The title says it all; you should know that this is a comprehensive guide on how to become a Stock Photographer. Continue to read if you are an aspiring stock photographer or if you are curious about it. Oh well, your curiosity will be well fed here so stay with me.
What is Stock Photography
Stock photography has been on trend since the 1920s. It is defined as a collection of images that are licensed for certain purposes such as magazine publication or pamphlet production. In short, it is simply the production and supply of photographs for specific use. These photographs are often licensed.
I am sure you have seen pictures while surfing the internet with the watermarks- Getty images, Shutter stock, and others like the 10 best stock image sites, or maybe you have randomly searched for girls with green eyes and blue hair, where you see different images pop up with watermarks as though they have been waiting for you to ask. That is exactly what stock photography is. If you have a passion for photography or you are looking to earn money off photography, then the five comprehensive steps that I have put together on how to become a stock photographer below are for you.
How to Become a Stock Photographer
1. Get Equipment and Experience
There are lots of good mobile phones that can take good images almost as well as cameras do but if you are looking into becoming a professional stock photographer and not just for hobby’s sake, you will need a good camera; a DSLR is a top choice for a lot of people and a good one to start with. You’ll also require a system as well as software to edit your pictures with.
Adobe Photoshop app would be a good starter. When you have the necessary equipment the next thing to do is get the skills you need to kick start your stock photography plan into action. You can do this by attending photography workshops, registering for online training classes, doing research, and reading important books or notes you need to improve your skill.
2. Shoot and Edit Your Photos
No matter how much you learn theoretically, the only way to truly improve your skills and start earning while making a name for yourself is by practising and shooting pictures. Shoot pictures and apply the editing skills by using the best software you’ve been learning from them.
Don’t just take one, take a lot and work on them, then ask people to rate them and help you choose the best. Continue to do this until you feel you’ve gained a good mastery of producing good pictures. The tips below will help you with that:
Make Use of Your Tripod
If you don’t have a tripod, then you need to get one. A tripod helps in cancelling blurry or shaky photos, which is the last thing you want your pictures to look like. Stock photographs should be sharp, focused, and crisped. A tripod stand helps you get that.
Shoot High-Quality Pictures
Stock photographs aren’t pictures you just take on a whim, they are well thought out and planned and to shoot one picture, you would need to do some pre-shoot work like setting resolutions, checking pixel size, going through the camera, and even lighting settings. The same way you love to get great pictures on your mobile for your Instagram, the same thing applied to these agencies or websites you are submitting your pictures to.
Put Your Training from the Photography Workshop into Use
You might want to experiment and try out new things for yourself and that is totally okay and encouraged even, but while you are doing that, do not discard the knowledge and skills you have learnt while training especially when you are just starting. If it gets confusing, check theeasy steps to put you through.
3. Brand Your Kind of Photography
This basically has to do with the kind of pictures you take as they will help you in choosing your brand name and professional signature. In case you are wondering what a professional signature is, it is the mark you leave on your photos to help people recognize your work once they see it.
After this, choose a brand name wisely, and be careful not to pick one that is already in use by someone else.
4. Find and Embrace Your Area of Specialization
This is also referred to as choosing a niche and refers to the type of pictures you want to be known for. Do you want to take pictures of the oceans, mountains or restaurants, or even children in the park? Choosing a niche is something that should be done carefully because it can boost your work and pull more attention to you. How do you do this?
Take time to watch the kind of things that interest you and make you whip your camera out. The things you shoot constantly most times show what your interest is in and the signature you have created for yourself. An advantage that you could have when selecting a niche is choosing one that isn’t common. However, whatever you do, build on an area that you are really good at. Check out this course, it promises to make you a better and more self-aware photographer.
5. Search and Submit to Agencies/Website
Every agency or website that purchases stock photographs, has different protocols and guidelines with which they operate. Make sure that you read through their website and understand the rights that they will have over your photographs once you have sold them to them before you make a choice.
