Passionate about photography? Thinking of ways to make money with photography? Well, by enhancing your artistic/composition, technical, communication and networking skills, you can increase your earning potential.
Wedding Photography
To start with, create a portfolio by practising at your friends or family weddings. You can also start as an assistant wedding photographer which will help you gain experience. Promote yourself – word of mouth, tell friends/family to recommend you, if they come to know of any requirement for a wedding photographer in their circle. Create a business account/page on social media – Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest etc. and showcase your best work to get wedding bookings.
A pre wedding photoshoot is a great way to know a couple; you get to know them – the poses they are comfortable with (open pose, V pose, closed pose, stacked on, the swing etc.), which helps you to create a photograph that reflects a mood: romantic, playful and so on. As you gain their trust and confidence; they may even ask you to shoot their wedding.
Some of the wedding styles you can incorporate in your wedding shoots:
Formal
You set up the photograph by giving poses/directions to the couple and ask them to look into the camera before taking the shot.
Candid
You do not give any directions instead observe and take shots that depict beautiful emotions/moments of the bride, groom or the couple.
Romantic
You use soft lighting to create a romantic mood in the photo; if outdoors you can photograph the couple during the golden hour for soft light wherein the couple can be shown embracing, looking at each other etc. You can also try capturing silhouette photos of the couple.
Photojournalistic
You document the day with Black & White photographs capturing the moments, the couple may not be a part of, which they can see later in their wedding album. People shouldn’t be aware of being shot, so use long/telephoto lens, do not use flash instead go for a high ISO, use wide angle lens and capture the different moments of the day as they unfold.
Pro tips:
- Carry extra memory cards and batteries
- Take informal/candid shots, formal portraits and detail shots
- Try different angles, vantage points and variations in your images
- If you have an assistant photographer, you can ask them to move around the venue and take candid shots of the guests while you capture formal shots of the couple and their family
- For family shots – give directions, arrange everyone in a line and ensure there is balance & consistency in their heights
- The wedding photos should tell a story – it should cover the moments prior to the wedding ceremony (haldi ceremony photos), wedding preparation, wedding venue – the exterior and the interior, wedding ceremony & couple shots, group shots of the guests and evening shots of the reception (formal & informal shots)
- Recommended settings for group shots: aperture of f/8 to f/11 to keep everyone in focus, ISO 100 – 800, shutter speed of 1/125 sec depending on the lighting conditions (to avoid motion blur – do not use shutter speed slower than 1/60 sec)
- In group shots, people may blink – so take multiple shots
- Take detail shots which include photographs of the wedding rings, mehndi on the bride’s hands, betel nut used in 7 pheras, flowers at the venue, wedding cake etc. using shallow depth of field
- Use Leading Lines, Rule of Thirds, Frame within Frame composition techniques in your shots
- Take close-up, mid-length and full-length shots
- With the fairy lights in the background, set the focus on the couple in front using the widest aperture to create a beautiful bokeh effect
- Evening shots: To photograph the couple dance, take shots from different angles; recommended settings include wide angle lens, wide aperture, ISO 1600 – 3200 depending on the lighting conditions, shutter speed – not slower than 1/60 sec
Photos by Omkar Kadam, a professional wedding and fashion photographer. For more such amazing images, do check his Instagram profile here instagram.com/pixelerphotography/
We bring you ‘Jo & His Camera’ Comic Strips wherein a Magical Camera gives DSLR photography tutorials to an aspiring photographer named Jo.
Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Wedding Photography with the help of practical examples.
Newborn Photography / Baby Photography
As a parent, getting your baby photoshoot done is a great way to capture and preserve the best and precious moments of your life. As they say – it’s not possible to travel back in time, but in the future, these beautiful photographs of your newborn can certainly help you relive those amazing moments!
Photo by Shamiya Khan – Photographer: Newborn-Baby-Mamma-Family. For more such amazing images, do check her Instagram profile here instagram.com/stockbylovephotography/
Baby photoshoot includes taking photographs of babies from birth till they are 1 year old.
