Freelance jobs in photography are vital in helping up-and-coming photographers improve their portfolios while making money to support their passion. Due to the popularity of these jobs, it's important for you to have a solid understanding of where to go when you're looking for them.
Websites Offering Freelance Jobs in Photography
You can keep an eye on local employment websites or large ones like Monster.com for locally-based photography gigs as a start. However, the majority of your work will be found on websites that are specifically geared toward finding freelance jobs in photography. Here is a list of some active websites offering these opportunities.
Flex Jobs
Flex Jobs is one of the most popular freelance sites on the Internet. You can find freelance, contract-based jobs in almost any field imaginable on this website. The freelance photography category is very active here, with new jobs being constantly added.
The constant job availability on this site is one of the biggest benefits of using it. However, the site does require you to be a dues-paying member if you want to apply for any of the jobs listed. The lowest fee for using the site is $14.95 a month, but it comes with unlimited applications and job views.
Simply Hired
As a popular employment site, Simply Hired offers a huge assortment of potential jobs for photographers. In fact, Simply Hired offers one of the largest freelance photography job databases of any freelance job website.
One of the most popular aspects of this site is that all employers need to identify themselves and offer distinct payment terms. In the world of freelancing, you may often find that clients are hiding their names or being shady about the amount they are willing to pay you. Knowing all of this stuff up front is a big load off of your shoulders. However, the site can be a little difficult to navigate if you are looking for jobs in other parts of the country that you can work remotely from any location.
Freelancer.com
Freelancer is a very popular freelance job website that connects workers and employers from all over the world. This site is different from the others listed here in that it is a bidding site. Each employer posts a job and either lists a fixed price for the job or opens it up for bidding. Freelance photographers can then bid on the project and use their experience to help sway the decision of the employer.
Some people don't like the active bidding nature of this website, and most bidding sites have a reputation for offering low-paying work, or for employers awarding gigs to the lowest bidders. However, Freelancer.com is extremely active and there are constantly jobs circulating there. You will need to create a profile if you plan on applying for work.
Photography Job Finder
Photography Job Finder is geared more toward photographers in the United Kingdom, with a limited amount of jobs available in other countries like the United States. You can search for job openings here without signing up, but you will need an account if you are planning on applying to any of them. The site also offers you the opportunity to post your resume and CV for potential employers to search for.
Getting Started in the World of Freelance Photography
To start getting jobs as a freelance photographer you need a portfolio. A portfolio is a compilation of your best work, which is shown to prospective clients in an effort to secure jobs. If you want to make a living with freelance jobs in photography work on creating an outstanding portfolio and consider these additional tips.
Know Your Camera
Familiarizing yourself with all of your camera's nuances will help you take award-winning shots. Know your camera inside and out. It's the tool that will help make or break you in this industry.
Think Ahead
Use your creativity and talent to develop your own unique style. Then, produce seasonal images well in advance. You can secure more jobs by working about three to four months in advance of the competition. For example, if you start shooting Christmas images in September you can market them in October when hundreds of publications are designing their December issues.
Quality Over Quantity
When you are first starting out in the business, it's better to have a smaller portfolio full of high quality images rather than a huge portfolio of mediocre images. Carefully examine each and every photo before adding it to your portfolio.
Focus on Your Strengths
It's important to define your shooting strengths. Once you do so you can match a business with your particular style of photography. There are dozens of specialties to choose from including:
- Weddings
- Children
- Nature
- Aviation
- Architecture
- Food
- Fashion
- Science and Technology
- Animals
- Sports
What fits well for one person can be totally wrong for another, which is why it's vital to find subjects that you are comfortable photographing.
Staying Optimistic and Realistic
If you are just starting out in the world of freelance photography, it is crucial to remain both optimistic and realistic. Only a small percentage of amateur photographers can make a living from freelancing. Doing so takes patience, determination, and a lot of hard work. Likewise, it is important not to let rejection get the best of you. Don't throw in the towel just because you don't get your dream job. Believe in yourself, learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Your big break could be a snapshot away.