Conclusion
Stock photography isn’t a walk in the park-like you’d think. But it could be over time. Here’s my point, it takes effort, skill, and time to be an excellent stock photographer. So keep with the trend, make your research and be good at it. I’m rooting for you.
Leave a comment below if it’s a part of photography you’ll want to try out.
This means the visual content (images) that are taken by the photographers for an agency or outlet that allows it to be circulated and bought with the necessary license. Simply put, the stock is the image that is being sold in stock photography.
Are stock images free?
Not exactly. However, there are websites where you can get free stock images, these include pexels, unsplash, and a few others.
How much does a stock photographer make?
Determining how much a stock photographer is based on so many other factors asides from selling stock images. Although, it has been estimated that a good stock photographer makes an average amount of $3,200 monthly and $37,000 yearly. Note: it might not be constant.
How do I become a stock photo photographer?
Pretty simple, follow the comprehensive step-by-step guide above and do detailed research online.
Can you make a living with stock photography?
Yes, yes, and yes. However, it is not easy, just like how every other career needs time, effort, and excellence, stock photography does too.
Is stock photography profitable?
Yes. You can earn from selling stock photos but you have to put in a lot of work.
How can I earn money with stock photos?
One of the most common ways to make money with stock photographs is through microstock where images are sold from as small as a few cents to tens of dollars.
How much money can I make selling stock photos?
This depends on whether you’re selling individually without royalty or if you are selling with an extended license. Without royalty, you can earn 25-45 cents per image per month but if you get royalty payments, you can earn up to $500 per sale.
Is Stock Photography right for me?
Photography can be an escape and means different things for different people. If you are passionate about photography and the idea of taking stock photographs excites you then, I think stock photography is right for you.
What is the realistic income from stock photography 2022?
Not everyone wants a big wedding and certainly, not everyone has the financial means for that kind of wedding. As a result, small simple weddings are a go-to. In this article, I will be taking you through how to go about a simple wedding ideas for a small wedding
A small wedding or a micro wedding in all definitions focuses on the guests which are usually 50 or lesser than that. When you go further to 100, that’s a medium wedding, and largely carries more than 100.
Why Small Weddings?
There are plenty of reasons to have a small wedding. Here’s a list for you:
You get to keep the budget on the low and more friendly.
Less budget means more focus on the bigger picture like a wedding dress, cakes, dinner, house, rent, family, kids, etc.
You get to spend more individual time with your friends, family, and loved ones – like one-on-one time, isn’t that amazing?
You create memories individually with them that linger on even after the wedding.
With simple weddings, you end up in a stress-free and relaxed environment. Isn’t that rewarding?
“Less is more” because, with this, you get to socialize and have intimacy with your guests and make memories to always remember. While this already sounds interesting, read on to see more about micro weddings and how to go about them.
Ideas for a Simple Wedding
1. Send Handwritten Invitation Cards
First things first, our guests and invite, right? Since you already have the intention of having a small wedding, instead of printing cards why not write and customize them? It’s much easier, faster, fun, and budget freaking friendly.
Look out for lovely white cards or thick white paper to write your name, spouse’s, the date of the wedding, etc. It can’t be that hard or you can simply place a call to them or send a message about the big day.
2. Limit Who You Invite
Now that you’ve decided on handwritten cards, it’s time to make that list. When it comes to weddings, this is the highlight of it all, well apart from item 7, yeah. They make the event memorable, fun, exciting, and beautiful. But there’s a twist to this,
You don’t have to invite anyone and everyone to your simple wedding.
Yes, it’s a memorable day for you and your spouse. It’s a reason but remember, it’s a small wedding. The lesser they are, the merrier the event and of course, less budget.
3. Be Selective About Friends
“The less the merrier” remember? Be selective and strategize about the friends you want to send invitation cards to. Make sure they are the ones you want there and want to make memories with.
