How do I live as a freelance photographer?

I know this is a very general question, but what does it take to earn even $1-2k per month freelance? I've got decent equipment, I just don't know where to go from there to start earning from it. I need to get out of this mon-fri lifestyle, and fast.

Thanks

Specialise in something that nobody else does well enough (hasn't thought enough about) or is under represented locally, and also try to get work published. It helps if you can write and illustrate articles. Talk to other freelancers...

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John.
Please visit me at:
http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/backtothebridge
http://www.pbase.com/johnfr/digital_dartmoor

Pro Digital Talk Forum

Welcome to the Pro Digital Talk Forum, the place where professionals can talk to other professionals and advanced amateurs can ask questions. This forum contains 423,980 messages in 42,213 threads, please search before asking a question.

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Bob

'There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.' - Ansel Adams
Canon 40D
Sony R1
Canon Pro1

If you dont have an answer of some sort please dont post your null messages that repeat the forum blurb.

The original post fits within the forum guides so what is your problem.

Your messages like taht are just pure clutter worse than Joe Lavees posts.

Bob Blount said:

Pro Digital Talk Forum
Welcome to the Pro Digital Talk Forum, the place where professionals
can talk to other professionals and advanced amateurs can ask
questions.-Th.jpg

Click to expand...

Dear Old,

Did I forget to ask for your permission to post again? My most humble apologies.

Why not refer the poster to a better Talk Forum which is intended to address the poster's question about becoming a professional photographer?
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Bob

'There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.' - Ansel Adams
Canon 40D
Sony R1
Canon Pro1

Is there a "better talk forum" bob? If so, accept my apologies. "Open Talk Forum" seemed like the right spot to me, but what do I know?

Absolutely no problem and certainly no need to apologize since there are very helpful people on every forum on any subject. I stumbled across the Pro Talk Forum by accident sometime ago and thought it might get you a response from a real pro rather than rank amateurs like me! LOL
Enjoy

Bladestorm said:

Is there a "better talk forum" bob? If so, accept my apologies.
"Open Talk Forum" seemed like the right spot to me, but what do I
know?

Click to expand...

--
Bob

'There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.' - Ansel Adams

Canon 40D, 70-200mm f4L IS, 28-135mm IS, Sigma 17-70mm f2.8 Macro, 100-400 mm f4.5L IS
Sony R1
Canon Pro1

This forum is fine for it, since they both can overlap sometimes

being a freelance doesnt mean he has to be a full time pro, he can be part time, or a amateur that is earning money on the side etc

and for the FIRST REAL ANSWER:

word of mouth, nothing beats that to start off with. Have a good business model with contracts, business cards, website etc to make u look like u are worth hiring

and make a lot of networking with family and friends and people in your current workplace. There is always someone out there needing something taken

dont rely on equipment ownership too much, its only for fools to judge u upon what u use and hire u because of that - the end product is result is all u should be aiming for. When i started out I only hired stuff, so i can fit in the right gear for the right job. I still do it, but i use my own camera gear as back up among other things.
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http://jackietran.myphotoalbum.com/albums.php - my temporary website