photography business » You Can Sleep When You're Dead: Blog by Colleen Miniuk

New Interview “How to Make Money as an Outdoor Photographer”

Inspiration, The Business of Photography No Responses »

Jul 222022

Have you ever thought about making money through your photography, either as a hobbyist or a professional? Then have a listen to my latest interview with Brenda Petrella with the Outdoor Photography Podcast on “How to Make Money as an Outdoor Photographer.”

Brenda and I covered a wide-range of topics in this quick 35-minute talk, including:

Different revenue options for turning your photography passion into a business or side hustle
How to research and approach new clients and/or media outlets
The most important question you can ask when working with potential clients
The AICA-S Sales Framework (yup, there’s an actual formula for sales, surprise, surprise!)
Potential revenue sources for landscape and nature photographers
Important questions to ask yourself before taking the leap
And many more nuggets of advice and helpful tips!

Many of you have heard my back story: I never intended to become a full-time freelance photographer, writer, publisher, speaker, instructor, and more). I graduated with honors from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (the #1 undergraduate Business School during my school years) with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a focus in Computer Information Systems. Straight out of college, I moved to Arizona to begin an almost 10-year project management career in software development at Intel Corporation.

I picked up photography as a hobby, as an escape from my job. After corporate life became overwhelmingly stressful and unfulfilling–and photography and the Great Outdoors became a insatiable passion–I left my job in 2007 to start a more meaningful life as a freelancer. I’ve run my own business–two actually!–for over 19 years now, 15 as a full-time freelancer. If I can do this, you can do this!

For a more visual presentation on the business of freelancing, in addition to Brenda’s podcast, you won’t want to miss the free one-hour webinar “Freelance U” I gave for the Outdoor Writers Association of America in 2020: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/owaa/561508690.

Nothing thrills me more than to help others achieve their goals and dreams with photography or other life pursuit. If you’d like in-depth, hands-on guidance with selling your work without selling your soul, sign up for a coaching session with me. Check out my coaching offerings at https://www.colleenminiuk.com/coaching.html.

Life is too short to do things you don’ t like to do. I’d love to help you create and sustain a life you love.

Here’s hoping my interview with Brenda sparks new ways to do just that!

Staying Afloat in Your Photography Career

The Business of Photography 7 Responses »

May 152013

Sailing Your Ship Are you ready to run away from your mundane 8-to-5 job and start sailing your own ship as a freelance photographer after reading our blog post at the end of February, “Independence Day…in February” and our April post advising “Don’t Jump Ship Yet! Start Your Own Photography Circus Before You Leave Your Job!“?

Whether your glorious Independence Day has already arrived or you have circled the big day boldly on your calendar – in both cases, congratulations! – before you start to think, “Oh sh*t, what have I done?!” consider these points to ensure you enjoy much success in your new life as a freelancing photographer:

Sell your work…without selling your soul. Mortgages, car payments, and utility bills do not disappear when you start your own business. As a new entrepreneur soley responsible for gaining income for your business, look for work that gets you out of bed in the morning, as your passion will show not only in the products and services you deliver, but also in the relationships you build with clients. If your new career starts to feel too much like work (yay, aren’t taxes fun?!?), keep your love of photography alive by working on challenging personal projects in your free time.
“Just Say No.” It may sound illogical to turn down business opportunities as you begin your new career, but heed these wise words from Nancy Reagan. Once you’ve defined a niche for yourself, be comfortable turning down short-term money-making endeavors unrelated to your path to instead build your brand and skills within your area of expertise. For example, if your focus is wildlife photography, build your body of work by photographing elk or eagles on the weekend, not the “wild life” of weddings. By investing your limited time to find lucrative outlets within your domain, your sales will be greater in the long run.
Update your online portfolio. No one wants to visit a website that you have neglected to update since 2010. As your perfect your work and style, showcase your newest and best photography, as well as published tear-sheets and clips, on your website and social media outlets to keep your existing customers coming back for more and to attract new clients.
Keep the “unity” in your community. Friends, supporters, experts, connections – literally anyone! – can turn into a paying client so it’s important to keep building your relationships and awareness within your circles. Ask “What can I do for you” instead of “Isn’t my picture pretty? Do you want to buy it?” Consistently deliver educational presentations throughout your local community, stay active in professional organizations, and engage with others in social media conversations. Because of the snowball effect exposure can have in increasing your sales, even the smallest opportunity could transform into your future signature work. Never underestimate the value of exposure (pun intended!).
Shut up and listen. To gain business, don not rely upon the movie Field of Dreams’ motto, “If you build it, they will come.” As you connect with members of your community, listen carefully to the comments, complaints, and questions they have related to their world to gain ideas for content in your next assignment, upcoming show, book project, or otherwise. Proactively create your own sales opportunities by delivering solutions to them based on their input.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Round up a couple trusted family members, friends, or mentors schedule frequent “Bored Meetings” (also referred to as “Board Meetings”). Regularly reviewing your business plan with outside advisors will help you gain a renewed perspective on your direction, celebrate your successes, and gauge your progress against your defined “S. M. A. R. T.” – specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and tangible – goals to stay on track.
Learn; there is no “fail.” If you are blazing your own path and testing new ideas through a wide variety of experiences, inevitably you will have moments when things don’t go the way you hoped. No matter how much mud you feel is covering your face, hose yourself off, and ask yourself, “What can I learn from this experience? How can I improve next time?” As Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Working 24 x 7 does not equal success. Though tempting, resist the urge to work day and night to keep your business moving forward. Take time to step away from the juggling act to avoid burn out and refresh your creative soul. As you would schedule vacation time in your previous job, set aside time to relax and enjoy activities unrelated to your profession, leaving the camera and laptop behind.

