I am a professonal Alaskan wildlife and nature photographer and I also run the Photography Division at the Alaska State Fair. Most non-professionals who have 5,000 photos on their hard drive – about 10-18 are totally awesome, 20 or so are pretty nice but need major editing to be marketable, and about 100 that appeal to special interest. You need to first start culling out the photos – get down to your best.

Next – you need to asses the photos. If they are 35mm, large format, or taken with a 6mp or larger digital camera – these have enough resolution for commercial use. Anything smaller you might not be able to sell.

Once you've narrowed your photos down to your best – create a portfolio of images at least 13×19 printed on good paper. These you can show to anyone local that may use them.

You need to find a printer in your area that will work with you. Yes, online is cheaper, but, if someone orders a print and it arrives damaged or the wrong tint – you are usually unable to get a refund or reprint. Dealing with a local printer face to face is money well spent. Later on if one of your photos becomes famous – then look online for a mass printing

You need exposure. Look for events where you can enter into local contests – earn some ribbons for your work! Start getting noticed. Phone books always look for local photos – so submit some to Alaskan ones. Do not enter any online contests – these are usually just people looking to rip off free nice photos. Take some of your best work and make them into enlargements 24×36 or larger – find public places that will let you display them – libraries, city halls, public buildings, hospitals, medical buildings – get your work up on some walls!

Once you get some ribbons and awards – you have a toe hold to start talking and begining marketing your work. Web sites are inexpensive if you do most of your own work – there are ALLOT of web templates specific to photographers you can buy for a few bucks a month that look like an expensive custom site where you can show your work online. These also help prevent your work from being stolen, downloaded and misused.

Do not print up anything you do not want to hang in your house! LOL. Good chance the photos you have printed and like the best………these won't be the ones people want. I have seen this happen many, many times.

It could take you a long, long time to go through all your photos. Like eating an elephant – just take it one bite at a time. Best to find someone TRAINED or with artistic skills to look over what you think are the best – and suggest crops, changes etc. Have thick skin, and, don't take any negative critiques personal – this is a must during the process.

One last bit of advice. If you really enjoy photography – don't turn this into a job. Only work on your photos when you enjoy it – your entheuism will be part of your marketing. You don't want to end up like some burned out photographers in a little booth at the mall……….

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Kevin

I have a cannon Powershot SD750 and I recently went on vacate and took pictures of wild animals and I used the pets and kids mode.

Cannon Power shots are great cameras. I love mine and how it can zoom in real close.