The Camera Guru

There are several home based business opportunities that are both simple in nature, and lucrative. However, it is important to note that, like all businesses, home based businesses do require some effort.

One of the more lucrative and at times fun home based businesses is selling photos online. Most people who have a home based photography business manage to have fun while taking photos of regular places, people, and objects, and still turn a profit at the end of the day. There’s no professional equipment needed for most home based photography businesses, in fact, most of the time the companies that purchase the photos are satisfied with pictures from a standard digital camera. For anyone who has a digital camera and a little spare time, think about a photography business on the side. It’s even possible to turn photography into a career.

With the economy the way it is, a lot of people are out of work and looking for a profitable part time job. One of the best ways to make money on the side is to sell photos online, and it can be done with nothing but a digital camera and a little knowhow. There are several websites online that will purchase original digital pictures for a wide range of needs. While some companies might purchase photos for their own uses, others purchase large quantities of original photos and sell them in packages. In order to sell photos and be profitable, the first step is locating an online business that purchases photos.

Once the business has been located, start taking pictures, or the business will inform as to what kind of pictures are needed. Most of the pictures are simple, like taking a picture of a computer screen from five to ten feet away, or a desk, a vase, a bowl of fruit, or even an animal. Selling photos can be self rewarding, profitable, and a lot of fun!

Oftentimes, amateur photographers make a big mistake when shooting photos of people: they shoot them straight-on while they stand still and smile. This is fine when you’re shooting photos of your friends and family for personal use, but you want to avoid this at all costs if you’re hoping to sell your photographs! Professionals call these “mug shots” because they’re stagnant and unimaginative. They’re just not interesting unless there is something incredibly remarkable about a person’s face, or if their face is the focus of a close-up shot.

Rather, you want to capture people doing things. Their expressions and bodies are much more interesting when they’re in motion; your photos will show their natural humanity. For example, if you’re shooting photos of children, capture them running around and playing. Photograph a child flying a kite at dusk, and play with silhouettes and photo compositions by shooting from various angles and with various focus points. Shoot photos of a family talking and laughing, rather than just staring at the camera and smiling. Even if you’re just taking personal photos, you’ll find that you treasure those candid moments much more than staged poses. After all, real life is not posed and staged!

Even if you have no photography training and know nothing about how to take a good photo, knowing the Rule of Thirds will help you tremendously. It’s an easy trick to improve your photo composition, whether you choose to implement the rule while you’re taking the photo or while you’re editing it in a program like Photoshop. To start out, grab a normal, 4” X 6” print photo that you don’t care about marking up. Divide it into thirds by draw two equally space vertical lines and two equally spaced horizontal lines on it, like a tic-tac-toe grid. These lines are the basis for the Rule of Thirds.

Since the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a photo, you want the focus of your photo to be located at one of the intersections of these composition lines rather than in the middle of the photo. This makes for a dynamic photo and really sets professional photographers apart from amateurs. You should practice shooting photos with the subject located on one of these intersecting points and see the difference for yourself. You’ll notice that your photos will be more pleasing to the eye, and it can help you sell your photos more easily.

What would you do if, you were able to sell your old photos online to make some extra money?  Would you like to know more about it?  Would you like to know how easy it is to do?

Just by learn how, you have the change to pay off some of the bills that you hate. In know time the can be paid off and you have extra money in your pocket. Try a home based photography business, easy and fun to do.

If you just happen a vacation of a life time? Would you want to share your photos with everyone. What about making some money by doing so.

It is easy to do, and have fun doing it. Next year vacation may be paid off before you go. What to learn how to sell photos.

An in-house studio, or “Desktop Studio” is not difficult to set up, nor should it cost you very much. Don’t think for a minute that this is the complete and full story. It’s only meant to give you the basics that I know will work for you. There are hundreds of variations on this, which is imperative when setting up a home based photography business and I expect to hear from those of you who have similar studios. Let’s hear your tips too!

Four rules for an in-house photo studio:

1. Scalability: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Set up to handle only that which will fit comfortably onto a tabletop. Once you leave the realm of objects larger than about 2-feet cube you’re asking for trouble or a huge expense in equipment.

For many of our clients who manufacture small objects the tabletop is perfect. For larger objects, furniture, people, automobiles and elephants we urge you to hire a professional, you won’t be sorry.

2. Plan to be mobile. You won’t want the rig hanging around all the time — unless you have hundreds of shots to do. We’ve used hooks and various pulleys attached to the ceiling over our 4′ x 8′ work table as the staging area. Lights, reflectors, and tents can all be suspended and adjusted from the ceiling.

3. Test, test, test. (Then go back and test again!) Let me make a sober note at this point. From the first shot in your new in-house photo studio keep a notebook. Note the object, its distance from the backdrop, where the lights are and what combinations of reflectors you used. This info will come in very handy once your name gets around and the big clients start knocking on your door.

4. Lighting is everything: Repeat after me: “Lighting is everything.” With the right lighting even some of the lower cost cameras will do a surprising job. Say it again: “Lighting is everything.”

You’ll also need a good, sturdy tripod, extension cords, lighting, light diffusers, and a switch box to run the lights remotely. You’ll also want an assortment of various clamps, some clay, and don’t forget the Duct Tape.

Vacation time is upon us. We all love taking pictures on are trips. Would you like to be able to sell the photos online. There are company that pay for you to sell photos to them.

Maybe next time on vacation, you will be paying for it with the money you made off of this year vacation. What to learn how?

There a so many different types of digital cameras out there. Which one is right for you. Have you thought about it.

You may just want one for a few pictures of famliy and friends. Some of us my need a top of the line for a photography business. Just came and see which is right for you.

The time for more digital cameras accessories are now. Wright be for vacation time. You need to have all of the gear before the trip.

Not everyone is the same. Some may need a new camera, or someone else may need just a bag. It is good to have a place to go and get them. It is quick and easy.