If you’ve started a new career or independent business, what tips and tricks have you utilized to stay afloat as you charter new territory? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!

And of course, no matter where you are in the transition, I wish you the very best of luck in your journey as a professional photographer! Go forth and conquer! And keep us updated with your progress and learnings along the way!

<shameless plug>If you would like more hands-on guidance in planning your successful transition to a photography career, join me for the Arizona Highways Photography Workshop “There’s No Business Like the Photo Business” on June 22-23, 2013. Visit the Arizona Highways Photography Workshops website at www.ahpw.org/workshops/2013/Phoenix-Arizona-No-Business-Like-Photo-Business-Workshop-2013-06-22 for more information and to register.

If you’re content with keeping photography as a hobby but would like more information on how to sell the photographs collecting dust on your hard drive, then join me for the 1-day Arizona Highways Photography Workshop, “Selling Your Work Without Selling Your Soul” session on June 1, 2013. For information and registration, visit www.ahpw.org/workshops/2013/Phoenix-Arizona-Selling-Your-Photography-2013-06-01. </shameless plug>

Don’t Jump Ship Yet! Start Your Own Photography Circus Before You Leave Your Job

The Business of Photography 7 Responses »

Apr 032013

Are you ready to run away from your mundane 8-to-5 job and become the ringmaster in your very own sensational circus as a full- or part-time photographer after reading our blog post at the end of February, “Independence Day…in February?”

If so, before you trade in your badge for the life you have always wanted as a freelancer, here are suggested actions to take to begin as the CEO of “You, Incorporated” on the right foot:

Get busy on your breaks. Though it may feel like you are working two full time jobs, start your new business before you leave the windowless office. Take care of little tasks like registering for state and city tax licenses, opening bank accounts, and ordering business cards now so you gain legitimacy as a business owner as you walk out the corporate door.
Transform the scribbles on your beer-stained napkin into a Fortune 500-quality business plan. Without a manager standing over your shoulder and barking orders at you, it’s time to get “S. M. A. R. T.” when it comes to running your own circus. Formalize what you seek to accomplish in the next three months, one year, and three years, testing your goals to make certain they are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Tangible. The statement, “I will make $1,000 from photography print sales by December 31, 2013,” is S. M. A. R. T. while “I plan to win the lotto tomorrow” is not. Once you have set a course, write out the specific steps and resources you need to get there. Then, complete one step a day towards your goal.
Showcase your talents. Build a professional-quality portfolio of work that accurately shows off what you can deliver. Post relevant examples of your photography and tear sheets of published work that demonstrate a recognizable style and focus that potential clients will notice and purchase.
Don’t act like the government. When it comes to making money as an independent, it’s not rocket surgery: the “goes-IN-tus” to your bank account must be greater than the “goes-OUT-tus.” In other words, your income must be greater than your expenditures. Track sales and expenses to not only give Uncle Sam his cut later in taxes, but to also make sure you can cover your incoming bills. And no, you still don’t need that expensive new lens.
Expose yourself. Although streaking down the street would certainly attract attention – albeit the wrong kind for business success – awareness is always the first step in making sales. If customers do not know of your products and services, they will not buy either. To build your network, provide educational presentations throughout your local community, join professional organizations, and be active in social media outlets. Volunteering your time for worthy, related causes can also often generate significant income over time. Never underestimate the value of exposure. (Pun intended for those who use histograms.)
Learn to how to increase your “goes-IN-tus.” Take a marketing class right now. Not next year. Not next week. Now. Though the thought of using your left-brain during lectures may make you break out in hives, at least go rub shoulders with ambitious marketing majors who might be interested in supporting the sales work for your business in the future.
Schedule the fireworks for your own Independence Day. Whether your sought-after day of freedom is two weeks away or a year off, circle the date on the calendar. Having a light at the end of the tunnel can breathe new life into you until you say “adios” to your stuffy gray cubicles walls.
Burn the ships after landing. In 1546, upon reaching the shores of Mexico, Hernán Cortés did not make failure an option. When you land your new freelancing career, neither should you. Replace the voices hemming and hawing about what will happen if you fail with more productive thoughts about what you can do to succeed. Heed the advice of automotive pioneer Henry Ford who aptly suggested, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you are right.”

Now are you ready to enter your very own big top? In a future blog post, “Staying Afloat in Your Photography Career,” we’ll explore the best ways to not only stay on the tightrope, but to also how to give a spectacular performance in your new career.

If you’re content with keeping photography as a hobby but would like more information on how to sell the photographs collecting dust on your hard drive, then join me for the 1-day Arizona Highways Photography Workshop, “Selling Your Work Without Selling Your Soul” session. Though the April 13th class is now full (waitlist available), a new session on June 1, 2013 has been added to the schedule! For information and registration, visit www.ahpw.org/workshops/2013/Phoenix-Arizona-Selling-Your-Photography-2013-06-01. </shameless plug>

Whether photography-related or not, if you’ve made a transition from one job to another, what tips and tricks that helped you make a successful transition to a new career would you offer to someone who is considering a change? For those of you who are considering a change, what’s your biggest fear or obstacle preventing you from making the leap? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!