3 years ago
how to start selling my services for photo improvements and fixes to consumers? (using my PhotoShop skills)
Hi.
I have great PhotoShop skills and I would like to earn some extra income fixing photographs for people (consumers). Especially things that were badly lit (e.g.too dark, too bright, uneven lighting or colours).
I wonder what is the best way to start selling my services.
I tried some Google searches for e.g. "fix photos" or "retouch photos", but I find mostly software, not services, so it's not easy to get an idea of "what is out there", how it is priced etc.
Also, this is going to be a secondary revenue stream/occupation, so a full-blown website/cart etc. would be to complex to setup and maintain.
Are there any easier options/marketplaces you know where I could "setup shop" more easily, that are a good match for selling this type of service?
Thank you very much for your help!
I have great PhotoShop skills and I would like to earn some extra income fixing photographs for people (consumers). Especially things that were badly lit (e.g.too dark, too bright, uneven lighting or colours).
I wonder what is the best way to start selling my services.
I tried some Google searches for e.g. "fix photos" or "retouch photos", but I find mostly software, not services, so it's not easy to get an idea of "what is out there", how it is priced etc.
Also, this is going to be a secondary revenue stream/occupation, so a full-blown website/cart etc. would be to complex to setup and maintain.
Are there any easier options/marketplaces you know where I could "setup shop" more easily, that are a good match for selling this type of service?
Thank you very much for your help!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$3 Answers
Hello Cyberlina, my name is Rob. I've helped a few people here accomplish things similar to what you're asking.
Here are a couple of answers that you might find helpful:
What is the best way to start an online business?
http://budurl.com/3pkz
What is the best way to market my hand made products online?
http://budurl.com/yjh9
First off, your idea sounds interesting. I like it.
1)
-- quote --
"Also, this is going to be a secondary revenue stream/occupation, so a full-blown website/cart etc. would be to complex to setup and maintain."
-- /quote --
You absolutely require a good looking website. You need to show a portfolio of your work.
I think that showing "before and after" images would be particularly effective.
Keep your rates clear, consistent and reasonable. Far too often, the people who run creative "side projects" like this raise their prices. It's not necessarily a bad thing to raise your prices a little when you get busy, but be very careful. You'll loose customers forever if they feel like they're not getting a competitive price.
Ecommerce isn't as hard as you think it is. Have you seen this shopping cart: http://www.fatfreecart.com/ and this simple accounting package: http://www.freshbooks.com and this project management tool: http://www.basecamp.com/
All 3 of these tools can work together to streamline a business just like the one that you're starting and could provide full online ecommerce.
2)
-- quote --
"I have great PhotoShop skills and I would like to earn some extra income fixing photographs for people (consumers)."
--/quote --
What you're doing isn't new. You should deeply research the competition both online and locally. Online, you could ask for help here on Mahalo Answers to seek out similar businesses and offline, you could call pro photographers and ask who they use for their retouching services.
Above all else, remember that you're competing with other outsourced and offshore labour. This can be frustrating and difficult. However, if you build personal relationships, are reliable and deliver the best product, things will be much easier.
3)
-- quote --
Are there any easier options/marketplaces you know where I could "setup shop
-- /quote --
Online marketing alone will not create a successful, sustainable product line. I have found that with products like yours that a 60/40 split is key.
That means that 60% of your marketing should be done online. But importantly, 40% of your marketing should be done offline.
What happens when this 60/40 rule is applied is that it creates a dedicated local community base along with a free flow of online customers. When online sales are low, you'll find that offline sales flourish and that above all else your efforts in both will amplify each.
So, focus locally AND focus online.
I've only touched on a few points here and glazed over many others. I sincerely hope that this helps you but feel free to ask other specific questions if you need more help!
Here are a couple of answers that you might find helpful:
What is the best way to start an online business?
http://budurl.com/3pkz
What is the best way to market my hand made products online?
http://budurl.com/yjh9
First off, your idea sounds interesting. I like it.
1)
-- quote --
"Also, this is going to be a secondary revenue stream/occupation, so a full-blown website/cart etc. would be to complex to setup and maintain."
