I am curious how other landscape, wildlife and fine art photographers make money from their photography? I don't mean to be rude by asking this but I have been taking photos for a number of years now and have spent thousands of dollars but made no return. I can only really think of selling prints of my work to some of the local tourist centers.
I know this is more of a personal question but I am really hoping for some help. Thanks.
If you can write articles for nature or ourdoor magazines, or hobby magazines, that is one way to add some income and get recognition, build a name.
Some stock agencies might be interested, but my experience is that this is not really the type photo that gets a lot of cash in from stock agencies.
Fine an art gallery that might be interested in your style work.
Thank you mkweaver. I will look into writing for magazines, that is something I would really enjoy doing. I don't like the micro stock agencies on the net, are there others? Unfortunately all the galleries in our areas seem to shun the idea of photography as art, it is quite a backwards place really. However only an hour and a half down the road there are some brilliant gallery's which will display photos, I guess I need to get driving. Thanks.
Most people who take pictures of nature, wildlife, and landscape never make a penny from their photography. A few manage to make a few pennies from stock. Others make a small living by writing and taking pictures for travel etc. magazines. Others make money by selling prints at arts and craft fairs.
Lots of ways to make a little money. Not so many ways to make a living wage. Even fewer ways to get rich.
Landscape photography is a niche. You may want to try direct sales and art festivals. I try to do at least a half dozen or more art festivals a year and depending on which festivals you attend, some good money can be made. The problem with festivals though is they are hit & miss and don't happen every day. There is also some up-front investment in equipment and such for getting a booth setup. I think it's a lot of fun though.
I dont know how the things are in Australia. I remember that a few years ago it was a good bussiness to ask to slightly above average cafes/Restaurants (mainly in big cities) to use their walls as a gallery for a few weeks and negotiate a small percentage of the sales for them or to let them choose some prints to keep in the restaurant (this is good for you). The higher the standing of the place, the better your portfolio has to be cos you will ask higher prices. You need to know how to detect the type of places where your pictures would fit and sometimes adapt your portfolio to that. It is important to know how to sell yourself without look like you are begging. Cultural community centers might be another choice but then you will be selling cheap (good though to increase your photog CV when you are starting). Art fairs are great if you choose the right one but you might be receiving more questions about your camera and its capabilities than about your pictures. At any case, I think that it is quite fun. All these possibilities share in common that you have to do a considerable investment in prints and frames.
Around these parts, I've seen a great number of photographic prints hanging in restaurants and business lobbies for sale. What I've also seen though, is most of this stuff never sells and hangs there forever. It may be a good place to display your work, but I don't think you'll make much money from direct sales that way. I personally don't waste my time with that approach. Maybe someone else who has had success doing that could chime in.
They don't. Consider the equivalent in writers. How many poets are there? 10-20-50 per country. How many write technical specs for products. 1000-2000-5000 per city. It's like shootn pictures of girls for money. Yes it happens but mostly an stereotypical illusion.
Never did that myself but people I knew in Madrid made some money (not to make a living thought). Most of the time you see the photos hanging forever cos these are the "models". What you sell are limited copies that you ship to the people interested. I wouldnt recommend that as the only source of income neither, it was just a suggestion. The same applies to forniture/decoration stores, I know people that made some good bussiness with local forniture stores to sell its pictures. That it is not art-selling though, most of the time (if not always) you are asked for pictures containing the color that it is trendy for that season. I am affraid that market is way different among places and times. I have been living mainly in Madrid so that is what I know better. It depends also on your standards and the type of photog that you want to be considered As somebody said, landscape and wildlife are somehow niche and my suggestions doesnt qualify as art-selling, they do qualify as "try to make some money". My expertise is different and we are few and cowards I make a living taking "pictures" throught microscopes so you might take my advice with a grain of salt.
Gary Gray wrote:
Around these parts, I've seen a great number of photographic prints hanging in restaurants and business lobbies for sale. What I've also seen though, is most of this stuff never sells and hangs there forever. It may be a good place to display your work, but I don't think you'll make much money from direct sales that way. I personally don't waste my time with that approach. Maybe someone else who has had success doing that could chime in.
I make a living taking "pictures" throught microscopes so you might take my advice with a grain of salt.