With this, you’re being thoughtful and in a way, you’re sending apologies to them. They will definitely understand you, relax.
4. Be Strict About Plus Ones (+1)
You thought I’d skip this one? No, no. Plus Ones are definitely those people that make your wedding congested and food not to go round. To top it all, they weren’t invited and you definitely don’t know them.
Imagine you planned item 7 for 40 people and your guest comes with 20 +1’s, where will you get item 7 to go round your guests and their guests? You’ll have to spend more to satisfy them or order more food to go round and that is not how you planned your budget, is it?
So, before sending out invitations, make sure you know your guests. If they are married, better you believe they will be coming with their spouse so add them to the list. When sending to others, be strict about it and tell your guests to understand and bear with you. Remember to check your parent list too, they will be inviting the whole state to the event. Check-in and check out, okay?
5. Choose the Wedding Venue with a Strict Guest Capacity
A bouncer? Security? Yeah, you get my point. Trust me, people have two coconut heads and even after your strictness on +1, some will still do what they want to. I mean, you can’t beat them, can you?
Pick a venue with strict rules on capacity and also have bouncers and security who check your guest in only after showing a legit invitation to them. As you do this, you take the pressure off yourself. I mean, you don’t have to worry about item 7 not going round. Or somebody you don’t know contesting the whole place. You also have less stress and a more relaxed atmosphere.
6.Opt for a Virtual Ceremony
Another tip that makes the list of simple wedding ideas for a small wedding is by embracing technology. I mean technology makes everything easy nowadays, doesn’t it? This idea here encourages you to have a loved one virtually attend your wedding. There are some guests whose presence means the world to you but due to one or two, will not be able to make it. That’s okay; this is why it’s a good idea to have a video call with them.
Simply encourage them or accept the idea for a Zoom video call. With this, they get to see you exchange vows, dance, merry, cut out the cake, eat, and play games and you get to keep your guest list small. Isn’t that the whole idea, yes?
7. Ditch the Wedding Party
Okay, I had to add this before I proceed to the main event of the day. Have it in mind that if you want this, you have to cut out on other things. Yeah, we all love to party (some of us, I know I do) but if you want a small wedding, you have to say No to this party.
Planning on having an after-party call for extra refreshments and of course, a messy house to clean up once they leave. So instead of this, have a prolonged reception with your guests and enjoy every moment with them.
8. Choose an Indoor Wedding Reception
This idea narrows down to considering using the backyard of your house or family house as the venue for the wedding. With family and friends around, it’d be easier and less budget for you as you get them to help. They could help with decorations and the setting up of the place.
With this, you have more time to talk and bond, also to plan how the event will take place. Another plus is that you have your parents around and this is meaningful in all languages.
9. Choose an Outdoor Venue and Reception
With fewer people on the guest list, you might just be considering a restaurant as the perfect place for the wedding venue. Calm down, don’t have that look or say “How can my wedding reception be at a restaurant?” It’s actually not a bad idea if you refurnish the place with the right linens, fabrics, and decorations.
With a restaurant, the furniture is already in the right place. All you need do is discuss with your spouse the bold colours you’ll want to use and the menu you’ll want to include.
Another option here is a “destination wedding” People tend to do this and it is quite small as only wanted guests will be there. If you’re able to, by all means, then go ahead.
10. Consider a Long Table Set Up
A long reception table is a fun way to have everyone making eye contact, feeling welcomed and included in every conversation. This setup makes even friends feel like family too on this beautiful day of your life.
11. Consider a U-Table Set-Up
A boring long table, am I right? How about a U-table setup? Get innovative and add tables to give you the U shape. This makes it merrier and helps in enhancing conversation amongst guests.
Be sure to decorate the tables, lay fabrics, linens on the table to give it a welcome touch. This makes the guest feel at home and connected too.
