Photography Income in Retirement

I have been an active photographer since high school when I earned a few bucks (or Kroners in Norway) taking pictures for the local newspaper. It paid for my camera equipment - which made my parents happy. Well, that little side line never really ended. I never made a living with photography, but I am to this day earning enough money to more than paying for my equipment. I am now semi-retired and this is part of my retirement income. And fun too!

To make a long story short, using high end cameras since the beginning (1968) I manage to earn enough to support my habit. There are several ways to do that, personally I do some Realtor work - taking pictures of listings, I have done some team sports and nature/wildlife images I have printed out and sold.

A few years ago I got hired three years in a row (then I moved) to be the official photographer for the NW Washington State Fair. I got that by offering to take pictures one year in return for access to "back stage" at the fair. I got that, and they loved my images. So I had a couple of years of great fun while earning money doing what I really loved to do. With that credibility (I earned several prizes for my work from the WA State Fair Association) - I could have done some marketing and made more out of it. Life happened, so it got dropped.

The knowledge I have is really not much, but I suppose I have a natural "eye" for composition. I have also learned that from a digital camera - no matter how good it is - tweaking the images after shooting helps make them a little less than "off the rack". A little sharpening here, add some contrast. That will set you apart from the millions of point-and-shoot photographers out there that think their pictures are just great.

The other thing I learned as a semi-pro photographer is that the client is almost always right. Many, many times they want a certain "look" and I'd better deliver. In spite of my own view on it. Although, for the most part clients accept my expertise and products. But always listen.

I love to do nature pictures. Many people do. It is very difficult to sell nature/wildlife images, since they are so common these days. They have to really inspire or be so much better that people's pictures from their last trip to Mexico. Good images tell a story.

Here's an acid test when it comes to "great" nature/wildlife images: when people look at your picture and they don't ask "where is this taken", THEN you have a great image. Nature pictures should be location independent. Same with people. If they ask "who is this" your image is a snapshot.

On out trip to Norway this year I managed to score lots of great images. The fall colors were incredible, the weather just perfect for photography. How can I monetize this portfolio? I can make postcards, print them up and sell them at Scandinavian fairs (which I have done) or post them on a website for sale on-line.

So in retirement, if you have an interest in photography - start thinking of how you can monetize your hobby.