With the rise of better cellphones and more affordable cameras, has come the rise of photographers and videographer in all realms. The reality is, with the great quality and growth of technology, it is easier to start a career on digital media, now more than ever. The question is, is it profitable? Is it possible to do it full-time?

The answer is YES. Anything, and I mean, ANYTHING can be profitable with the right marketing, goals, effort, knowledge, opportunity and persistence. And as a side note: I believe everyone should develop some kind of skills in photo or video, so they can save their memories the best way possible.

If you feel you have a passion for it and want to do it more and even for others, you can start charging for your services part time any eventually decide to take it full-time once you have consistent income. Do not quit a full-time job, if you already have it, for a career in the arts. The competition is fierce.

On one side, you need talent, definitely. You need to know who you are, have a passion for arts, and get to a point where you discover your personal style. On the other side, if you want to become an entrepreneur, it needs to be a transition and you need to give it time, so you are more known in the community you want to work on. So, as stated before, digital media CAN be profitable if:

• You decided you love it and put your heart and soul into learning more and getting better at it.
• You constantly train for it. There’s so much to learn and practice.
• You develop a business plan, with your financial goals, the equipment you need, how to pay for it, how much to charge for your services, all the expenses, etc.
• You are consistent and patient. There is a lot of competition but only the ones who persist and grow will prevail.

One of the reasons some entrepreneurs do not succeed is because they have unrealistic expectations about this career specifically, and they think that taking good images or having the latest equipment is enough. You need to develop people skills too!

And speaking of skills, these are some of the things you have to spend money and/or time on, in order to be successful:

• Online training. There’s a lot of free and paid materials online from teachers all around the world, where you can not only learn digital media in general, but perfect your specific niche (weddings, newborn, etc).
• In-person training. This usually has a cost but it’s totally worth it because it’s hands-on, and it also works as a portfolio building opportunity and networking experience.
• Knowledge in accounting/bookkeeping. Keeping track of finances, expenses, investment and income is pivotal for ANY business. Learn for yourself or pay an expert in the field to keep your books up to date.
• Social media ads/training/support. Either you do it yourself or pay someone else to do it, constantly growing and posting in social media is important in today’s world. Some say: if you’re not on social media, you don’t exist. And most people want to see your work on your website and your daily life and BTS on social media, so make sure this is part of your business plan.

Did I miss anything? Write it down in the comments.