'basics!'

In starting your photography business, plan on 'over-delivering' the basics. This page will offer some successful strategies to help you to become and remain the most requested photographer.

Most customers that will hire you to photograph their event are aware of the 'basics' that they will receive. To be 'better-than-average' and requested the most, consider these small tweaks:

• Find out who the 'event planner' for the event is. Sometimes, they're a volunteer, a committee. And sometimes they're a Professional Event Planner. Find out who they are. Check-in with them. Ask them if there are any specific shots or people that they want to make sure that you shoot. (Two points to note here: 1.) The person doing the planning has ideas for the 'photos that must be taken.' Meet their expectations and they will 'sing your praises! 2.) They will let you know who the 'very important people' and the 'important people' are - these are the people that you will make sure that you are shooting throughout the event.


• Don't just show up 'on time.' Try to show up early. Often, if there are decorations for the event, they are being put to use before the event. In most cases, whoever is responsible for the decorations enjoys seeing 'before & after' photos. Also, if there are center pieces on the tables, take pictures of them - especially if they're creative and unique. (Sidebar: people that make 'center-pieces' take their work very seriously - much more serious than you might think. They will buy well lit, in focus photos of their creations - usually 5x7s. They, too, will 'sing your praises' [which translates to more photography business] and tell others that you take photos of their creations.)


• In the internet age, people are more and more comfortable with 'doing business' online. You, the 'better-than-the-average' event photographer, must not assume that they are as 'comfortable' as you are online. Those of us that regularly use the internet make the mistaken assumption that everybody 'knows and does what we do' online. Big mistake. Although people are more comfortable doing business online, they prefer to 'do business' with extremely easy-to-use and secure websites. Too many event photographers send people to online galleries that 'are too complex!' And, too many send customers to sites that aren't secure. Internet savvy people don't have problems. The majority of photography customers, like the majority of people, aren't very 'internet savvy.' The event photographer aware of this dynamic will profit in many ways by offering extremely 'user-friendly' online galleries.


• If you're delivering the physical photos yourself, make your delivery a 'presentation.' Deliver the photos in a photo album. I used to be surprised at the number of event photographers that delivered their photos with rubber-bands, in bags, in envelopes, etc. I'm not surprised, any more I just do a 'better job' and get more calls for photography jobs - at my prices!. An inexpensive (not cheap) photo album always makes a better (and more valuable) presentation than rubber bands and bags! To the best extent possible, insert the photos in sequential/chronological order (that is, help those that view the photos 're-live' the event) in the photo album.

One of the best tips that I can give you to successfully start a photography business in the event photography niche is to minimize your "workflow" by as much as possible. Your "workflow" is the process and time frame after taking the photos to actual complete delivery to the customer - this includes, often, photo editing, duplicating, etc.

There are many very good companies that can dramatically and effectively minimize your "workflow." Do your research and you will find a very large selection to choose from. However, I highly recommend SmugMug.com and PhotoStockPlus.com - both are dependable, professional, extremely user-friendly (actually, SmugMug is the 'most use-friendly,' but I'm splitting hairs - I personally use SmugMug for customers that I'm not sure of their internet skills. I send more 'savvy' users to PhotoStock) and easy and simply for you, the photographer, to manage.

SmugMug has probably the best customer service in the world. Also, they don't overwhelm and confuse your customers with 'advertising' (this, in itself, is worth 10 times the price of SmugMug - which is already very cost-effective) like so many of your competitors. Also, SmugMug is good for having a source to provide photo products such as mugs, calendars, key-chains, etc. Your profit is good because their prices are very reasonable for prints. Their excellent customer service also 'shines' on your photography business because your customers will think that they are doing business with 'your company' or hired-professionals!

PhotoStockPlus is the perfect solution for the event photographer. They provide the ultimate sales solution that simultaneously streamlines your "workflow" and increases your profits from every single event you shoot with minimal effort. They provide you with your own e-commerce enabled website, a printing system that allows you to set mark-ups to a variety of print sizes and photo gift items, bulk uploading software that will get your photos online quickly (a feature that photo customers really like), etc. I especially like the effective marketing materials such as cards and fliers that you can use to direct customers to your photo storefront.

Both, PhotoStockPlus, as well as SmugMug, provide you websites that are easy to use and are a reliable way to showcase and sell your work while they handle all of the shipping and backend hassles - giving you more time to do what you do best - take pictures!

I use both of them for more specific reasons that meet the standards of my photography business and that profitably meet my individual style.

I highly recommend that you take a look at both or either of these fantastic services.

This niche is always in demand. However, too often budding photographers looking to start a photography business show up and come across as "just somebody with a camera that comes when called." Practice a few (or all) of the tips on this page and you won't be seen as "just somebody with a camera that comes when called." Somebody has to be that 'somebody with a camera' - use these tips so that 'somebody' won't be you!

In the event photography niche, your most productive and profitable time is spent taking pictures and 'over-delivering' on services.

Trust me, the tips on this page are tried and true. They work successfully and they're very profitable. Also, as you become more known for the 'over-delivering' of services, you'll be asked - "what other photography are you willing to do for me, please?"