Sunday, May 18, 2014

How to Start a Travel Writing and Photography Business

 

Starting a travel writing and photography business can transform a hobby into a career.
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 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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