When taking photographs for your own pleasure, you can shoot what you want, when you want. But if you aspire to a regular income from wildlife / travel photography you need to decide in which kind of market your images are best suited. Is it supplying illustrative stock photography for articles and books or selling fine art cards, prints or posters? With the exception of cute animals, an image which works well for one outlet, will not necessarily work for others.
For instance, a close-up of a slug feasting on a flower at night will work as a quarter page in a gardening magazine or website, but will have little appeal elsewhere. Any animal suffering as a result of becoming enmeshed in discarded rubbish – whether it be fishing lines and nets, poachers' traps or plastic bags – is an effective way to portray a conservation message, but won't appeal for kids books of carefree fluffy animals.
Abstract images have many potential uses – CD covers, cards, book jackets, website banners, wall art. This water abstract was used as a wrap around cover for a book on the history of the water industry, for which I was shooting many inside images. The author wanted a tap on the cover, but as soon as the designer saw this image, he did a mock- up using a desaturated image for a simple, but effective, wrap around cover. Since then it has been printed on a made-to-measure roller blind.
The interlocking hexagonal patterns of almost monochromatic basalt columns viewed end on are useful not only to illustrate geological texts, but also math's textbooks. (No wonder maths was so dull when I was at school - we never had any images in our maths textbooks!)
Thus, the choice of subjects and the way you shoot them will influence where and how you can sell them
Working for yourself
Working for yourself is an option that deserves consideration for doing what you enjoy most, but being a pro wildlife photographer is by no means a bed of roses. Whether you decide to use a stock agency to promote your photographs or market them yourself, it takes time to earn a good salary. With so many easily accessible sources for finding ludicrously cheap – or even free – images, selling stock images is not as lucrative as it was in the '80's and '90's.
Some photographers opt for a clean break from their salaried job before turning professional. I would argue that it is sensible not to give up your day job too speedily. If you can continue on a part-time basis you will be assured of some income. I spent many years lecturing to Adult Education evening classes to cover all my essential overheads. Right from the start, I was determined to market my own photographs. With no knowledge about bookkeeping or how to run a business, I learnt fast.
After four decades of being my own boss, I could not imagine working any other way. But as with every job, there are pros and cons to working in the same place as you live. Here are some of them.
Pros
If you work from home traveling time to the office is zero.
You work at what interests you and decide your work schedule
You won’t be tied to a desk all day and every day
You can get to some amazing wilderness locations
You can offset photographic gear, office items and travel as legitimate expenses
Cons
It is difficult to shut up shop
There is no guaranteed monthly salary
You must keep receipts and issue invoices so that profit and loss accounts can be compiled each year
You must learn how to sell yourself and promote your photography
You will need to insure against loss of income through illness
Business feasibility study
Before you take the plunge to become a pro, it is worth considering the following queries.
What type of wildlife photography appeals to you most?
Can you identify what outlets might want to buy your work?
Have you discussed your aspirations with your partner, family or friends?
How do you plan to promote your business? A website is essential as a 24/7 shop window. Business cards show you mean business and need not be expensive.
Have you set achievable 6-month and first year turnover targets?
Have you estimated your expenses for the first year?
Will you need outside funding to get the business started?
Writing a business plan is essential for obtaining a bank loan – which is not easy to get in the current economic climate.
It is easier to shift images to magazines if you can supply copy as well as images. See my post How to Write and Sell a Photo Story. Currently, my income comes from selling my own and other photographers' images, using a stock agency, writing commissioned articles and books, selling my own books and prints, tutoring seminars, workshops and one-to-one days.