Ever thought of taking your love for photography to the next level? You may already know this, but your current hobby could make you a lot of money in the future.
You probably have thought of it, but if you’re here it means you’re still a bit indecisive, or you want to know exactly why you should invest in a photography business. We’ll tell you why, right now.
You’ll get to do what you love. For a LIVING.
Truth is, photography can be a very lucrative career if you make it a business. It won’t be easy. It won’t be fast. But it can happen—just think of all the photographers you look up to!
Of course, you won’t always do what you love all the time. You’ll have to learn about contracts, you’ll have to learn and re-learn new techniques (some of which will be a pain), and you’ll have to earn your clients with a great marketing strategy.
As in every profession, you’ll have to deal with the good and the bad. But that won’t matter if you’re really committed to living off photography.
You’ll get to share your expertise with others.
All these courses you’ve taken from professional photographers are just one example of what’s ahead of you. Only this time, you’ll be the professional.
People love learning from the pros. They’re always searching for that little “something” they lack. Whether that’s shooting, lightning, posing, or editing techniques, photographers of all levels are on the lookout for knowledge every day.
You, as a photographer, have a unique view. You might even use techniques that work for you, but that other professionals don’t know about.
You can use that to your advantage, and to help others, as well. Imagine how great it would feel to share your “secret tips” that photographers will be dying to know. Trust us, they will.
You’ll have the confidence to say you’re a professional photographer.
It will take a lot of time and money for you to get there. After all, you’ll need to prove your trustworthiness with certificates and testimonials.
Yes, your portfolio shows what you can do. But what truly makes you great is the knowledge you’ve gathered throughout your journey.
No matter how great you think you are, there’s always room for improvement. So be humble. Learn from photographers who are what you want to be. Then, show proof of your knowledge on your website, Instagram page, and anywhere you can.
Also, knowledge adds to confidence. By taking different courses and practicing your skills, you’ll go from “am I good enough?” to “I’ve learned from amazing people. I know what I’m doing.”
If you need a hand, we’ve put together (8 great resources for photographers). Check that out.
Finally, you’ll get to know what you’re really good at.
You don’t have to pick a photography niche right away. It’s more of a trial-and-error situation. For example, you might find out you love photographing families, even though that never went through your mind in the beginning.
By experimenting with different areas of photography, you’ll find your calling. And you’re going to get really good at it. Think of it this way: expertly focusing on one area will bring you better (and faster) results than if you were doing all kinds of jobs everywhere.
So take your time to learn. And fail. And fail some more, until you find what area of photography you want to specialize in and be known for. Picking a niche can be tricky for beginners, but (this post) we’ve written will certainly help you.
Will photography lose its magic to me?
A lot of hobby photographers are scared to commit to photography as a job because they think they might lose interest.
Well, not if you’re passionate enough.
Think of all the times you’ve failed when photographing as a hobby. Of all the times you thought of giving up. Trouble will arise regardless if you’re working or just having fun. It’s up to your passion to get past that, and you’ve done it before.
The only difference here is: you’re either making money, or you’re not. Which one is better?
It’s okay if you’re not ready now. Take some time to think about it. Most importantly, take your time to learn everything you can about running a business as a photographer. If you need motivation, re-read this post. You might be one step away from the best decision of your life.