12. Get Creative with Decorations and Seating Arrangements
With small simple weddings come innovations and cracking of the head to come up with something elegant and beautiful. Planning a simple wedding involves seating arrangements with eye-catching decorations.
Consider using a large table or U-table like mentioned above. Lay linens, fabrics, or satin on them to give them a unique touch. Proceed to fill the spaces with flowers, glasses, lights, candles in the glasses, plants, cutleries, and napkins.
Use white curtains to give it a touch of warmth, ambience, and comfort. This also serves as a barrier from the sun.
13. Consider Hanging Some Decorations
Go big or go home, huh? You should consider lifting the flowers, flower pot, plants, or lights for added intimacy and ambience. A small wedding gives you ideas and opportunities to go big or go home. Try everything you think you can and be sure to come up with an elegant decoration.
14. Make Provision for Table Reservations
With fewer guests comes comfort, trust me. Place name cards on your guest table for them to recognize their allocated space and make them feel at home. With a few lists, you can make this or simply buy them. I recommend handwriting them the same way we did with the invitation cards.
Get crafty and personalize their names with calligraphy for each card. Make them feel special by adding a heart or even adding their pet name or nickname on the card.
15. Make Sure Cutleries Go Round
With tables come cutleries, don’t forget that. On every table and chair, place a set of cutleries (fork, spoon, and knife) and glassware (wine and water) or simply place table water.
Design each place beautifully and wonderful to honour your guest and give each chair space to enable them to eat comfortably. This also prevents them from hitting their elbows against each other.
16. Create Your Own Menu and Timeline of the Event
Have a structured timeline for your wedding so as not to forget what you really want to do on this auspicious day.
Incorporate tasty dishes into the menu or side dishes for the special guests. A good timeline will keep your guests glued and entertained. Don’t forget to tell them about your love story and of course how you guys met.
This is surely one of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding worth noting.
17. Create An Ambiance Lounge Area
I mean, you can’t keep your guests sitting face to face with each other all day. How about you create a lounge area for them to relax and rest their backs?
You can create a lounge area with cushions, pillows, and throw pillows (I mean, throw = fun). With this, you give them room to interact more and also to relax. You can make fruit punch, cocktail, or smoothies to serve in wine glasses while the guest catches up and maybe, matchmaking. *wink*
18. Hire a Budget Friendly Entertainment
A good timeline could keep your guests entertained but if you’re able to, consider hiring a live band for extra entertainment. Yeah, we’re on a small wedding if you can’t afford one, let it be.
If you’re able to, hire one that is budget-friendly to you and your spouse. You might even be lucky to get one as a gift from your friends. Or an artiste may come to surprise you because your friend put the word out there about your wedding and how much you admire the said artiste.
19. Have a Friend Help out With the Pictures
I mean, what’s a wedding without pictures? Am I right? You deserve those pictures, okay. They are those memories you look back to and remember how heartfelt it was for you. You might just be lucky to have a friend who is a photographer and wouldn’t mind capturing every moment. If you’re not, invest in one for a couple of hours to capture intimate moments with friends, families, and loved ones.
With fewer guests on your side, you get to create the most intimate atmosphere with them. A photographer or your friend should help to capture the laughter, the joy, the cheers, and dance of course. These are moments to treasure the most of the day and after.
Don’t forget pre-wedding shoots cause I mean, we the guests have to post. Am I right?
20. Find a Friend who Can Take Both Pictures and Videos
One of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding is considering video coverage. I mean, after photography comes videography at weddings. Have your photographer make a video or videos of your memorable day. If you were lucky to have a friend who helped in photography but can’t do videography, how about sending them out? With this, you’re sticking to a budget and killing two birds with a stone.
Have them make clips of happy moments, dancing moments, eating moments, clinging of glasses, joy, and laughter. Everything!
21. Have a Small Cake
With a simple wedding, you need fewer layers of cake. You are also opportune to add brownies or cookies as dessert for your guests.
