Secret Work From Anywhere Jobs – Photographer
Love photography? Did you know that work from home moms can take pictures and sell them online? I had no clue! But, photography is seriously a Secret Work From Anywhere job!
We’ve got another interview for Secret Work From Anywhere jobs in the books – and this one is REALLY exciting.
I’m so thrilled to show you all this interview with Christian of TheClickCartel – he’s a photographer that makes money selling images online! And, he teaches others (including stay at home moms!) how to do it, too! Digital nomad or staying at home with your kids – get ready to open up your world to another secret work from anywhere job: photographer!
Could you tell me a little but about The Click Cartel’s history?
Sure! A while ago, I was hanging out with some friends and somehow I let it slip that I make six figures from about 20 shoots a year. I actually didn’t realize that everyone wasn’t doing this, or that it was all that unusual.
But they were shocked!
They convinced me that I had to start teaching other people how to do this. It was actually a great idea. I love helping people. So pretty soon after that, I started doing one-on-one consultations with photographers to help them with their businesses. It was going great, but I quickly realized that I could help more people live their dreams of making money from photography if I created a course.
So I sat down and designed a course outlining the exact steps I would take to start a profitable photography business from scratch, even if I had very little technical knowledge or skill.
That’s when The Click Cartel was born. I spent a TON of time on this course, and didn’t leave anything out. Anyone who takes my course knows all my secrets!
It’s been fantastic. I’ve helped photographers add thousands of dollars to their monthly income. But I have to say, the most fulfilling thing for me is when I meet someone who loves photography, but doesn’t think they can make money from it. I love that because I’m able to help them completely squash that limiting belief. It’s wonderful when a regular person realizes they can earn a great living doing something they enjoy!
What’s it like to work as a traveling photographer?
It’s great! But a little disclaimer: my business is not completely nomadic. I have a home base in NYC, and that’s where the bulk of my work is done. However, the photography business is extremely flexible. About 95% of my work, such as editing and retouching, can be done from anywhere at any time of day or night.
Also, almost all photography niches have their own seasons. The niche I’m in (bat and bar mitzvahs) basically follows the school year, so I have summers and holidays off. This is when I choose to travel. In fact, I’m just finishing up a 3-month stint in Europe.
I picked up a couple of jobs here, so that’s a possibility for people who want to find work wherever they are. But that’s not my focus. I make six figures for part-time work, and use my free time to travel.
If I wanted to become completely nomadic as a photographer, I would look into shooting stock photos. I have a blog posts that lists 11 different places where you can submit your work to make money online. In order to be successful at it, I would research what people were looking for and sell that. I would also practice my natural light headshots. Whenever I travel, people come out of the woodwork asking me to shoot their headshots. That’s a great additional revenue stream no matter where you are.
What are your work duties?
I don’t have a super typical day, and that’s really what I love about this career. One day, I might sit at my computer in my PJs till noon (ok all day), and the next day I might put on a tux and shoot the Tony afterparty for Hamilton at Tavern on the Green (yes, I actually did that).
The typical tasks for a photographer at any given time are communicating with clients, planning and prepping for photo shoots, doing the photo shoots, editing and retouching images.
The only thing that is typical about my days is freedom. I can work whenever and wherever I want. This is what makes photography great for work-at-home moms. You can do your work during the kids’ nap time, or after they go to bed.
My schedule is so flexible that I rarely even use an alarm anymore. In fact, the other day, I set my alarm to catch an early flight and when it went off, I was so confused by the sound, I thought there was a fire! I was halfway out the door with the cat under my arm before I realized what was happening.
What are the startup costs for a business like yours?
Photography might seem like an expensive business to start, but it doesn’t have to be. You can get started in with very little investment. Start out with modest gear. Whatever you can afford, really. And as you start making more money, you can upgrade your equipment as necessary.
I always suggest the first upgrade be a good lens. A fantastic lens on an older camera body will get you great results, but a poor lens on an amazing camera will get you lousy results.
If you need super expensive gear for a special shoot, rent it. There are cost effective ways to get great gear into your hands when you need it. And don’t be afraid to purchase used equipment, especially from reputable dealers. I still buy used whenever I can!
