If you asked a group of photographers one thing they don’t like about their job, what do you suppose they’d say?
My bet is that it would have something to do with the unreliability of income. By that I mean, there are times when it seems like every day is booked solid with clients. And then there are days or weeks where things slow way down.
The key to protecting yourself from those kinds of ebbs and flows is to diversify your income stream. But how does one do that?
We’ve put together three ideas for making more money as a photographer that are easy to implement, but just might help you ease the pressure when your primary photography business slows down.
Expand Outside Your Niche
If you’re a wedding photographer, why not offer newborn portrait services in the off-season?
If you specialize in sports photography, why not venture into wildlife photography?
The point here is that it’s great to specialize in a niche and build a reputation as a phenomenal photographer in that area. But adding another niche to your repertoire will help you deal with the changing demand of your primary type of photography.
In that same vein, there is money to be made by expanding the products and services you offer as well.
Think about this: If you’re a wedding photographer, add engagement shoots, maternity, and newborn photography to your list of services. Doing so gives you an opportunity to get repeat business from your wedding clients, and it also opens you up to getting new clients that might just need one of those types of photos.
Quick tip: When expanding your niche, products, or services, be purposeful about what you offer. You don’t want to give clients so much choice that you’re spread too thin or that the quality of your work suffers.
Make It Easier For People to Find You
Obviously, the easier it is for people to find you, the more money you’ll make, right?
That means spending time marketing yourself and your work, and doing so in ways that reach the widest audience. And the widest audience exists on the internet.
So, to extend your reach, spend time building up your web presence. That includes having a killer website where people can learn more about you as a person and as a photographer.
More importantly, to make more money, you need a professional website that portrays you as the professional that you are. That begins by having the right domain name for your site.
For the best photography domain names - .photo and .pics - you need to work with Uniregistry.
These guys have great products and excellent service, so it’s easy to get what you need and get your site online with the best possible domain name.
Think about it - .pics and .photo are reserved for photographers, so prospective clients will know that you’re a pro’s pro and ready to work. What’s not to like about that?!
Learn More:
- What is (and Isn't) Important for Growing Your Photography Business
- Things You Do That are Ruining Your Photography Business
Work as a Second Shooter
If you find that you have some free time on the weekends, why not offer your services as a second shooter for wedding and event photographers?
Many photographers are looking for high-quality second shooters, and if you’ve got the skills already, they might be willing to pay a premium for not having to train you or worry about the quality of the photos you’ll take.
Better still, if you’re a photographer that keeps more traditional working hours, taking a gig now and then on the weekend won’t interfere with your normal work schedule. That means you can add additional income to your monthly ledger without sacrificing time you need to tackle your own work.
Quick tip: Don’t discount the value of what you can learn as a second shooter. Wedding photography is a high-stress gig, and the way that wedding photographers manage that stress and get high-quality photos under so much pressure is often masterful. You might just learn some new tricks of the trade that can help you in your other endeavors!
Learn More:
- Common Problems You'll Face as a Wedding Photographer
- How to Attract Clients to Your New Photography Business