Make Money Off These 3 Hobbies

As the adage goes, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Unfortunately for most of us, what we love tends to cost us money and does not pay the bills. Or does it? Though some hobbies can be expensive in the beginning, they can result in revenue if executed correctly. Here are three well-loved hobbies that, with a little planning and perseverance, can make you some money.

Photography

These days, if you have a phone, you’re an amateur photographer — but some people have that special eye that can capture more than a well-presented plate of food. If photography is your passion, there are a few ways to make some money at it.

• The Web is a fantastic marketplace for photography. Several stock image websites allow you to upload and sell your images online. Also, websites like Cafepress will pay you to submit your photo images to their site, where buyers can purchase a variety of products with your photo on them. Local markets and art fairs can also be a selling vantage for your prints.
• Another lucrative way to use photography is as a freelance wedding or portrait photographer, though this market will require you to have decent equipment. Consider your investments carefully, weighing the cost versus profit margin. Many times it is more affordable to rent it until you have saved.
• In the meantime, always have your camera ready and be on the lookout for new opportunities. Freelance photographer John Davenport once scored a job when he was contacted by a real estate agent who saw several of his photographs on Facebook. The man hired him to photograph a house for sale.

For capturing great images, it may need a flexible camera and different angled lenses, for those who are just starting a career in photography, renting is advised. Lens Rentals Pittsburgh is a place that caters to the need of photographers, from simple lenses to the complicated ones.

Gaming

There are many avenues that lead to revenue in the world of gaming, but to make any significant income, you may want to explore several of them simultaneously.

• Many video game manufacturers hire video game testers to sample games in development to identify any bugs. Game-testing (also called play testing) can be fun, but the average pay is around minimum wage. You also don’t get to choose which games you test, so the tedium of playing boring games can be a bit of a drag. Use the money you earn from testing to fund more exciting ventures, like tournament play. That’s where the real money is.
• Tournament competing requires time and absolute dedication. In addition to the cost of your favored game, if you are good enough to compete in a tournament, there are often entry fees. This is where your savings from beta testing can be used in order to counter any costs. And if you win here, you’ll win big.
• Korean gamer Jang “MC” Min-Chul, for example, is a world-renown “StarCraft II” player who has consistently placed in both small and large tournaments in the past five years. Business Insider reports that MC’s total gaming career earnings are almost $480,000.

Hunting

Like gaming, there are several approaches to hunting that can make this hobby lucrative. Though there are still small markets for the sale of free-range meat, you may want to take a more modern approach and tackle options like sponsorship, pelt sales and offering expertise.

• First, you have to know your trade. Read, research and practice, practice, practice. Hunting is a hobby that requires knowledge, experience and investment. You need gear, but choose your gear wisely based on what you will get the most use out of and what will yield the greatest return value. Some equipment, like a good rifle scope or a comfortable firearm belt might cost you up front, but the investment in quality will be worth it long term.
• You will need a clear vision and a business plan. Eating what you hunt will provide a little bit of earnings (well, more like savings), but what else can you use? Many hunters have carved out a niche in producing their own products made from tanning hides and antler crafts. Others have used their knowledge and love for hunting to generate money in other ways.
• Bill Winkle, for example, earns money by writing about hunting. Winkle started out as an engineer for an archery company, and through the connections he made there and his experience as a hunter and in the industry, he became a writer and blogger specializing in hunting writing for online and print magazines.

Why spend a lifetime working a fulfilling job when you can “never work a day in your life?” If you pursue what you enjoy, in turn, those hobbies you love could show you a little lucrative love, too.