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Transcript
The first way I make money as a photographer is by photographing weddings. It's my most lucrative source of income.

As a new photographer, you can get started photographing weddings by offering your services as an assistant or second shooter for photographers whose style inspires you.

You can also, during the beginning of your career in order to build a portfolio, offer to photograph weddings of friends for little to no cost. All you require is the rights to use those images for your portfolio. The biggest disclaimer is you definitely have to tell your couple you're just beginning this journey and you may not have as much expertise in wedding photography as a more seasoned photographer. Set the stage so your clients know what to expect. You may even meet or blow past their expectations.

You can listen to episodes 19 to 22 of this podcast for details on equipment you'd need to photograph your weddings along with lighting tips and suggestions.

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The second way I make money as a photographer is by offering portraiture and headshot services.

To build your portfolio, if that's the avenue you'd like to follow, I'd highly recommend finding local facebook groups with other photographers, models, or anybody else who you can collaborate with. Each party involved gets something out of the agreement. Everybody gets photos for their portfolios and connections to some really great people.

I now have the opportunity to work on short films as a sound technician and director of photography because of someone I met in a facebook group.

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Before we get to the last section of this show, please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g

If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.

If you're a small business or know someone who is starting their own small business and needs photography or videography, please send them our way so we can best serve them and you.

Let's get back to the show.

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The third way I make money as a photographer is by working with other small businesses to fulfill their photography and videography needs.

In the beginning of 2020, I started offering reoccurring services for small businesses who needed what we at Richard J Nieves Photography provide on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis.

At first, due to the state of the world at the time, i didn't get a-lot of traction, but I have since started working with small businesses I found on instagram and from my own connections.

If this is something you want to do, the best advice I can offer is to not be afraid to pitch yourself to companies. They may need your services, and if you enter their world at just the right time, you may spark a lucrative relationship. Send an email or find their social media accounts. Instagram has been very useful for contacting companies who may need photography or videography.

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Lastly, I implore you to say yes to the jobs that come your way that you want to do, but you may fear you're not up to the task. Don't doubt yourself. You've put in the work to learn this craft. You've put in the time to listen to people like me who want you to learn and succeed.

Take that fear of making a mistake and turn it into the fuel that makes you get the job done. Never refuse work because you feel like you're not good enough. You most certainly are.