The technologies of the 21st century have revolutionized employment. You may now work as a freelancer and make money in almost any discipline.
We at Evviva are dedicated to assisting you in achieving financial independence. Side hustles, such as freelancing, are one of the fundamental instruments for financing your abundant life.
What Is A Freelance Photographer?
If you want to turn your photography passion into a revenue stream, becoming a freelance photographer could be the answer.
A freelance photographer is a person who makes money taking pictures, working for himself or herself rather than someone else. They have more control over their work schedule and working conditions.
Freelancers get paid by clients who engage them for long-term or one-time projects. Freelancers can charge a premium since businesses prefer to utilize them since they do not have the staff or desire to hire someone who would cost salaries and benefits. As a result, they have an immediate requirement for your abilities.
Self employed photographers can specialize and work in a number of mediums. Today, digital photography is the most versatile and popular mode of freelance photography. You can freelance in:
- Product photography
- People photography
- Pet photography
- Commercial photography
- Lifestyle photography
- Event photography
- Portrait photography
Why Be A Freelance Photographer?
There are several benefits to being a photographer. The most significant of which is that the freelance sector in the United States generates about $1.2 trillion each year. (CNBC, 2020)
As a freelance photographer, you can work anywhere. You are your own employer, so you can choose your own hours. You also get to pick the people you want to work with and the projects you wish to undertake. This is a fantastic Side Hustle while in school, and it might even lead into a full time career post-graduation.
Another wonderful thing about freelance work is that it allows you to make a great living. The average freelance photographer charges $26 per hour (ZipRecruiter, 2022), but the top earners make over $100 per hour. (Upwork, 2022)
Because you are your own boss, you may be more selective about which jobs you take on. You have the option of pursuing projects that appeal to you and align with your beliefs.
How To Become A Freelance Photographer
You don’t have to have a bachelor’s degree in photography to become a freelancer photographer, though it doesn’t hurt. The freelance business is open to people with all levels of expertise.
There are a few key things you need to get started as a freelance photographer:
- A camera
- Developed photography skills in one or more modes
- A portfolio of work to show clients
Once you have these, you’re ready to make some sales!
Camera
You may already have a camera or be able to get away with a quality phone camera, but most clients will expect you to have professional equipment, which is not as expensive as it once was. A standard DSLR camera or similar is usually ample to get most freelance photography jobs done!
Here are some professional camera recommendations to get you started.
Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera Bundle
The product comes with everything you’ll need to get started creating high-quality photographs. The camera has a 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 4+ image processor, which creates clear pictures in both bright and low light levels. It also supports 1080/30p full HD video recording. The camera is compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
The bundle includes the camera body, an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens, a filter kit, two memory cards, a camera bag, and a tripod.
Nikon D3500 W/ AF-P DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
The D3500 is a great entry-level DSLR camera. It has a 24.2 MP CMOS sensor and records full HD 1080p videos and has an ISO range of 100-25,600. It is compatible with Nikon AF-P and other NIKKOR lenses.
This is not a kit, rather just the camera, so that you can pick what other equipment you may want to use in your rig. There is a bundle version as well if you would prefer to get everything you need in one stop.
Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera
The Canon Rebel T7 is a great entry level DSLR camera that comes with a versatile zoom lens, making it ideal for all types of freelance photographer jobs. It has a 24.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and can shoot full HD 1080p video. It has an ISO range of 100-6400 and is compatible with Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
A special feature of this particular camera is the built in Wi-Fi and USB technology. The Wi-Fi allows you to share photos to your computer right from your camera. The USB allows the Canon EOS to double as an extremely high quality webcam, which is a handy feature in todays remote work world.
This link is for the camera only, though it is available in a bundle as well.
Develop Skills For Your Freelance Job
The first step is to improve your knowledge and skills. There are many resources available to teach you if you’re just getting started. Taking an online course or two, as well as reading online articles, is a good idea. The greatest lesson that can be learned from someone else is by observing them perform it yourself.
Weddings, family portrait sessions, athletic events, proms, and graduations are just some of the events that freelance photographers capture. They also use social media and other forms of self-promotion, such as online portfolios and personal websites, to bring in business.
Once you’ve decided on the type of photography you want to focus on, it’s time to get started. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at your profession. Here are some resources that may assist you in getting up to speed as well as increasing your portfolio.
Online Photography Courses:
Photography Masterclass: A Complete Guide to Photography
This course truly is the complete crash course on photography shoots. From lighting techniques to photo editing, this course has it all; it will walk you through from beginner to expert in a matter of just under 25 hours of expert content taught by 3 expert instructors.