-- /quote --
You absolutely require a good looking website. You need to show a portfolio of your work.
I think that showing "before and after" images would be particularly effective.
Keep your rates clear, consistent and reasonable. Far too often, the people who run creative "side projects" like this raise their prices. It's not necessarily a bad thing to raise your prices a little when you get busy, but be very careful. You'll loose customers forever if they feel like they're not getting a competitive price.
Ecommerce isn't as hard as you think it is. Have you seen this shopping cart: http://www.fatfreecart.com/ and this simple accounting package: http://www.freshbooks.com and this project management tool: http://www.basecamp.com/
All 3 of these tools can work together to streamline a business just like the one that you're starting and could provide full online ecommerce.
2)
-- quote --
"I have great PhotoShop skills and I would like to earn some extra income fixing photographs for people (consumers)."
--/quote --
What you're doing isn't new. You should deeply research the competition both online and locally. Online, you could ask for help here on Mahalo Answers to seek out similar businesses and offline, you could call pro photographers and ask who they use for their retouching services.
Above all else, remember that you're competing with other outsourced and offshore labour. This can be frustrating and difficult. However, if you build personal relationships, are reliable and deliver the best product, things will be much easier.
3)
-- quote --
Are there any easier options/marketplaces you know where I could "setup shop
-- /quote --
Online marketing alone will not create a successful, sustainable product line. I have found that with products like yours that a 60/40 split is key.
That means that 60% of your marketing should be done online. But importantly, 40% of your marketing should be done offline.
What happens when this 60/40 rule is applied is that it creates a dedicated local community base along with a free flow of online customers. When online sales are low, you'll find that offline sales flourish and that above all else your efforts in both will amplify each.
So, focus locally AND focus online.
I've only touched on a few points here and glazed over many others. I sincerely hope that this helps you but feel free to ask other specific questions if you need more help!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Wow Great answer guys, well they covered a great deal of ground, but if you are looking for something simpler go to Craiglist and simply advertise your services a lot of it could be done through e-mail. You could also ask around your network of friends or relatives they might require your services.
Tip: It would be very helpfull if you created a portafolio that showed your skill like before and after pictures.
Tip: It would be very helpfull if you created a portafolio that showed your skill like before and after pictures.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Thank you all so much for your replies.
Very good suggestions and I am particularly grateful nadiraziz for the freelance sites you mention. I was aware of Elance and a couple of others, but you gave me more!
I definitely intend on having a portfolio showing several "before/after" pictures - I consider this a given, so I forgot to mention it.
I am more inclined to have a profile/shop on a marketplace website because...I am a perfectionist! I have designed websites and if I start with this, it will be some time before I'm "done".
I thought this time I would do/try something more quickly, and get going, get a feel of what is out there.
Craigslist - how could we have missed that one Rob?
Good going beefy :)
Report Abuse
Hey there,
Let me start by complimenting you on the clarity of what you know your skills and limitations are. When you say that this is a secondary source of revenue for you, it doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility of having a website to attract people to your work.
Robbrown has given some great advice above when it comes to starting your own biz online. Let me add to that by giving you another option for furthering your work online - Freelancing!
Check out and register with some of the better Freelancing sites - these will give you an instant entry to the online world's marketplace. You will come to know what clients want, and how much others are charging for that kind of work.
You should preferably still have a blog/website to showcase samples of your work, so that people who wish to avail your services, can check it out beforehand.
Even so, there are ways and means to go around that if you so want. For one, you can email your samples to the intended client. Or you can use the 'Private Message' feature that most of the freelance sites offer, to upload a sample of your work when you ask/bid for a project.
Here are some of the better known sites to get you started with, and I can say this with some measure of confidence, as I use these myself, although for a different kind of work. I'll also try and give you a brief lowdown on them:
1. Direct Freelance
https://www.directfreelance.com/
Has categories for photography, graphic design, presentation, and multimedia, so I'm sure you can find your niche in there.
http://i42.tinypic.com/295z70m.jpg
- Nice cool site, very user-friendly.
