Key takeaways
- Advancing technology and changing social media trends are enhancing opportunities for freelance photographers.
- New tools for photography and editing are making photography careers exciting and unique for many young and aspiring professionals.
- Many photographers can now work on a freelance basis and independently, with some important steps and considerations.
- Freelance photographers are essentially independent business owners who need to effectively manage their financial resources to ensure long-term success.
- Choosing the right tools and equipment is vital to staying competitive in the dynamic photography industry.
- A bachelor’s degree in photography can enhance your skills and capabilities, helping you stand out in the market.
- An up-to-date portfolio is the best way to acquire quality clients and sustain in the market.
- Best freelance photography websites include Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour.
Photography is a very exciting and interesting line of work. Many young people are now attracted to getting a formal education in photography field and building a career as a photographer. First of all, photography has been evolving with advancing technology, taking on new mediums and tools that make photographs larger than life. As a result of this, so many find the entire process of photography quite interesting.
Secondly, with the rise of social media and the internet, picture-sharing has become more convenient than ever. Resultantly, there is a significant hike in how frequently people want to be photographed, and how well. Certainly, this has created a whole new world of opportunities for aspiring and professional photographers all around the world.
However, no matter which sub-field or niche you are in photography — wildlife photography or wedding photography — most of the photographers are now working on a freelance basis. Consequently, the freelance space for photographers has become fiercely competitive and continues to do so. Therefore, if you are planning to build a career as a freelance photographer, there are some ways to ensure success in your career. To help you get started, here is a comprehensive guide you don’t want to miss!
6 tips to become a successful freelance photographer
A photography career is a mix of technical skills and creativity. It strikes a good balance in fun-centered work and technical processes such as bulk editing. So, as a freelance photographer, you will be dealing with a lot of different types of projects and clients. Therefore, it is different from a conventional corporate 9 to 5 job or permanent employment.
So, you need to take some important steps that can help you progress and excel in this field. To help you get started on this rewarding journey, here are some crucial tips that help you succeed as a freelance photographer.
Effectively managing financial resources with budgeting
Consider yourself your own employee when you work as a freelance photographer. In that case, self-managing your finances plays a crucial role in the success of your venture. There are some ways you can guarantee proper financial management with the help of budgeting and other tactics such as:
- Creating a budget and tracking your income and expenses
- Keep business finances and personal expenses separate
- Consider taxes and other legal compliances
- Keep a fund for a rainy day when business is slow
- Use financial management tools like QuickBooks
Since you are not managed by a team of bosses or executives, it is vital that you take full control of your finances. This is essential for ensuring that you have adequate equipment available at all times, with access to license or subscription based services like Canva and Adobe Suite — almost vital for succeeding as a photographer.
Other than that, you will also need to have enough finances to occasionally hire assistance or help. Additionally, some clients may require you to commute or travel to certain locations. All of these errands will require you to have some liquid money with you so you can get your work done.
Choosing the right freelance photography sites
The best way to find work as a freelance photographer is through freelance websites and platforms. Online platforms allow you to connect to a global variety of employers, ensuring that you not only get excellent work opportunities internationally but also earn more than you would working in a limited location.
However, a big problem freelance artists face is in determining which online platform for freelance sites to use. There are many freelance websites for photographers, but the large variety also makes the choice more overwhelming. So, here is a list of handpicked top websites for freelance photographers that you can use to test your luck:
- Fiverr for finding work opportunities such as editing and video adjustment projects
- Upwork for finding work from around the world
- PeoplePerHour for best-paying freelance photography jobs
- freelancer.com for pro-level freelance photography gigs
- Bark for connecting with well-paying clients for various types of photography
Other than these sites where you find freelance gigs for photography, you can also explore other opportunities for making money online with your skill. So, you can start selling your images and footages online on platforms like:
- Shutterstock for selling stock images
- 500px for licensing images in a community of other photographers
- Etsy sell artistic copies of your photography and artwork
Investing in the right equipment
For a successful freelance photography career, you do not need really expensive and fancy gear. With a good bachelor’s degree in photography or related field, you will be able to foster creative skills and understanding very well. However, having good quality and usable photography gear is your companion in this journey.
