How to make money in product photography

Numerous big and small businesses always have a need for images to help sell their products and services. Most of the time, bigger companies with bigger budgets tend to already have a professional photographer to cater to their marketing needs. The internet is a growing industry that more and more people are relying on for information. It has become an integral factor in providing us with the information that we are looking. Do market research to identify potential clients — the first step is to determine the local businesses in your vicinity by going through the yellow pages, directories or the internet. Determine how they are going about marketing their products. What type of images they are currently using, the quality of the images, the market rates. Make a list of potential clients and familiarize yourself with the type of products each business. From the research you made, you can then decide on what type of product you would like to get yourself. For example, in online product photography, you choose to concentrate on just food, and from food you can choose what type of food you would like to focus on like bread, cakes or pasta. Be ready with your portfolio — When setting appointments with prospective clients, it would be helpful to have a portfolio of your work to show. It would enable the business owners to see your style and assess your skill and at the same time show that you can deliver. Make sure that your portfolio comprises samples of your greatest work. For first time clients, you only get one chance to impress .

Make Money with Photography Online

I love what I do, both as a writer and parent, but I do find myself lacking for photographic subjects. Everyone in my home, including the cats and dogs, seems to be camera shy. So I began to look for other photographic opportunities around the house. Then I began to think. I like writing. I like taking photos. And I definitely like making extra money. So I decided to have a go at some simple product photography as a way to keep myself and my camera active. The idea is to make money and get rid of some clutter, not trade old stuff for new. So I took the cheapest route I could find and only spent a couple of bucks. I have a respectable consumer-level DSLR, a third party external flash and a 50mm prime lens. All of that adds up to a slightly-better-than-average photography set-up. But really, a smaller camera with an in-body flash would suffice. Every other article I read on product photography seemed to insist that you have to have a solid, sturdy tripod. And while having a reliable tripod is definitely a good idea in general, I never used one. With the available light, I was able to shoot at a hand-holdable shutter speed while keeping my aperture closed enough to get the sharpness I was looking for. I cleared off some table space in my office and taped the poster board to the wall above the spot on the table.

My Equipment

If you do good work, you get called again when they have new product. So you can pitch to clients around the country. Here are some gear suggestions. Note: These items are for doing tabletop products with a setup that is small enough to be left in the corner of a room or garage. Any DSLR will let you do that. Buy white polystyrene paper from a print or craft store, use some wood to make a DIY stand and put it up as shown below. The above set of diffused lighting occupies less room than the big soft boxes and gives you sufficient light for about a two-foot area. This is what I use, but any basic lighting setup can work. My priority was space. These occupy very little space so they work for me.

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Photography is a hobby for millions of people. The photography industry has changed in huge ways over a relatively short period of time, thanks to technology. Obviously, the transition from film to digital photography has been part of that. Along with digital photography, the quantity and quality of software like Photoshop has had an equal impact. The introduction of the iPhone and other smartphones, with increasingly capable cameras, has turned many more people into hobbyist photographers. The internet and social networks have greatly increased the potential reach and visibility for photographers. All of these changes mean that there are more people interested in photography now than ever before. Many companies who hired full-time photographers in the past now prefer to use freelancers. I know several excellent and experienced photographers that have jobs in other industries because making a full-time income as a photographer is hard. While not all of the changes in the industry are great for professionals, side hustlers can benefit from:. Ok, so you love photography and you love making money. But how can you go about making money using your photography, or at least working in the industry? Here are details of some of the options. Probably the most obvious and most common way to make money as a photographer is to work for clients. This often involves portraits. There are a lot of different types of photography and portraits, including engagement, maternity, newborn, family, seniors, fashion, and more. A lot of photographers specialize , and some do all kinds of different portraits. While full-time professionals offer these types of services, there are many side-hustling part-time photographers that offer client sessions as well. Most photographers that offer client sessions have different packages that they offer to make it convenient for clients. For example, last month my wife and I paid a friend who has a photography side hustle for a family photo session at a local park. His package included a one-hour session and a CD with at least 50 photos for a flat fee.

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Consumers seek time-saving shortcuts all the time, and their ro naturally gravitates to the quickest way to gather information: images. Product images not only testify to the quality of your product, but also serve as windows into your ecommerce store, creating 2 very important things:. Images shape their first impression, creating a tipping point as to whether they will continue browsing and eventually make a purchase. Product photography uses specific techniques to showcases products in an attractive way and entice potential buyers to purchase specific products. Product photography is an essential part of both online and offline advertising for successful catalogues, brochures, magazine ads, billboards, online ads and company websites, specifically when selling products direct to consumer. No matter how sophisticated, website visitors are first engaged by visual elements, not written copy. The quality of a product photo reflects your brand image, creating the infamous first impression. The key to making the most of their first impression is to present polished, professional images that evoke maximum engagement. They speak directly to your target audience, making your product page and content more relatable. And images are at the ni of your brand. They are the first to grab attention, instill trust, and invite customers to take a further look. Everything in an image—quality, subject matter, color theme and saturation—should speak in a uniform voice that resonates with your target audience. Your goal is to form long-term relationships with your customers, and photos are one of the most important tools to achieve. Seriously Silly Socks does a great job at. They offer polished but super brand-charged product-only images. There are two main types of images that should be used on your product page and across how to make money in product photography marketing channels. They are usually shot on a white background, helping to porduct a consistent look across your product line. These images describe your product at a glance and are best suited for your product page. Their job is to nurture page visitors towards making a purchase. Contrary to what people might assume, you actually need about a dozen images on your product page, not just one or two. Most of them should be product-only shots, with one or two in-context shots mixed in, designed to hod further emotional bonds with your product. Product-only images are generally the most suited for product pages, as they have a significantly higher rate of conversion.