All you need do is communicate with your baker about your idea, the number of people you’re inviting and be on a budget with them. Be sure to enjoy this at the lounge area with your friends and family.
22. Your Menu Should be Limited
This is also one of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding. Instead of paying a caterer, there are two options for you here:
Create your own menu
Get an online food vendor
Both options will work well. Or simply Call Mama, it’s an emergency. Trust me, in this situation, it’s best to run to them. They will definitely do something as their quota for this auspicious day or Hello Friends!
23. Have Your Bridesmaid and Groomsmen be On Board
I completely forgot this but here you go! Everyone has to be involved, including them. Be open to them about your ideas and also listen to theirs. Do you want a grand entrance, an elegant one or a street one? Do you want blue or red or red and green? Bundle up and bond with them about these issues and plan something simple and classy.
24. Choose Second-Hand Wedding Outfits
Sigh, I didn’t skip this because I swear I almost did. I mean, WHAT, It’s FASHION! This speaks volumes. Well, there are tons of bridal styles online and if you want yours made, be sure to plan this ahead of time, say months. This is to avoid getting disappointed, I mean, some fashion designers do not keep to their words.
But, how about embracing something new? Rent! People rent out bridal dresses, suits, gowns, and ties, I mean everything. They are called “second hand” but they are still of quality, class, and style.
You can choose to rent the gown and suits while you buy other accessories like shoes, jewelry, and bags. With this being done, you’re cutting down on expenses and having that small wedding you want.
25. Go for Cheaper Hair, Nails, and Makeup
Ladies! Ladies! With this, you don’t have to plan much as you can book a makeup artist a day before the wedding. And if you’re lucky, your friend might just be one and make all your dreams looks be a reality. Or your chosen artiste could be running a promo or a discount and you’re it!
Find artistes that match your desired look and the same thing applies to your nails, hair, or matching veil to complete your glamorous look like a bride.
26. Don’t Go Beyond Your Budget
If you’re like me, you must have had a mental picture of all these ideas listed above. If you did that, now is the time to set a budget for all these ideas.
Feel free to discard any you don’t find a need to, I mean it’s your day and everything should go as you want it. Just be sure to work with that budget you fix and don’t go overboard with it. Remember to check out what you feel is not needed or wanted and is not important.
As you have seen, setting a budget is surely one of the simple wedding ideas for a small wedding worth putting into consideration.
27. Whatever Happens, Don’t Change your Wedding Date!
What’s next after that budget? This is next! After planning all you’ll do and not do, now is the time to pick a date. Be sure to pick a date when everything you’ve planned is ready.
Do not rush into it when you’ve not fully planned out everything. You don’t want to ruin this day with last-minute calls for decorations or a photographer. Take your time to check out what is most needed and what isn’t.
28. Choose an Affordable Destination for Honeymoon
I decided to write this as last because it’s not really important if you can’t afford it. But, with simple weddings, you can go all out on your honeymoon. Maybe a destination honeymoon if you’re able to. This gives room for not just body, mind, and soul intimacy but intimacy with the world, people, and nature.
Remember, there is no rush here. You can choose to delay to save some more or simply put the money you have into other things like savings, car, family, rent, etc.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned simple wedding ideas for a small wedding are all important. Simple weddings give room for creativity and togetherness with friends and family. Your wedding is the biggest event you’ll ever put together by yourself. If you’re on a budget and without a wedding planner, there’s a lot you have to do and with that said, I hope I met your every thought and answered your every idea. If I did not, feel free to let us know and drop your suggestions in the comments section.
It is quite apparent that people nowadays manage to use their smartphones to perform almost every task that is traditionally known to be done on a computer. For instance, photo editing which was normally done using computers has now been made easy and can be done using smartphones thanks to the tons of android photo editors, most especially the free android photo editors available on the net.