- Free Membership has limited features but good enough for a start.
- Just move in and start sending out messages advertising your skills.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2l8g0na.jpg
2. Freelance Switch
http://jobs.freelanceswitch.com/
http://i40.tinypic.com/2iw7zmp.jpg
- Neat site design, easy navigation.
- Has forum and resources for help.
- Tons of projects.
- Paid subscription model - $7/month, for responding to projects.
3. Get a Freelancer
https://www.getafreelancer.com/
My favorite freelancing site by far... has a browseable directory, with relevant search results. I have searched for Photoshop projects for you, and you can see the pics below for the results.
http://i40.tinypic.com/mw9w1k.jpg
- Lots of projects in every category.
- Easy payouts via Paypal.
- Escrow facility for high-value projects.
- Bidding format business model, so you don't always get the project unless you can prove you're really good at what you do, which is where a website comes in!
Here's some examples of Photoshop projects and their bidding ranges on this site:
http://i41.tinypic.com/311on77.jpg
https://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/Graphic-Design-Photoshop/Cropping-touching-photos.html
http://i43.tinypic.com/35moysw.jpg
https://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/Photography-Photoshop/Dust-amp-Scratch-removal-Retouching.html
http://i39.tinypic.com/1217jut.jpg
https://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/432059.html
Send me a Direct Question if you need any more info. Good Luck!
Let me start by complimenting you on the clarity of what you know your skills and limitations are. When you say that this is a secondary source of revenue for you, it doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility of having a website to attract people to your work.
Robbrown has given some great advice above when it comes to starting your own biz online. Let me add to that by giving you another option for furthering your work online - Freelancing!
Check out and register with some of the better Freelancing sites - these will give you an instant entry to the online world's marketplace. You will come to know what clients want, and how much others are charging for that kind of work.
You should preferably still have a blog/website to showcase samples of your work, so that people who wish to avail your services, can check it out beforehand.
Even so, there are ways and means to go around that if you so want. For one, you can email your samples to the intended client. Or you can use the 'Private Message' feature that most of the freelance sites offer, to upload a sample of your work when you ask/bid for a project.
Here are some of the better known sites to get you started with, and I can say this with some measure of confidence, as I use these myself, although for a different kind of work. I'll also try and give you a brief lowdown on them:
1. Direct Freelance
https://www.directfreelance.com/
Has categories for photography, graphic design, presentation, and multimedia, so I'm sure you can find your niche in there.
- Nice cool site, very user-friendly.
- Free Membership has limited features but good enough for a start.
- Just move in and start sending out messages advertising your skills.
2. Freelance Switch
http://jobs.freelanceswitch.com/
- Neat site design, easy navigation.
- Has forum and resources for help.
- Tons of projects.
- Paid subscription model - $7/month, for responding to projects.
3. Get a Freelancer
https://www.getafreelancer.com/
My favorite freelancing site by far... has a browseable directory, with relevant search results. I have searched for Photoshop projects for you, and you can see the pics below for the results.
- Lots of projects in every category.
- Easy payouts via Paypal.
- Escrow facility for high-value projects.
- Bidding format business model, so you don't always get the project unless you can prove you're really good at what you do, which is where a website comes in!
Here's some examples of Photoshop projects and their bidding ranges on this site:
https://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/Graphic-Design-Photoshop/Cropping-touching-photos.html
https://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/Photography-Photoshop/Dust-amp-Scratch-removal-Retouching.html
https://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/432059.html
Send me a Direct Question if you need any more info. Good Luck!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
That's the best answer on freelancing that I've seen here, Nadiraziz. You deserved half of the tip.
hi, if you want to sell stock photos and artwork, we've done pretty well here:
Once you get submitted and approved. Don't be put off by the low payouts. You retain copyright, and the $ add up, if you are good! good luck! (no I don't work at any of these places!!) They pay royalties to the artists who list there.
http://www.bigstockphoto.com
http://www.fotolia.com
http://www.stockxpert.com
@robbrown Mahalo for the tip :)