3/10/2011

Home Digital Camera

By David James


If you have a digital camera and enjoy taking pictures, chances are you have thought about making some extra cash with your photos. Digital photography is a hobby that is becoming more and more popular, as most people today have a digital camera in their home. It is not hard to take your hobby to the next level, with the right knowledge and some creative energy. There are several different ways that you can use your camera to make money.

All it takes is a little imagination, a flair for showmanship, a bit of salesmanship and the willingness to do some work - and you are set.

If you are a digital photography hobbyist, the chances are good that you already have the equipment you need to get started. Things you will need are a digital camera, preferably one with similar features of an SLR film camera, a high-quality printer or printing service, and a good tripod.

Digital photo editing software is also a must have. Adobe products like Photoshop CS3, Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0, and Adobe Photoshop Light room are among the best digital image editing software applications on the market, along with Corel Paint Shop Pro X.

Investing a few hundred dollars in marketing materials will get you off to a good start.

Now, we should discuss a common misconception before going any further. Many people think that it is not possible to make money taking pictures this day. They point out that almost everyone has a digital camera or at least a camera phone. I can hear you saying, "Why would people pay for pictures when they can take their own?"

It's this way. It is true that just about every household has a digital camera, or a film camera. However, how many people can really use them?

You might want to take a look at how many pictures individuals take. Let's be honest. There is more to photography that point and shoot. There are usually motion blur pictures from holding the camera the wrong way. Poor color. Awkwardly posed subjects. Basically, they do not possess composition skills. Dark shadows obscuring a subject's face. Even those people that know how to use photo editing software may need help when it comes to taking amazing pictures. There is only so much you can do to correct a poor photograph.

Plus, when the average Joe attempts to print their photos, things can go awry. I am sure that you have seen some of these horrible images. The prints have bad, splotchy resolution. The person taking the photograph had no understanding of the camera settings that ensure pictures suitable for printing.

This is where you come in. Use your extensive digital photography skills to work up a few samples that you can show to potential customers and reel them in.

Maybe you do not think this is likely. Let me tell you about a birthday party I attended recently. The hostess hired an amateur photographer who was striking out to start her own business, much like you are.

Almost everyone at the party brought their own digital cameras - but once the party got rolling, who remembered to take pictures? And those shots that we did take were unplanned and poorly positioned.

The photographer received payment for her services. Two days later, she uploaded her photographs to a web site. The party guests were sent an email with a link to the page. Guests could then download, print, or save to disk any photos they wanted.

This photographer had a good gig, since she didn't even have to bother with printing and delivering the work, although she received generous pay.

How cool is that? You could to it, huh? All you need to do is make a marketing plan and develop your picture taking skills and say cheese!




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