Shoot weddings, families, headshots and real estate.
Time: Weekends plus editing time
Photography pays well because it sells memories — the one product people never price-shop the way they do a lawn cut. Real-estate shoots provide steady weekday income, family sessions fill weekends, and weddings pay $2,000+ in a single day. Startup cost is the highest on this list, but used bodies and one good lens are enough to book your first season.
A used full-frame or mirrorless body plus a 50mm f/1.8 ($200) and a zoom. Budget ~$1,500 total from Kijiji. Skill with light matters far more than gear tier.
Do 5–10 free sessions for friends and local families in exchange for testimonials and shares. Every session is 30 portfolio photos and a referral engine.
Real estate ($150–$300/shoot, weekly repeat clients), families ($300–$500), events ($150–$250/hr), weddings ($2,000–$4,000). Pick one primary and one filler niche.
Instagram is your gallery; Google Business makes you findable for 'family photographer [city]'. Post every session — consistency is what books, not virality.
Use a signed contract for every booking (deposit, deliverables, weather clause). Deliver a gallery via Pixieset with a print store — passive income on every shoot.
Fall foliage, holiday, and spring-blossom mini-sessions: 20-minute slots sold in blocks of 8. One promo weekend can add $2,000.
Canadian-built client galleries — deliver photos and sell prints in one place.
Free local listing; the reviews here drive real bookings.
Your visual portfolio; post consistently with your city in the bio.
Half-price bodies and lenses from private sellers — inspect before paying.
Industry association with contract templates and pricing standards.