An android photo editor is a mobile phone software specifically developed for the purpose of editing pictures on mobile devices. Tons of free android photo editors out there that offer varying astonishing editing features you can use to perform so many things like designing flyers for advert purposes. This will save you the cost of having to necessarily hire a professional graphic designer.
You might have been looking for a perfect application for your project but finding it difficult to get the one that best suits your needs. So many other people out there might be having issues similar to yours. In honour of that, we decided to compile a list of the top 10 android free photo editors to use in 2021.
10 Free Android Photo Editors
1. Fotor
Fotor Photo Editor is one of the most incredible free android photo editors to use in 2021. The Powerful, user-friendly and globally accessible app Fotor, is widely known for its amazing photo collaging feature. It also has in addition, some basic photo editing tools such as red-eye removal, the use of stickers and overlays, cropping, photo deblurring, aperture addition and so on. Fotor has also a web and desktop version of the app.
Canva is a free android photo editor, used mostly in creating social media graphics, posters, Instagram stories, video collages, other visuals and lots more. There exist in the app, some predefined templates for users to use. The software is absolutely free to use.
Nevertheless, there is a paid version of the app like the Canva Pro and Canva for Enterprise for additional capabilities.
VSCO is a free android photo editing software (with and in-app purchases if need be) and also a social networking app just like Instagram. It is best known for its unique and massive collection of preset filters. VSCO filters enhance your photos without distorting the quality or making the photo look too filtered.
It has many other features than just filters, many of the standard features that come in most editing apps, like tools to fix exposure, contrast, and straighten and crop pictures, and they’re all available for free without having to buy VSCO X.
Google-owned free android photo editor known as Snapseed is a free photo editing app that comes with so many extraordinary features and presets that are quite convenient to use. The app has some good photo editing features that are inherent to desktop photo editing software. You can adjust things like contrast, shadows, brightness, saturation, and many more.
PhotoDirector is a photo editing application designed specifically for the purpose of enhancing the look of your photos. It allows you to vivify your photos using some special effects built into the app. You can also easily remove undesirable objects, change the background of the photo, and many more outstanding features.
Photo Effects Pro is a remarkable free online photo editing app to use in 2021. This app is easy and fun to use with numerous elegant features. Some of the things you can do with this app include the addition of frames, texts, speech bubbles, fixing of photos, adjustment and application of filters to your photos in a web browser.
Pixel Lab is the most amazing free android photo editor with which you can practically do almost everything that has to do with photo editing and graphics design. It has several astounding features, some of which include; creation and customization of text, 3d text, different shapes, stickers, background removal, a wide selection of presets, fonts, stickers, backgrounds, you’ll be able to create stunning graphics and amaze your friends straight from your phone.
Pixel lab is absolutely free to use. Get pixel lab app on your phone.
8. PicsArt
PicsArt is a free android photo editor with so many promising features to give your edited photos a perfect look. Some of the best features this app is known for are the background erasing feature, background changing, unwanted objects removal, adding filters to images, customized texts with over 200 font styles and lots more.
LightX is one of the best free photo editors that has almost every feature a good photo editor should have. LightX app has some fascinating features such as photo background removal and changer feature, photo collaging, good stickers, frames for your pictures, cartoon making a feature, blurring of images, portrait photos making, changing of hair colour, splash effects, and many more.
With LightX photo editor, you can as well put text on your photos and can also create a customized text for your works. Get it from thestore.
10. Adobe Photoshop Express
Adobe Photoshop Express is one of the best quick free android photo editors someone can have on his smartphone. It has a lot of classic features such as automatic correction of contrast, exposure, white balance, removal of red-eye effect, adding text, preset crop shapes as well as adding shadows and many more. Photoshop Express also has hundreds of filters within its library. Download Adobe Photoshop Express here.
The above-listed apps are the best free photo editors we deem everyone should have in his smartphone. Similarly, if you know or have an idea about any good photo editor which you think should be included in this article, please endeavour to let us know about it by dropping a piece in our comment box.
