Photographer Andy Hsu has been shooting for the past two years in Asia and says he has seen a lot of people take advantage of the Internet’s accessibility.
He says his business has grown in leaps and bounds, with his business now valued at more than $1 million and he is getting paid $50,000 per shoot.
“I have never seen anything like it.
It is crazy,” Hsu said.
“People can come to us and ask us questions like, ‘Are you a professional photographer?
Is this for me?
Is there a way to do it in the way that I want?'”
Hsu says that the best way to get started is to use an app called Lightroom.
The app allows you to set up a meeting, create a meeting template, set up photos for your group, set the camera, and get started.
Lightroom has an online shop where you can purchase custom photos.
Hsu says there are plenty of professional-quality photography apps on the market but they are limited to certain professional services.
“There are no options for people who are just starting out in the world,” he said.
Hsu is not alone.
According to a 2016 report by the Pew Research Center, almost one in three people in the United States say they have never used a smartphone camera before.
Hui says the only way to truly make a living from photography is by selling it.
“You can’t just sell photography, you have to sell a lot,” he explained.
Hui says he is also getting some help from other entrepreneurs to get the word out.
One of the most popular sites is Openstreetmap.com, which allows you add locations for your photographs and create a map of the world.
Hsi said he started using the site a year ago.
“It was the first place that I looked at and that gave me the idea to make a little business out of it,” Hsi explained.
“I think the more people who have the ability to make their own maps, the better off we all will be.”
Follow Elizabeth on Twitter: @ElizabethJHsu