How To Make Money Taking Pictures

Once you get a digital camera, the excitement is something like when you saw your first printed photograph. Right there in your hands a little while is destined to immortality. The better digital cameras have a lot over the film cameras, too - if you have a preview window, you are able to instantly see the quality of your shots. No more wasted money on print, which you know will end up in the trash.

The good news is that your passion can make you a bit extra money - you can put all your practice and the good you used to work for you. From magazines to stock photography sites to postcard printers, there are a lot of people out there prepared to pay you for your hobby. Everything you need to do is make sure you know how to sell - and make sure you are sending in quality photos. Magazines should be the main site you are trying to get your images sold to, because they will pay you the highest rates and are most likely to buy from a freelance photographer or hobbyist.

Starting to sell to magazines, hit your grocery store and pick up 3-5 magazines that you enjoy the look of. Then sit down and really study the photos as they include with their articles. Identify style of photography that the magazine uses most often - and honestly decide if your style fits it, or you could easily match it.

Once you have found a magazine that fits well with your photography, please send a few samples of your photography (be sure to keep originals or digital copies on your computer!) And a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to the photo editor. So sit back and wait ... not send the same photos to another magazine until you have heard from the first. It is tempting, but if the first magazine accepts them, you have a whole mess of problems to contend with.

Another option is to work with a stock photography company (or two). There are currently several very successful stock photography sites online that allow photographers to sign up for free and upload their photos to sell. If this is the option you choose, make sure that your pictures are the highest resolution possible, and consider creating several resolutions. Your work will have serious competition, so also be sure that you are exhibiting the most creative work you have. Finally, seriously consider the keywords you use. Stock photo websites work off of keywords - potential customers will search for a concept, a phrase or a type of photo and you want to pull up relevant results.