The Richard J Nieves Photography Podcast Episode 24: How I Make Money As A Photographer in 2021
On this episode, I'll share the ways I make money a living as a photographer in 2021.
Episode 24
How I Make Money As A Photographer in 2021
On this episode, I'll share the ways I make money a living as a photographer in 2021.
KEH
20% off your first year of HoneyBook
Get 30% Off Your Annual Membership of Skillshare
Podcast Episodes on Apple Podcasts
Where I get my music for the podcast
Please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
Transcript
The first way I make money as a photographer is by photographing weddings. It's my most lucrative source of income.
As a new photographer, you can get started photographing weddings by offering your services as an assistant or second shooter for photographers whose style inspires you.
You can also, during the beginning of your career in order to build a portfolio, offer to photograph weddings of friends for little to no cost. All you require is the rights to use those images for your portfolio. The biggest disclaimer is you definitely have to tell your couple you're just beginning this journey and you may not have as much expertise in wedding photography as a more seasoned photographer. Set the stage so your clients know what to expect. You may even meet or blow past their expectations.
You can listen to episodes 19 to 22 of this podcast for details on equipment you'd need to photograph your weddings along with lighting tips and suggestions.
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The second way I make money as a photographer is by offering portraiture and headshot services.
To build your portfolio, if that's the avenue you'd like to follow, I'd highly recommend finding local facebook groups with other photographers, models, or anybody else who you can collaborate with. Each party involved gets something out of the agreement. Everybody gets photos for their portfolios and connections to some really great people.
I now have the opportunity to work on short films as a sound technician and director of photography because of someone I met in a facebook group.
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Before we get to the last section of this show, please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
If you're a small business or know someone who is starting their own small business and needs photography or videography, please send them our way so we can best serve them and you.
Let's get back to the show.
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The third way I make money as a photographer is by working with other small businesses to fulfill their photography and videography needs.
In the beginning of 2020, I started offering reoccurring services for small businesses who needed what we at Richard J Nieves Photography provide on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis.
At first, due to the state of the world at the time, i didn't get a-lot of traction, but I have since started working with small businesses I found on instagram and from my own connections.
If this is something you want to do, the best advice I can offer is to not be afraid to pitch yourself to companies. They may need your services, and if you enter their world at just the right time, you may spark a lucrative relationship. Send an email or find their social media accounts. Instagram has been very useful for contacting companies who may need photography or videography.
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Lastly, I implore you to say yes to the jobs that come your way that you want to do, but you may fear you're not up to the task. Don't doubt yourself. You've put in the work to learn this craft. You've put in the time to listen to people like me who want you to learn and succeed.
Take that fear of making a mistake and turn it into the fuel that makes you get the job done. Never refuse work because you feel like you're not good enough. You most certainly are.
Transcript
Welcome to the 23rd episode of The Richard J Nieves Photography Podcast!
I’m Richard J Nieves, published portrait and wedding photographer, and owner of Richard J Nieves Photography located in New York City.
TTL stands for "Through The Lens" metering. Like I stated in episode 21, it is a setting that allows your speed light to communicate with your camera and base your exposure off their combined measuring of ambient light. It detracts the work you have to put into exposing your photo.
TTL has one goal, to light your subject as well as possible. That's fantastic when you're shooting quick moments that need that extra bit of oomph in the exposure.
It's great for new wedding photographers who's priority is the client's satisfaction with their photos. The need to perfectly light a scene is put in the back pocket when the hug with the best grandma in the world and a bride is lit well enough that it can be delivered and get a reaction.
Since the priority of TTL is to expose the subject well, the background exposure takes a hit. TTL doesn't care if the background is well exposed. That is something that can be adjusted in post. It's up to you where you set your compromises. If that's an issue, you can always manually set your flash power if you know what you're doing.
Since there is that bit of control taken away by using TTL, you may feel like part of your artistic pedigree is lessened. I assure you, it is not. You are as much of an artist as you were before you decided to use TTL. You may feel like you are less of a photographer because you use TTL. Again, I assure you, you are as much of a photographer as one who dials in their settings.
Before we discuss one last bit about TTL flash units, I'd like to ask you to please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
...
One more thing to consider when using a flash unit with TTL is those units are more expensive than their manual counter parts. Depending on the brand, prices may be drastically different between units. Again, that's your call to make. I would always opt for a unit with TTL because I can always take the reins when I feel the need to.
The Richard J Nieves Photography Podcast Episode 23: TTL
In episode 21 where we discussed tips for using on and off camera flash during a wedding, I referenced a very handy feature of most modern flash units called TTL. We'll be discussing the practical ways it can change your photography for the better.
Episode 23
TTL
In episode 21 where we discussed tips for using on and off camera flash during a wedding, I referenced a very handy feature of most modern flash units called TTL. We'll be discussing the practical ways it can change your photography for the better.
KEH
20% off your first year of HoneyBook
Get 30% Off Your Annual Membership of Skillshare
Podcast Episodes on Apple Podcasts
Where I get my music for the podcast
Please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
Transcript
Welcome to the 23rd episode of The Richard J Nieves Photography Podcast!