Being unemployed is a terrible situation to find yourself in Nigeria as unemployment rises to 33% in the country. No matter the reason, we want you to know that there are fun things to do while unemployed without spending money with a little bit of creativity.
7 Things You Could do Without Spending Money That Will Improve Your Mental Health
1. Picnic With Family and/or Friends
Spending time with family or your friends could expand your lifespan up to 50% according to Dr. Thatcher. Spending time with your family or friends on a picnic should not cost you a lot of money if you plan. Pick a location close by or you can search on Google maps the nearest garden to your house. If you are in Abuja, you can take your family to Jabi Lake or Capital Hub, or Central Park for a picnic. You can bring your utensils, water, and drinks from home.
You can make dessert and bring or cook a dish at home and take it to the picnic. Make sure you keep it simple, don’t frit. Enjoy your picnic and family time, don’t stress yourself. What a better fun way to improve your lifespan without spending money and in the company of loved ones!
2. Looking for Fun Things to Do While Unemployted? Try Photography
If you ever wondered what having a photography skill is like, now is the best time to venture into it. You can write a list of things and places you want to take pictures of and have a brief tour on your own. This will hone your skills without spending money.
Be patient if you want to try photography. You would not want all your pictures looking blurry. Slowing down and being patient is one way to getting, clearer, and better pictures. Choose a specific time in a day to take pictures. Ask your family and friend to criticize your snapshots to explore and have fun. You can use this in the future if you choose photography as your career in the future.
3. Reading is a Fun Act to do While Unemployed
If you enjoyed reading and had little time to read more books in the past, now is the time when you have no job. Reading books is soothing to the mind especially if you can’t afford to buy new books on your own. Reading has several benefits as stated by Heidi Moawad. You can join a book club within your community or read e-books from a different site for free. You can get audiobooks for free or subscribe if you can afford them.
My favorite is Blinkist. If you prefer hard copies, you can read the books from your local library or from a friend’s library. You can also exchange your books for new ones if you can’t afford them in local bookstores. You can buy new ones if it is not out of your budget. Also, you can be a beta reader in one of the freelance sites if you enjoy reading books whenever you decide to earn a living.
4. Do More of Voluntary Service
I know many people will not think of volunteering as a fun thing to do while unemployed. Trust me, it is so much fun! You could make new friends, visit places you could not afford, help put a smile on someone’s face. You could be a change agent as well as develop new skills that could help you in the future when you land a job. Also, you don’t have to be rich to care about the less privileged.
You can offer Pro Bono services to NGOs within your community, give items you longer need to those in need. In addition, give books that you no longer need, offer to help in community outreach. Also, you could join a fundraising project they are always fun.
Make sure that what you are volunteering in is something lively and worth your time. You are adding value to yourself and helping those in need.
5. Learn to Code
Picking up a new skill that is a high-income skill and in demand like coding is one way to enjoy your unemployment. You can teach yourself programming at no cost, start a new career with something you are passionate about.
There are tons of sites to learn coding for free and I happen to love this site the most. Choose the type of coding language you wish to learn, you should read a book or two about coding. As you are learning, try making it practical, build a kid’s toy-like those they learn from a STEM class. Watch YouTube videos, practice with personal projects and reward yourself. Have fun playing with codes using reverse engineering, you will learn. Join a Bootcamp, make new friends, socialize and enjoy your time.
6. Dancing
Losing weight does not come easy when you have no money to pay for gym classes or buy equipment to exercise at home or follow a strict diet. Dancing is a fun way to increase heart rate, blood circulation, improve core muscles while still losing weight. The best part is you do not have to spend a dime! All you need is music to dance to either on your phone or TV and your dancing outfit in the comfort of your room.
