Starting a travel writing and photography business can transform a hobby into a career.
Travel writing and photography have the allure of globetrotting, publication credits and the opportunity to make money. But starting a travel writing and photography business requires much more than wanderlust and a camera. As with any business, you’ll need to spend time researching, organizing and laying the groundwork for a successful enterprise before launching that dream career. But with some planning, a travel writing and photography business can be both rewarding and profitable.
Step 1: Gather together published travel writing and photography clips. If you’ve never published travel writing or photography before, brainstorm ways to quickly accumulate a few. Ask to accompany a local hiking or kayaking outfitter on a customer tour to take photographs, offering the company free prints or digital files in exchange for a byline on their website. If you have published travel writing and photography pieces, assemble and organize the best clips to be eventually featured on your promotional materials.
Step 2: Assemble or purchase technology. To start a travel writing and photography business, you’ll need a reliable computer, printer, word processing software and high-quality camera and photographic gear. An external hard drive for backing up files is a smart idea, and you may want to invest in a scanner and lighting table. Simple accounting software and Internet access are also helpful.
Step 3: Apply for permits and licenses. You’ll need a business license and tax identification number to get the travel writing and photography business going. For tax purposes, keep all business-related receipts for documentation of expenses. Demonstrating an annual profit is one way to show that your enterprise is a bona fide business and not just a hobby, justifying your option of writing off travel-related expenses.
Step 4: Market the business. Traveling to distant locales is the glamorous part of the job, but marketing is a vital part of the daily grind. Create and maintain a business website featuring your best work and introduce yourself to local professionals in the travel industry and media. Sending out story pitches and queries should be a daily task.
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