What's the best way for someone switching occupations in mid-life to earn a decent living in photography?

Question

I have all the equipment, but live in a very rural agriculture area. I love nature photography, but don't see that earning me enough to pay the bills.

Answer 1

there may not be the market to support your lifestyle with photography in your area. You might need to move somewhere else or change your lifestyle.

Because you love nature does that mean you only want to shoot nature photography? would you do portrait shoots in your surrounding area with the nature as a backdrop?

Find out what photographers are working in your area and see if you would feel ok to live off their wages. Would following your love of photography allow you to move to a better area for your business?

just food for thought.

Answer 2

Definately do that on the side. And you can do some stock stuff too. I would suggest that you enter as many competitions and contests as you can and get your name out there.

But...

Your bread and butter is family/portrait photography. This is a huge market, especially if you are able to do babies and children, or if you are mobile. People LOVE having photographers come to their locations. (I did a shoot on the back of a rural property...really cool.) And your biggest time for family pictures is around Christmas...November, especially.

If you can find an edge and a way to be competitive, while providing an excellent product and wonderful client care, you will succeed.

Answer 3

Purchase the book "Artist and Graphic Illustrator's Market Guide 2007" ($26.00) and you'll find that it's full of companies seeking art and photos from independent artists. It also contains success stories of struggling artists that made it. It's very inspiring and informative. It explains how to write for submittable guidelines, art work guidelines, etc. Each listing in the book has a contact person and address.
I know it works because my daughter gets a check every time one of her photos are used.
Another viable avenue is posters. Visit different sites and look for their submission pages. Those poster photographs have to come from somewhere! It might as well be you supplying them with beautiful sunflower photos or early morning, misty farm scenes.
Good luck.

Answer 4

You should check out deviantart.com its a great place to sell your pics and a few other forms of your images and interact with other photographers as well. Its one of my favorite art sites.

Now I dont know about paying the bills with just one site like deviantart.com but it is a start. Try selling to a magazine, many will take nature pictures. NC Wildlife, National Geographic, research a little youll find plenty of places to sell your photos, contests you could win money or things, to get enough to pay your bills you need to advertise I think. :) Get out there as much as you can. Make your Name!!

Answer 5

Honestly, only count on it as supplemental income. Pretty much anything outside of weddings, you need to be spectacular and work a ton to maintain a decent living. Maybe you can do some weddings to pay the bills, and then do nature as the icing on the cake.

Answer 6

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You can have your photography / graphics put on posters, prints, greeting cards, calendars, postcards, notecards, t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, steins, caps, tile products, magnets, stickers, and more at cafe press. Check out:

http://www.cafepress.com/darlingdesign.

If you decide to go with cafe express, please let them know when the form asks you for the shop id of the person who referred you, that the shop id is darlingdesign. ♪♫ ♪♫

Answer 7

You have to travel. You will get out of it what you put into it.