Just for an example, If you put $900 into equipment and then start charging $150 for headshot sessions (which is on the low end), you only need to do 6 shoots to pay off that gear. After that, you are making a profit!
So the return on investment isn’t an issue. The real thing you need to be careful about is how much time you spend learning your skill before you start charging. I see a lot of new photographers learn a bunch of technical stuff that doesn’t make them money. If you figure out what your clients actually need, and learn to do that well, you will make back what you spend on gear very quickly. If you are unfocused about your technical education, it takes much longer to start making money, and this can be really discouraging.
This is why I teach a process of reverse engineering images, so that my students can get very good at a few key set-ups pretty quickly, and then start making money.
What type of person excels are working in your field?
There are so many niches in photography, you’re almost guaranteed to find one that works for you, no matter what your personality type. I used to work with an introvert who was a brilliant still life photographer. There are types of photography like these that require precision and are great for detail-oriented people. But there are also niches that don’t require quite as much precision.
I am super outgoing, and my niche is high-energy parties. It works great for me.
I suggest that people find a niche of photography they’re passionate about that overlaps another area of interest, or part of their personality. Do you love diamonds? You can shoot jewelery. Furniture, babies, cars? All of these can be lucrative niches. If you like helping people, you can shoot headshots, family portraits, weddings and events.
If you are passionate and excited about what you’re doing, people feel it. The enthusiasm is contagious. It gets clients excited to work with you, and recommend you to their friends.
An added bonus is getting to meet people you admire. Let’s say you are really into Broadway shows. If your photography is centered around that, you will photograph and meet actors, composers, writers, directors, and stage managers in the business. You get paid to take photos and geek out at the same time!
What’s your favorite thing about what you do?
My job touches people’s lives in an amazing way. I get to create something out of nothing and that creation can have meaning to families for generations to come. I was once hired to create a book that was a family history. Both grandparents were holocaust survivors and getting on in years. I recorded their stories and images, and put it all together. To be able to do that service for that family was something I will never forget.
On a lighter note, I also love being able to change how people see themselves. More than once, I have taken a photo of someone and was able to show them how beautiful they were. I joke that I wish I could take my own dating profile picture, because when I do it for other people, they tell me their dating lives are completely transformed.
Images are powerful. They can change how people feel about themselves, help them find jobs or partners, and improve their businesses. That people allow me to be a part of the process is humbling.
Where can readers go to learn more about how to travel the world as a photographer?
{I have a blog post that explains…. and I have a course that talks about how I would start a business from scratch}
A good place to start is this post on my website that covers 11 different places to sell your photography online.
There are niches of photography where you get paid to travel including destination weddings, vacation, and retreat photography. To find out how to break into a niche and make money from it quickly, I point people to my free 6-day intro course.
That’s also where they should start if they want to do what I do, which is make tons of money in one place, and then travel wherever they want during their down time.
How much money can I make working in this field?
How much you make depends on how much you want to work. You can easily make $500-1000 a month from part time work. And if you decide to go all in, you should be making six figures once you’ve had your business up and running for a while.
Taking your goals into account is important. If you just want to make an extra $1,200 a month to pay off your car, put your kids in a better school, or pay off your debt, it is totally doable. If you want to really go for it and make six figures, that’s doable too! It just takes more commitment.
There is a lot of money to be made in photography. It’s not what people normally hear, but it’s the truth. And it does not take years of training to be able to make it. You don’t have to be the smartest, most well-connected, or most outgoing person to make it either.
I get upset when I meet people who love photography and wish that they could do it for money, but don’t believe they can. I want people to know it’s a fantastic source of revenue if they’re willing to do the work.
What stops most people from making money in photography is their limiting belief that they can’t do it. I am here to tell you that not only is it possible, it’s the norm for lots of people! I love helping people see that, and teaching them exactly how to do it, step by step, as quickly as possible. I love transforming ordinary people into successful photographers.
How about that?! What an incredible interview – thanks again to Christian! And, if you want to learn more from this successful, friendly guy with a lot of great advice on making money over the internet with photography – I highly recommended checking out more at his website TheClickCartel.
Ready to get serious about your work from anywhere job search? I whole-heartedly recommend Flexjobs, the site where I found my first freelance writing gig. There are zero scams on their site and they have their own 100% remote team, too!
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