Travel photography is a great hobby to pursue, as there are many opportunities for travel images to be taken, from street photography to capturing the beauty of a landscape or city. In fact, it’s often easy to earn money from travel photos and it can be a great way to combine travelling and photography.
Many travel photographers sell their images to companies such as Tourism Australia, Lonely Planet, World Wide Worx, National Geographic, and The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), among others. You can easily submit your images to these organisations to see what type of contracts they offer.
However, you can also use your travel photography skills to create your own travel magazine, brochures, advertising campaigns, websites, or even to develop an online business.
We found this article interesting and it has some really useful information to help you get started with travel photography. If you’re looking to make money from travel photography, read this guide to creating a successful business.
Table of Contents
Choose your niche.
Are you a nature photographer? Or do you prefer to capture the beauty of a city? Whatever your passion is, make sure it matches the niche you want to sell your images to.
Set up a blog.
It’s a great way to promote your images and build a portfolio. It’s also a free way to connect with other travellers and share your work. Blogs also have the potential to turn into a more profitable business, as they can act as your online store.
Promote your blog.
Create a beautiful website, and upload your photos to a content management system (CMS). This is where your website is stored and updated. To promote your blog, add some links to your website from social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. Then encourage your social network followers to share your posts.
Develop your portfolio.
Create several images for your portfolio, using a DSLR camera, compact camera, smartphone or tablet.
Work hard to build a following.
It’s important to post regularly and to promote yourself on social media sites. If you have a large social network following, you’ll stand a much greater chance of being hired by an organisation.
Create your own business.
you don’t want to work for an organization, create your own travel company, or make your own online product. This way, you can sell your images to your own customers, and set your own terms of service. You can also get your travel images printed as a book, which you can then sell.
Earn your income.
Once you’ve built your following, it’s time to start earning. If you’re selling travel images, you’ll be able to negotiate a payment based on the size of your following.
Enjoy your hobby.
Being a travel photographer doesn’t have to be a grind. Instead, you can simply enjoy the experience of photographing the sights you see. It’s a great way to relax and explore new places. There you have it. Now it’s time to go and explore the world, and capture the memories you’ll always have of the places you visit.
Things to Consider about Travel Photography Businesses
The first question that you need to ask yourself is how much money you need to make a living. If you want to earn a good income from your travel photography, you will need to invest a lot of money in a studio, equipment and stock of photographs. The more you have, the more potential customers will be interested in purchasing your work.
You will probably need to spend a lot of money on travel insurance. If you do not have insurance, you will need to find out how much it will cost to have it and what will happen if something goes wrong.
Once you are sure that you are ready to start a travel photography business, it is time to look at what kind of business you want to set up. Do you want to be a part-time freelancer or a full-time photographer? The first option means that you will have to spend the entire year travelling to take photographs and the second will mean that you will have to invest in the best possible equipment and stock of images.
A part-time business is more flexible than a full-time business, but a part-time business will have less revenue per month than a full-time one. If you plan to run a full-time travel photography business, you will have to make some sacrifices. You will not be able to spend as much time travelling, because you will have to make your home your workplace. Also, it will be very difficult to leave your family, so you may have to choose between your family and a good income.
When starting a travel photography business, it is very important to understand the local laws. For example, if you want to photograph in India, you will need to make sure that you are not violating any Indian laws. In some places, photographing public figures can be illegal. Make sure you do not risk the chance of getting arrested.
Also, it is very important to understand the tax issues when starting a travel photography business. In some countries, such as India, it is not necessary to register a business if you earn less than US$50 000 per year. If you are registered, you will need to report all your earnings and pay taxes on them. It is important to check that the regulations are the same in the country that you are planning to photograph. It is always a good idea to check the laws in the countries that you want to visit and to make sure that you are in compliance.
As the travel photography business grows, you will need to decide whether to become a freelancer or to start a company. Freelancing is easier to start and it does not require a lot of work, but if you decide to become a freelancer, you will have to work on a contract, instead of a permanent job. As a freelancer, your income will be limited to the amount of money you can earn during the month and you will have to keep track of your expenses. On the other hand, if you start a company, your profits will be yours to keep and your taxes will be paid by the company instead of by you. However, companies are more expensive to set up and require more effort and time.