7. Engage in Painting
When you are unemployed, you have nothing but time. What better fun things to do while unemployed than painting to your heart’s content! To have fun painting, try focusing and enjoy the process. Don’t look forward to the result. Painting a good piece is all about details. Enjoy each stroke, take your time. Sip your favorite tea or juice while painting. If you are like me, put on your headphones and paint while dancing, let it flow. Remember, you are not trying to please anyone, so take your time to destress. Try painting different art, choose a place and time to paint, and have fun that’s the goal!
Conclusion
No matter the situation you find yourself in while being jobless, it’s always best to have fun things to do while unemployed for your health and sanity. Being unemployed in Nigeria can be a blessing in disguise or a curse when you have responsibilities. Regardless of your situation, know that you can have fun without spending money.
What are the fun things you would do if you are jobless in Nigeria? Kindly leave your comments below and also share with your loved ones let us know what you all think.
One thing I will always cherish about photography is the way it de-stresses me. It can be used to stabilize emotional and mental health – just like every other art. To follow the steps to learn photography can start from it being a hobby and it is self-taught, however, the passion and creativity for it must come from you.
Being behind the camera teaches one focus, patience and perseverance. But first, are you interested in photography? Do you take great pictures with your phone? Do you love the idea of capturing moments and making people smile?
If your answer is yes!
Then I think you have what it takes to be a good photographer, just keep reading and we’ll show you 6 easy steps on how to learn photography for free online.
1. Enrol yourself in a photography workshop
I facilitated a photography workshop sometime last year, we talked about the basics of photography, did exams and there were a lot of practicals. The workshop was interactive and there were testimonies from people – sharing the things they’ve learnt and how the workshop had helped them.
Check around, there are photography workshops around. Check online, you’ll find them there. Register and join. Sometimes, google gets it done for you, just type “photography workshops near you”.
There is always something around; online or offline.
2. Take Free Online Photography Courses
When I mentioned passion, I meant a strong and energetic will that makes one be in a “doing” state. You are passionate about photography, what then do you do to learn or even advance the skills?
Surf the net and take online courses. There are many resources online as there are sites that are willing to teach you photography for free.
There are sites that you don’t even have to login or actively register for a course, they produce you with relevant articles and “how to” for photography and even post processing.
Online courses are flexible and self-paced, just think of it as scrolling through social media with attention and notes. This is an effective way on learning photography for free online.
3. Watch YouTube videos
I was talking to someone last week and I said, “online is the new world”. You can literally find anything, I repeat- anything you are seeking for online.
Well curated videos draws attention, our brain engage with videos.
As of 2020, there was an estimate of 2.1 billion YouTube users worldwide. The streaming service is particularly popular with younger internet users.
YouTube is a space where you can learn everything you need to know about photography for free online, just make the search and start watching.
It is most likely that you have seen YouTube videos where the onscreen tutor talks about the parts of camera and mastering the art of camera.
Now, you have gotten the knowledge, put it to use.
You have a DSLR (Digital single lens reflex), check for the settings online and how to use it. Master the parts and manipulate the controls.
If you don’t have a DSLR but have a smartphone, maximize the potential of the camera and master the camera settings.
Hands on deck and be practical.
This is another video is a sure bet of you mastering photography with just your mobile phone. But for DSLR it is more professional, watch this video that talks about how the buttons and controls work.
Like a wise person said, “you should understand the parts before you use the whole”.
5. Take a Picture of Everything and Anything
The practicality you are employing after mastering the camera settings has to do with using what you’ve learnt to create a captivating image. Be random or intentional, just take pictures – everything and anything. There is no mastering without practicals.
Theory is useless without practicals. You can search Instagram for photoshoot inspiration.
6. Challenge Yourself
This is fun once you start. The moment you start beating the standards you set for yourself, the more you want to keep challenging yourself.
Create list of things you want to photograph and how you want to photograph them. Make time to try new photography hacks out. Play around with your shutter speed or exposure to bring an image to life.
In my own case, I created a list that included every kind of photo shoot I want to have when the month ends.
That was my own spice. Learn, build and find yours.
