Starting A Digital Camera Picture Taking Business

If you love to take pictures, you have probably wondered if there is some way that you can make money doing what you love. After all, you see pictures in magazines, on billboards, on product packages and more. And if you have thought to yourself that people must get paid for those, you would not be far wrong. It is quite possible to make money with your camera, and there are a number of ways of doing so.
It’s clear that we see pictures everywhere and it’s not a mystery that people are paid to take these pictures. If you have a digital camera, and love to take pictures why not try making money out of it?
What You Need To Make Money Taking Pictures
First of all you need a digital camera to take your pictures. Since digital cameras don’t need films you only have to spend money on the camera. Although most digital cameras these days provide a superior image when used, there are several features that you should look out for to help get the most out of your pictures;
Optical zoom - to get some great zoom shots if needed a camera that has a resolution in excess of 4 - 7 megapixels or more. This is primarily to meet your image quality and printing needs. It is hugely beneficial if a customer wants a nice large print of a photograph or if you need to crop an image. The more megapixels the more freedom you have to do this without losing image quality.
LCD monitor - great for reviewing shots as you take them. But make sure it is easily viewable in all light conditions especially if your camera doesn't have a viewfinder.
Macro mode - to allow for close-up shots.
Focus assist lamp - this is a usually a visible light that comes on to help the camera focus before taking a shot in lower lighting conditions.
Now here are some tips and tricks on camera handling and picture taking that could improve the quality of your pictures: Quite often when taking a photograph people literally 'push' the camera button, moving the camera and blurring the image. Instead try squeezing the camera, pushing the camera upwards as you push down the button. This should help steady the camera and avoid the blur.
In taking formal photographs of people try to take two very quick photographs; one when everyone is poised and ready for the photo and the other immediately after you have taken the first. This is because people tend to relax after the shot has been taken and you may catch them in a much more natural pose.
Take more than one shot of the important photographs. This is because a lot can go wrong when taking a photograph, from someone looking the other way or kids pulling faces at the camera. Taking several can allow you pick the best and throw away all of the rest. When taking photographs of people try to pick a neutral background that won't distract too much attention from the people in it.
Landscape photographs can quite often turn out plain and boring when taken mid-day. So, try to take them in the early morning or late afternoon when the shadows stretch further along the ground. This will create a much more atmospheric and interesting photograph.
Growing Your Picture Taking Business Over Time
Now that you have the hang of taking pictures and selling them, the next is to go in to specialization. What kinds of pictures have received positive feedback from customers. Here are a couple of examples which are currently having a healthy market for photos:
Real Estate Photography - Photograph homes as a paid service to realtors in your area. Since most newspapers and 'home for sale' magazines feature photographs of the homes that are for sale, your services can allow the realtors to spend more time earning their living instead of taking pictures. Also, with the popularity of the internet, most real estate agencies have websites with featured homes or searchable listings. These websites usually need good photographs as well.
Digital Image Collections - bundle hundreds of photographs onto a single CD rom and sell as a royalty-free package for web designers and graphic artists that don't want to take time from their areas of interest in order to take photographs.
Internet Stock Photos - A number of web sites will pay either a one time fee or a royal commission every time one of your photos gets sold.