So high-quality equipment is essential, and here are some of our best recommendations:
| Equipment | What to look for: |
| Camera or DSLR | Best cameras are DSLRs or mirrorless cameras by companies like Sony and Canon |
| Lenses | Depending on brand compatibility, get a variety of lenses including 50 mm prime lens, along with zoom lens |
| Tripod and other stabilization tools | Use robust and solid-built tripods for camera and light equipment, gorilla pods and gimbals |
| Storage and backup equipment | Memory cards, card readers, and other storage devices like hard drives |
| Backup batteries | Keep extra backup batteries for cameras and portable lights |
| Lighting equipment | Reflectors, glossy papers, and other light equipment like soft boxes, external flashlights, and flash diffusers |
| Editing software | Adobe Suite and other tools |
Keep in mind that the kind of equipment you invest in must align with your niche and nature of work.
Building and maintaining a portfolio
For finding good freelance opportunities, your portfolio can be a true game changer. A portfolio is essentially a documented way of showcasing all your work, milestones, and your capabilities. It should include the details of your past projects with visual, textual, and multimedia elements.
There are many ways to build a portfolio. You can use cloud storage drives to create folders, or use websites like Behance to create more professional portfolios. However, you must fully commit to updating your portfolios regularly and keep them up to date.
Developing a personal style and statement
As we already know, photography is an extremely popular field amongst youngsters such as you. Therefore, the market is competitive and it is difficult to stand out. While a portfolio helps you highlight your work, you can also try and build a unique identity.
The best way to do that is to create a personal style and theme in your photography work. First, start with finding good inspiration from industry-leading artists. Second, experiment with different photography techniques such as vintage, flash photography, portraits, and so on. Then, create your own aesthetics and theme. However, once you have developed a style, make sure to follow and implement that style consistently on all your work and projects.
Planning and implementing a pricing strategy
A huge challenge freelancers face is with pricing and their charges. For new or amateur photographers, charging higher prices may not be as viable. However, this also does not mean that you settle for underpaid projects that might cost you more than you can afford.
So, you must follow some important steps in your pricing strategy to ensure fair and attractive prices. As you grow, you can increase your prices to benefit from your grown clientele and reputation. The steps are:
- Research your competitors and peers and explore their prices
- Calculate your costs of running and working as a freelancer
- Consider various pricing models such as hourly rates, customized packages, or per-project rate
- Consider the buying power of your target consumers to set a fair price
- Set a scalable price that you can easily increase later
- Make sure you have a clear breakdown of all costs to explain to your client
- Be clear and open about your pricing to avoid misunderstandings
Openly discussing and disclosing the prices is very important to ensure that there are no miscommitments on any end.
What kind of work will I do as a freelance photographer?
Essentially, a freelance photographer works on a project basis, moving from one project to another. This kind of employment does not require any formal or legal contract, or a minimum period of employment. Typically, we define freelance photographers as self-employed photographers, finding work through word of mouth, marketing, job boards, and freelance photography sites.
In addition to this, freelance photographers tend to specialize in different fields. You may choose to specialize in one or more, such as:
- Event photography (including weddings, baby showers, corporate events etc)
- Wildlife photography
- Portrait photography (for magazines, headshots, and fashion)
- product/commercial photography
- Photojournalism
Overall, the kind of work you will find will depend on factors like your skillet, pricing, and industry trends. However, to choose the ideal specialization, your top-most focus should be on your own capabilities and abilities. For this, a photography degree is the best choice, as this helps you explore your talents and fortes to the fullest so you can make sound decisions for your career.
While your main job is to capture photographs, there is much more involved in the typical day of a freelance photographer. So, other than photography, you may be finding yourself doing other activities and tasks such as:
- Acquiring clients and managing a relationship with them
- Ensuring photo backup and storage
- Editing photos and shortlisting
- Managing schedule and appointments
- Marketing your work for more clients
- Creating and managing portfolio
- Ensuring effective financial management
- Catering to client complaints and feedback
Final note on becoming a freelance photographer
In conclusion, a career in photography is exciting and rewarding. It perfectly balances creativity and technicalities to produce the most groundbreaking visual art that resonates with a large audience. For succeeding in the photography industry as a freelance photographer, you must use the right skills, tools, and strategies. So, some of the best tips for success as a freelance photographer include managing your finances carefully, planning, investing in the right equipment, and choosing the best freelance websites.