As the travel photography business grows, you will need to think about your future. You can start a second business or expand into other areas of the travel photography business. You may want to open your own studio or hire assistants.
Other options for you to get paid as a photographer
If you love taking photos, but can’t afford to do it full-time, then it might be time to consider starting a side hustle. This could be as simple as selling your photos on Facebook, to selling your images to a stock agency. Before you start, make sure your portfolio is up to scratch. Show off some of your work and look at how other photographers have set themselves up. Here are some of the main options available:
1. Travel photography – If you are interested in photographing other places, then you might consider this as a side business. Some people even travel the world on a regular basis to document different aspects of life.
2. Self-publishing – This option is perfect if you are already comfortable working with computers and you have an internet connection. The downside is that you need to invest in printing and distribution, and you need to be able to write a compelling story to sell your images.
3. Stock agencies – This is an option if you are skilled at graphic design and Photoshop, as it can be time-consuming to set up your own business. The upside is that you get paid a percentage on your sales, and the clients will generally want your photos to go through a company representative.
4. Photo contests – One of the best ways to attract clients is to enter a photo contest. You can easily find these online and there are always opportunities to win cash prizes and prizes for the most creative images.
5. Advertising – Advertising is one of the most effective ways to generate income for any photographer. Whether you are selling your photos as part of a campaign or you are doing a sponsored post, the money will add up.
6. Social media – Selling your work on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram is easy and fun, and the number of followers is an indication of how good your images are. You can also use the same images to create collages, which can be shared on the site.
7. TFP – Travel photography is another great way to earn extra money. There are many companies that offer jobs to travelers and freelancers. All you need is a camera and some creativity.
8. Teaching – If you enjoy teaching people how to use their camera, you could do this as a sideline to your full-time photography. Look out for classes on courses and try to make your own courses.
9. Freelancing – This is one of the fastest growing freelance industries. There is huge demand for photographers as well as videographers, so the best way to find work is to use an agency that connects you with clients. You can also advertise yourself on sites such as Upwork.com.
10. Wedding photography – One of the most lucrative businesses in the world is wedding photography. If you are good at taking pictures, a lot of people will hire you to document their special day. You can work with the bride and groom to set the theme and the location, and you will be paid a retainer to keep working with them until the day.
11. Freelance writing – There is a constant demand for people to write copy for websites, blogs, advertising, and so on. It can be difficult to get started, but it is a very good way to make money. You can also write articles, newsletters, and brochures, and you can sell them to a publication.
12. Writing – If you enjoy writing, then you could do it as a side business. Look out for websites that will pay you to write articles and blog posts.
13. Graphic design – If you are good at Photoshop and have a strong eye, you could turn your skills to designing flyers and posters for clients.
14. Pets – Taking photographs of pets can be extremely rewarding. It’s an interesting experience for owners, and you can charge a small fee.
15. Landscaping – If you are handy with tools and you enjoy the outdoors, then you could take pictures of gardens, landscapes, or anything else that needs to be photographed.
16. Video editing – Editing video can be a difficult task, but if you can learn some of the basic functions in a program like Adobe Premiere Pro, you will be able to earn money from editing your own videos.
17. Videography – Videography is a great option if you like shooting videos. You can do weddings, events, or simply take some of your favorite shots and sell them to clients.
18. Fashion photography – As a fashion photographer, you can capture images of people in different outfits. This is a fast-growing area, as there is a huge amount of demand for new brands and designers.
19. Fine art photography – This is a more challenging type of photography, but it is possible to make a decent living from it. You will need to have your own studio and be able to create beautiful images.
20. Fine art portraits – Taking images of people is a very competitive industry. Some photographers will shoot weddings, or they might take photos of their friends and family. But most people will want a portrait for themselves.
21. Commercial photography – Commercial photography is the most common form of photography. It can include everything from food photography to fashion photography. You might need to have your own studio to be able to create the look and feel you want.
22. Children’s photography – It’s not uncommon for parents to want to have a series of images taken of their children at different stages. You can charge a fee for each image and make it part of an album.
Conclusion
So you’ve been traveling for a while, and you love it. But now you want to make money from it. It’s a smart move, since travel photography is one of the fastest growing freelance markets.
We hope that you have learned something from this article and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask us at [email protected]