Pro tips:
- Good time to photograph the newborn is just after they have been fed; they are sleepy which makes it easy for you to capture some amazing shots
- Go for a wide aperture to create shallow depth of field that will give a dreamy look to the image
- Use fast shutter speed of 1/125 sec or 1/200 sec to avoid motion blur
- Avoid using flash, it can upset the newborn; carry your studio lights to the client’s place and set up a studio there
- Use lots of props like soft toys, cushion, wraps, headbands, baskets, etc. to add another element the baby can interact with
Photo by Nancy Bindal – Photographer: Baby whisperer | Memory maker. For more such amazing images, do check her Instagram profile here instagram.com/nancy_bindal_photography/
Fashion Photography / Portrait Photography
Fashion photography
It is used to sell a product/lifestyle; it is a glamorous, fast-paced industry. A very creative field, it requires good communication skills to give directions & explain different poses to the model. Good understanding of lighting is needed –knowledge of how to use natural lighting, operate studio lights and how to use reflectors to create visually appealing photos. Technical skills are also required for post-production.
Portrait photography
Portraits can be for weddings, for family, or to capture the personality of a person.
Photo by Omkar Kadam, a professional wedding and fashion photographer. For more such amazing images, do check his Instagram profile here instagram.com/pixelerphotography/
Pro tips for Portrait Photography:
- Make your subject/model feel comfortable and communicate/suggest different poses for the shoot
- Go for a wide aperture/opening (small f/number) to create a Shallow Depth of Field that will keep the subject in sharp focus and make them stand out and blur the background (you can also use aperture priority mode)
- Your subject can blink/move, so use fast shutter speed of 1/125 sec depending on the lighting conditions, try to use a low ISO of 100 – 200
- Use props to add some visual interest and context
- Natural daylight is the best light for a portrait photography or else you can create light with flash or use studio lighting
- Focus on the eyes of the subject; the eye contact between the subject and the viewer makes for an engaging and powerful photograph that could tell a story about your subject or reveal your subjects’ mood or personality
- Crop above any joints (avoid cropping through neck, elbow, knees)
Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Fashion/Portrait Photography with the help of practical examples.
Product Photography/ Food Photography
Product photography is used to attract customers to buy a product by showcasing great photos that give important information of the product – its shape, colour, size and so on. Product photography could be for a hotel that can be displayed on their website, it could be for real estate or food of a restaurant etc.
Pro tips for Food Photography:
- Depending on the height, size & shape of the food, you can either photograph it from the front or from the top that best highlights its qualities
- Use cooking utensils, tableware, ingredients, sauces, herbs, spices, spoons, jars, glasses, pepper grinder & other related props in the foreground or background to add depth to your photograph
- Colour Theory will help you decide on what background to use to make the food photo visually appealing
- Go macro, go close
- As per your comfort, use natural light or club it with studio light and reflectors to avoid shadows that hide the details of the food
Click on the below Image to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Product/Food Photography with the help of practical examples.
Few more ways to earn money in photography:
- Sell your photos on stock websites like iStock (Getty Images), Shutterstock, EyeEm etc.
- Enter photography competitions/contests and stand a chance to win prizes
- Be a photography tutor on any online course platforms or design your own photography courses with/without photography tours, conduct photography workshops
- Place ads in your photography blogs – get paid every time a visitor clicks on these ads or place sponsored links within your blog content – get paid every time a visitor clicks on these links or makes a purchase through these links
- If you have good amount of followers onInstagram, you can collaborate with brands and take pictures of their products and sell/advertise them through your Instagram account
- Some wedding photographers do need help in post-processing of the wedding photos – if you have good post-processing skills in Lightroom or Photoshop you can offer your services
- Become a photojournalist or a freelance photographer for a travel magazine/portal etc.
When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express to develop your own style as a photographer.
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Have you found your photography niche, yet? Do let us know in the comment box below.
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