Here at Photobug, we know that making money is hard–especially as a wedding photographer. And if there’s one thing that 2020 taught us, it’s that it’s best to be prepared for financial emergencies. Whether you’re a photographer full-time looking for a little extra cash, or you’re just getting started in the wedding photography world, there are a wide variety of side hustles that you can do to increase your income. From broadening your photography client base to selling prints to general marketing, there’s a side hustle for every skill set.

Benefits Of Side Hustles

According to a study done by Zapier, one in three Americans (34%) have a side hustle, and another 24% plan on having one in 2021. Not only does having a side hustle increase your income, but it’s also a great way to explore a skill set you enjoy, develop new skills, and even experiment with a new business idea.

Image by Audaymi

Side Hustles For Wedding Photographers

Consider Different Kinds of Photography

If you can’t imagine doing anything besides photography, consider expanding your client base by taking on different types of photography like portraits, pets, food and beverage, concerts, and the list goes on. This small change will help you flex different photography muscles and learn new skills within your industry. It will also help you build a well-rounded portfolio. And who knows, maybe you’ll find that you love shooting for a new kind of client. 

Create An E-Book or E-Course

After years of perfecting your skill, sharing your wealth of knowledge with those seeking to improve can earn you money. E-books and courses are some of the easiest ways to compile everything you have learned as a photographer over the years and share it with beginners. Break the book or course down into lessons on what gear to use, how to price yourself and create packages, how to pose couples, how to edit photos in Lightroom, and more. If you want to make the most of this information, you can also create individual courses based on each lesson.  

Once an online book or course is created, it requires very little effort on your part. This means that money will hit your bank account every month without having to lift a finger–this is the joy of passive income!

Image by In Abundance Photography

Host Workshops

If you prefer in-person learning, take that knowledge that you would put in an e-book or e-course and host small workshops instead. You can rent out a studio or go to one of your favorite locations and create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can help educate other photographers. Consider bringing in models and letting the photographers shoot once the class is over to help them build up their portfolio and test out the skills you just taught them.

Sell Prints

There are so many resources–including Society 6 and Etsy–out there that allow you to sell prints of your work. Do you have landscape shots from your last vacation to Hawaii? Or maybe you captured stunning landscape photos while in Canada for a destination wedding. Whatever they may be, there’s an audience out there who would love to display them in their home or revamped workspace. 

Sell Lightroom Presets

In addition to prints, you can also market your Lightroom presets. If you have a recognizable aesthetic or find that you often get asked what you use to edit photos, this may work really well. The easiest way to do this is to batch presets, create different packages based on the mood of the photos, and then start an e-commerce site if you don’t have one already. However, you can use Etsy for this as well. 

To spread the word about your presets, consider having your followers send in photos that you can edit using the presets and sharing them on your social media. This allows them to picture exactly what they’re going to look like for their own photos.

Image by Jean Smith Photography

Edit Photos

If you love jamming out during editing marathons, consider becoming a photo retoucher. As a retoucher, you work closely with other photographers to alter photos for a wide variety of uses. This retouching could include removing blemishes, adjusting colors and brightness, and changing the backgrounds of images. If this sounds interesting to you, but you aren’t sure you’ve got enough experience, there are hundreds of videos on YouTube that can teach you how or you can use sites like Skillshare.

Become A Social Media Manager

As a creative, you have a trained visual eye that can be beneficial for social media marketing. As a photographer, you use social media daily to share your work and get new potential clients. It’s time to put them to work! Use these skills you’re already familiar with for a company or brand that needs a social media overhaul. Many businesses either don’t know where to start, don’t have the time, or don’t have the expertise. 

Don’t be afraid to cold email local businesses in your area and offer your services. There are also sites such as Freelancer and Upwork where you can find job opportunities–just be mindful that these sites often take a cut from your pay.

Start A Blog

While blogging may not make you money quickly, it can prove to be very profitable for those who are patient. With just a few hours a week, you can create a blog about any topic that interests you and find readers that share those same passions. Just remember to stay consistent and create new content regularly. Once you build up a solid readership, you can take advantage of affiliate marketing, ad sales, and even sponsored posts.

As you build up your blog, you can also use it as a portfolio to get freelance writing clients if that is something you’re interested in.

Image by Vibrant Feelings

Become A Photobug Affiliate

Speaking of affiliate marketing, here at Photobug we love partnering up with photographers to share our e-courses! With every course you sell using your specific code, you get a percentage of the sale–that’s right, it’s really easy. If this is something you may be interested in, contact us and let us know.

Start A Podcast

Last but certainly not least, consider hosting a podcast. In a recent Statista Research Department study, researchers found that 57% of US consumers listen to podcasts. If you want to share your expertise on your craft but don’t feel like writing or creating an e-course, this is for you. You can interview other photographers and professionals to get their insight, and you can generate revenue with more affiliate marketing and sponsorships.

These are just some of the ways a wedding photographer can make extra income—the possibilities are endless. Take the time to think about what you’re passionate about and what skill sets you have. Then, do some research. We’re sure you’ll be able to find a side hustle that will bring in that extra money in no time.

For more financial advice, check out these simple business finance tips for wedding photographers!

Image by Dy Moura Fotografia