****************]See, everyone who's been successful at anything in the industry always seems to have a story like that. All of it boiling down to one project they did, either in school or freelance. I need one of -those- projects. -_-
I'm kind of hoping to make some cash to upgrade my equipment with photography. A new computer would make it possible for me to chase that "holy project" with 3d lighting and compositing, which is what I really wanna do eventually. [/COLOR]
But I gotta figure out how to even get a photo gig first. lol It'd help if I had my own camera, but I have resources available were I actually to get a paid gig.
HA! you don't even need your own camera, you can rent everything you need for less than 200.00 bucks for the weekend. I will tell you about the easier 3,000 I just made.
I went to my daughters ballet recital and took lots of pictures
(take more pictures of your children then everyone else it doesn't look weird) but take good images of all the kids.
Posted the images on my website and sent an email to all the parents saying "I took some pictures of my angel and got of few of the other children as well, please feel free to download the original files. The pictures will only be up for 7 days so please hurry"
I put it on my site, but unlisted so it doesn't show up for anyone but the parents.
but aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, in the email I include a bare link to my site as well. They get free pics, I get to slip in that I am a photographer....
....give away free pics you say?
OF COURSE, because that is not where you are trying to make money. So now the entire school knows about Parris Photography. They have seen the pictures I took of their children, AND they have seen sample of my other work. WOMEN SPEND MONEY
"Hey can I order pics directly off your site"
my reply "Yes you can, but you can also down load the pictures by clicking on the "full save" , downloading to your desk top, upload to a site like target, and they can send it too you"
(Make the explanation long so it looks like they are doing more work)
Or you can order from my site and have it send right to your house, let me know which pics you want and I will set up a package for you.
All my pics are marked 25% which isn't much...but again, that's now where I want to make money.
So they go to site, buy the pics the they start thinking "Man its been awhile since we had in pictures taken of the family.
THAT IS WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY!!!!!!
SEE.......very very simple. And I really didn't do any extra work, i was going to take pics of my baby girl ANYWAY. Package and prices are already set up on the site.
People make more than 200 orders, for the recital pics and I have booked more than 20 in home portraits...
....little or no work.
The way to make a nice little chunk of change is to get your name out and show people what you can do and price within your skill level. I sell 8X10 for 25.00 that is my skill level. My buddy sell them fro $100.00, and that is his skill level.
(not keep in mind an 8X10 only cost me 5.00 bucks, but I charge a standard fee of 72.00 an hour. It takes me about 19 minutes for one 8X10.) THUS...25.00
I hope that all made sense, I typed it on one breath. LOL
OH and if you are woman, you should be making money hand over fist.