I’m Richard J Nieves, published portrait and wedding photographer, and owner of Richard J Nieves Photography located in New York City.
TTL stands for "Through The Lens" metering. Like I stated in episode 21, it is a setting that allows your speed light to communicate with your camera and base your exposure off their combined measuring of ambient light. It detracts the work you have to put into exposing your photo.
TTL has one goal, to light your subject as well as possible. That's fantastic when you're shooting quick moments that need that extra bit of oomph in the exposure.
It's great for new wedding photographers who's priority is the client's satisfaction with their photos. The need to perfectly light a scene is put in the back pocket when the hug with the best grandma in the world and a bride is lit well enough that it can be delivered and get a reaction.
Since the priority of TTL is to expose the subject well, the background exposure takes a hit. TTL doesn't care if the background is well exposed. That is something that can be adjusted in post. It's up to you where you set your compromises. If that's an issue, you can always manually set your flash power if you know what you're doing.
Since there is that bit of control taken away by using TTL, you may feel like part of your artistic pedigree is lessened. I assure you, it is not. You are as much of an artist as you were before you decided to use TTL. You may feel like you are less of a photographer because you use TTL. Again, I assure you, you are as much of a photographer as one who dials in their settings.
Before we discuss one last bit about TTL flash units, I'd like to ask you to please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
...
One more thing to consider when using a flash unit with TTL is those units are more expensive than their manual counter parts. Depending on the brand, prices may be drastically different between units. Again, that's your call to make. I would always opt for a unit with TTL because I can always take the reins when I feel the need to.
The Richard J Nieves Photography Podcast Episode 22: How To Use Natural Light for Weddings
In the last episode, I shared some advice I've gained through my years of shooting events using on and off camera flash. On this episode, we'll take all that gear away and discuss using the natural light available to you when it's there.
Episode 22
How To Use Natural Light for Weddings
In the last episode, I shared some advice I've gained through my years of shooting events using on and off camera flash. On this episode, we'll take all that gear away and discuss using the natural light available to you when it's there.
KEH
20% off your first year of HoneyBook
Get 30% Off Your Annual Membership of Skillshare
Podcast Episodes on Apple Podcasts
Where I get my music for the podcast
Please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
Transcript
Natural light is absolutely my favorite form of light. It can be temperamental, but rewarding when using it correctly and managing the highs and lows of daylight. You even get natural light modifiers in the form of clouds. What more could you ask for?
The first example is when you're getting your detail shots. Have access to a window or can take the details outside, but not too far from where they need to be? You can get work done!
Play with the direction of light and see where light falls and where it doesn't.
One piece of kit I'd suggest you carry if you know you're aiming to use natural light is a small reflector. You can battle deep shadows and lift them. All that light you can bounce off that little reflector could enhance a portrait or detail shot in some pretty magnificent ways.
When using natural light to illuminate your subjects, whether they're your couple or their family, place them in a spot of shadow in order to protect all the detail you can in your image.
By having them under direct sunlight, you'll be setting yourself up for disaster. By placing your subjects under direct sunlight, you create harsh, overhead shadows that are unflattering. You can you lose detail in your highlights if done incorrectly. Worst of all, the experience of the guests standing under a hot sun and trying to stand still so you can take a photo is excruciating and disruptive to the enjoyment of the wedding. Please, move your subjects into a shadowed area where they can express their joy for the event while looking good too.
Remember that reflector I mentioned before? If you have the space and an assistant or second photographer working with you, it may be wise to carry a larger reflector to light your couples when shooting them alone. Like mentioned previously, you can bounce all that amazing light onto your clients if they aren't near a reflective surface like the side of a building.
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Before we get to the last tip I have for shooting with natural light, I want to ask you for a favor.
Before we get to our last tip, Please follow me on Instagram @rich_photog, that r-i-c-h-underscore-p-h-o-t-o-g
If you’d like to schedule your next portrait session or give us the honor of photographing your wedding, visit my website www.richardjnphoto.com or email katherine@richardjnphoto.com where my partner will guide you along your journey with us.
Lastly, it would mean a lot if you left a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to support what we're doing here on the podcast and get it out to more photographers who may benefit from this information. Let's get back to the show.
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The last tip I have for you, which can pretty much be applied to most of the information I share on this podcast, is to learn the different forms of natural light as seen by your camera.
Natural light comes from one source; the sun, and is typically "modified" by natural occurrences like cloud coverage or clear blue skies. That light can be direct. It can be diffused by clouds. It can be cut by physical objects like trees and buildings. Learn how your camera sees this information and interprets it for you. Eventually, you will learn how well a face looks when faced directly at the light or away from it. You'll learn how to compose a scene to hide or use a natural background to emphasize your subjects.
Like I tell my daughter and I'll be telling my son, it's all the practice that'll make you a master at whatever you're setting your energy on.
Thank you so much for listening.
Don’t forget to keep creating, stay humble, and enjoy the journey. Catch you later.
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