We highly recommend this course for photography beginners.
Wedding Photography: Complete Guide to Wedding Photography
This course is a more advanced and specialized photography course focusing on the art of wedding photography. Weddings pay photographers an average of $61 per hour up to over $170 per hour according to ZipRecruiter.
In this course you will learn how to acquire clients, price bookings, engagement photo shoots, build your brand and edit pictures in photoshop. For those who have a basic understanding of photography and want to get into one of the best paying photography hustles, check this course out!
When you take a photo course, you’ll learn how to take digital images, how to use photo editing software to edit images, and a whole lot of other technical skills. Most courses also teach you about marketing and other business skills that will be very useful when you have to talk to potential clients.
You may want to purchase Adobe Photoshop (photo editor), which can be found here.
Start Your Photography Business: A Photography Course
This course focusses on starting your own photography business. it is not about taking photos, rather building your online presence, starting a small business, and acquiring clients.
We recommend this course for those who are serious about launching a photography business. You may want to do a few freelance photography jobs first, but this is a great resource for potentially scaling this into a full time job.
You are in charge of marketing yourself and getting new clients. You can do this in a lot of great ways, like through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. You’d be surprised how many business inquiries you can get through social media. All of these tools are free, and you can use them to show off your work and get people interested in you as a person and a brand.
These are just some of the courses out there to bolster your art skills. Check out more here.
Create A Portfolio
After you’ve mastered your skills, it’s time to construct a portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of your finest work that you can show to potential clients. Clients will appreciate it if contains numerous pieces of various types, allowing them to view the breadth of your abilities.
I highly recommend establishing an online portfolio website. It’s simple to operate. You might utilize sites like Wix, Weebly, or WordPress to create your website design. Some freelance marketplaces will even allow you to submit projects on their site in order to show it to clients.
If you have any photography experience or took one of the courses outlined above, you’ll probably have enough content to create your portfolio. All you need is a few things to get started.
Now that you’re prepped, its time to go get some clients!
Where To Find Clients
Now that you’ve shown your talents as a photographer, it’s time to start making money! There are several freelance platform websites where you may connect with clients right now. It has never been easier to make money as a freelance photographer.
Since many photography jobs will require you to be local, I recommend that you advertise your services locally on platforms like Facebook and talk to friends in addition to using freelance platforms to maximize your reach.
Top Platforms To Find Freelance Photography Jobs
1. Upwork
Upwork is a major freelancing website with over 12 million registered freelancers and 5 million clients. Upwork has a comprehensive vetting procedure for contractors, so businesses know they can rely on you.
A freelancer’s profile on Upwork includes a CV, portfolio, testimonials, and a rate card. To help clients and freelancers find the ideal match, Upwork offers a searchable database of professionals, skills tests, and bids.
Key Features:
- 16 million registered freelancers
- Rigorous screening process
- Skills tests
- 20% fee for the first $500
- 10% from $500-10,000
- 5% above $10,000
2. Freelancer.com
Freelancer is one of the most popular freelance sites, with over 25 million registered users and 10 million projects posted every year. If you want to take on one-time jobs or look for regular work, Freelancer is a fantastic platform.
One of the finest features about Freelancer is that it provides a variety of freelance job types to earn money, including hourly jobs, fixed-price projects, and contests. This makes it simple to locate work that matches your schedule and abilities. There are also several tools available to make locating the appropriate project easy, such as a searchable database of projects,
Key Features:
- Contests
- Built-in messenger
- 6 free bids per month (for free users)
- 10% fee for hourly projects
- 10% or $5 (whichever is higher) fee for fixed-price projects
- 20% fee for services
What Are You Waiting For?
Working as a freelancer, you may work from anywhere; you are in control of your own destiny as a self-employed individual. You also have the option of determining who you want to collaborate with and what obligations you want to assume. Freelance photography is a fantastic Side Hustle while in school that might even grow into a career by the time you graduate!
Becoming a freelance photographer may feel like venturing into unfamiliar terrain, but by keeping in mind and using the advice shown here, you can make the journey more manageable. Keep in mind the importance of regular practice, curiosity, growth, accessibility, and responsiveness.
If you want to be a freelance photographer, use the three websites listed above or one from our freelance platform recommendation article as your launch pad to success. Upwork and Freelancer.com are fantastic platforms that can help you locate clients and generate money. You can start today and earn some great money if you follow the steps. Who knows? You may end up with a new career.
Start hustling today!
