Earning A Little Extra Through Wedding Photography

So, yeah, not having a kids is a big boon when it comes to saving money. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much looking forward to the day when we bring a highly dependent, self-seeking, money-consuming scream machine into the world, but the fact of the matter is Dani and I have been able to put such a big hole in our debt because we are both able to hold full-time jobs, have few expenses, and haven't yet punched out any kids.

But that will change soon, I'm sure.

In the meantime we're doing everything we can to pay off our debt. And believe it or not that has a lot less to do with cutting back expenses than you might think. I mean, yes, doing things like finding a cheaper cable TV package or not going out to eat so much are going to ensure that less money bleeds out of your budget, but the bigger payoff is in good old-fashioned hard work.

Dani babysits when the opportunities allow. She also makes and sells crochet hats (which are super-cute, in my totally unbiased opinion), and I take on odd jobs here and there as they come around

One of things that has helped us the most is my photography. While photographing a wedding I can make almost double what I make in a week at my graphic design job, and I'd probably make a lot more if we lived somewhere else. The problem is our tiny rural area of the country doesn't see a huge demand for wedding photographers.

The problem is two-fold:

1. The population 'round these parts is the opposite of dense. Not a lot of people = not a lot of weddings.


2. And the second factor has to do with the fact that even though there are people getting married, they are really spread out. So in order to make my wedding photography a full-time job I'd have to market myself across state lines and be willing to drive several hours to get to a job, which can seriously inflate my prices.

Regardless, I do what I can, taking almost any job I can get my hands on, and enjoying the extra money when it comes. Dani and I have decided any money earned through my photography gets split two ways: half goes into paying off our debt, and the other half goes into maintaining the photography business—new camera gear, computer software, etc.


I write about this as an example of using what you've got to help yourself make some extra green. It may not make as much as photography, it may make more, but the point is you're using that gazelle intensity to develop a better work ethic and earn more money. And, furthermore, you're employing disciplines that will help you become a better money manager in the long run.

So, until that debt gets paid off and you can live like no one else...

Keep pinchin' :-)