Solo Photographer looking for events .. any ideas ?

Question

my boyfriend is a videographer looking to quite his job. Hes also a photographer looking to go solo.. but we are having difficulty thinking of different events in which someone would need a photographer. So far we've thought of weddings, birthdays and sports events. Do you have any ideas ?

thank u

.. no .. he does not have his own company nor does he have a studio

Answer 1

There are several ways to go. A decent one is to contact firms and individuals in your area that arrange events for companies and groups. They will often recommend or select a photographer to cover the event.

This isn't so much a matter of getting one event, but becoming someone they regularly recommend or hire. You'll need a portfolio.

Civic organizations regularly have events, so approach them. Local bands are also a market, but they expect you to work for less than they do.

Everyone will want to know what it will cost, so get your pricing and packaging down.

Don't screw up. If you can't perform professionally and have all your ducks in a line, don't bother. A bad reputation is very hard to recover from.

Make a list of the established wedding photographers and approach them with your portfolio. You may be able to get some work as the second shooter.

Local newspapers may have photography jobs. You won't get paid much (depending on what you do) but it gets your name out there and some referral business.


Dance and theater companies are also another market for their promotional material, but it is a specialized type of shooting and not for absolute beginners.

A lot of freelance is doing what other freelancers do, get creative - and selling your services. Some of my customers never knew they desparately needed good photographs :)

Vance

Answer 2

There are plenty of people who do craft and art shows who would like photos of their booths at events. You'd have to get there early, just as they open the gates if not earlier, to get the pictures without a ton of people in front of them --waiting till later in the day and most booths are starting to sell down and not have all the merchandise they started with.

A walk around and a few quick questions, taking orders or business cards and working out payment done later is a good idea. If you're affordable, and the pictures are cropped to just show the individual booth not several in a row in the same picture, you'd do well. You can send a heavily watermarked picture via email for approval first, then do the payment/ship thing.

Science fiction conventions and gaming conventions have masquerades, you can also arrange to do photos there, or video coverage.

Answer 3

If he already has company, you know, for himself, then he could get backgrounds and a couple props and photograph little kids. Put an ad in the paper saying Ex- Want a picture to remember, Call this number to get a wonderful photo of your child.
If he gets a call then (if he doesnt have a building he works in for photography), tell the people to come to a park.