All of what I've earned is though charity funds raising for different causes: cancer, handicapped children, church ... None through commercial means for personal use ... Cheers ;-))

I do quite a lot free for non-profits and dance companies, plus make some profit from sports/recreational events which mostly covers gasoline money!

To earn money at photography, one must have talent. 'Nuff said! ;)

Regards, Chris

I sell prints to collectors every time I hang a show.

I don't want to make money with a hobby. That would make a hobby into work.

... and what Chris said ....

Never actually thought I'd be able to, and therefore, never tried... Mostly because of what Chris said, indeed :D

Took a few weddings some 30 plus years ago. Didn't even pay for my equipment. I like it better when people aren't depending on me or my pictures!

My reply is, "Unless you pay for the Public Liability and professional photographer's insurance fees, I'm sorry, you'l have to ask someone else." All too often, people are looking for someone to take on this task on the cheap, and then they kick up a stink (or worse!) if they don't like the results or something goes wrong. I'm not too sure where one stands if you go along as a guest, take shots and then someone at the event, informally says I can be asked to run off prints for them.

I'm guessing that if you don't offer to take the photos, and then afterwards, having downloaded and checked the quality of the images, and only then, you contact the guests and tell them they can buy prints off you, things might be different. Some people, (and I know people who have encountered them!) are mean-minded enough to try and claim compensation for anything, given half a chance!

If you are confident in your abilities as a photographer and are consistent with your results then why not make money at it.

The down side is that it is very hard to make money in photography because there are a glut of people out there who think that jst because they own a DSLR now that they are a skilled photographer.

I have seen many hobbyist photographers who have more skill than the pros... and yet lack the confidence to make money at it. I used to be one of those people until I started making money off teh people who complimented my work a lot.

It started out all innocent with taking pictures for friendsfor a nominal sitting fee, and then thinking ,,, hmm I need more equipment... and then noticing that I had enough equipment for a small studio... then weddings.. and it grows.

Never be afraid if you have been told you have the skills (and not just by your family who want you to feel good about yourself) If you get more than one compliment from friends and expecially strangers.. then you have some talent and could possibly make some money to buy that new flash you want.. or a new tripod, etc.

Living off photography is extremely hard and I only know a few people who have been able to accomplish it.

But if you can break even at a weekend event that you already planned on attending isn't that worth it? Do you NEED to make a profit every time? I don't If I cover a race event like the Indy in Toronto or the LeMans races at Mosport and I break even and have a free weeekend away with my family.. that's worth more to me than profit.