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Side Hustle to Main Gig: How to Monetize Your Creative Passions
Side Hustle to Main Gig: How to Monetize Your Creative Passions
by Megan Petroni
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Discover how today’s creatives redefine success and generate income while staying true to their passions
Looking to turn your passion into a sustainable business? You're not alone. Creatives everywhere are transforming their side projects into full-time careers. Whether it’s making the leap to a full-time creative role or exploring additional revenue streams beyond client work, Luupe members are here to share insights and inspiration from their own journeys.
As the economy continues to evolve, more and more creators are transitioning their passion projects into sustainable revenue. But what steps are they taking to make it work? How are they successfully monetizing their passions and building their businesses in a way that aligns with their creative vision?
Header images © KC Slagle
Finding Confidence in the Journey
One of the biggest challenges in turning a creative passion into a full-time gig is the uncertainty that comes with it. Gouthami Yuvarajan, a food and product photographer, made the leap after leaving her IT job. Juggling motherhood and her passion, Gouthami turned to commissioned projects to help establish herself in the industry. She emphasizes that the journey is unique for everyone:
“The transition varies from person to person. I suggest working side by side on client projects and building your portfolio while still working in your job. When you feel confident about the income you are making out of your photography career, you can convert it to a full-time job.”
For many creatives, it’s crucial to build up both experience and income before fully committing to their side hustle. This step-by-step approach helps to mitigate the risks and uncertainties that can come with creative freelancing.
Diversifying Revenue Streams
Beyond client work, many photographers expand their income by licensing their images or selling prints. Ana Lui, a Mallorca/Ibiza-based photographer, shares how building passive income has helped her maintain a thriving business. Ana recalls:
“What was really a game changer for me was re-selling my images and existing content. I remember photographing a well-known restaurant in Ibiza called La Paloma years ago while having lunch with my friends and selling these images over and over to various publications and magazines.”
She encourages other photographers to focus on creating passive income streams through licensing and re-selling images, even from small personal shoots. Ana’s strategic approach to licensing and repurposing her content demonstrates how creatives can turn everyday opportunities into long-term revenue.
Workshops and Knowledge Sharing
Another effective way to expand a creative business is by sharing your expertise with others. Carli Adby-Notley turned her passion for supporting fellow creatives into a new revenue stream. After recognizing a gap in practical business knowledge for freelancers, Carli began hosting workshops aimed at helping aspiring creatives navigate the commercial process, from client management to developing their brand.
“After various conversations with other artists and professional image makers, I was approached about a lecturing opportunity sharing insights into the commercial process...these workshops were born from a desire to make being a freelancer and getting a handle on professional development a tad easier. Using what we can and doing our very best to celebrate our own individuality.”
Carli’s workshops cover essential topics like building leads, managing client relationships, and maintaining a strong brand identity. Her mission is to equip other creatives with the tools they need to grow their own businesses while celebrating their unique magic.
“By sharing what we know and having conversations about best practices, we can create a more well-rounded practice for all of us and therefore, the industry.”
In addition to workshops, Carli has successfully expanded her business by taking on roles such as creative direction and production. She notes:
“One key area has been ensuring I charge for my creative time when taking on larger commissions. I’ve also expanded into creative direction and production roles, which I really enjoy. Organizing and planning a shoot can be a lot of work, but I love finding ways to help brands maximize the use of their images.”
Carli’s approach showcases how creatives can diversify their services—whether through workshops, creative direction, or consulting—to build additional income streams while staying true to their passion.
Marketing Digital Products
KC Slagle, a commercial photographer and founder of The Good Creative Studio, used her background in graphic design to build a business focused on helping photographers create pitch decks and presentations. Recognizing a gap in resources for commercial photographers, KC launched her studio to fill that need while also expanding her own income streams.
At the outset, KC identified the lack of tailored tools for commercial photographers, particularly compared to the abundant resources available to wedding and family photographers. She noticed that her peers struggled to create pitch decks that would catch the attention of brands. Her solution: creating a service that provides professional, customized pitch decks for commercial photographers.
KC explains the challenges she’s faced during her first year:
“I’m still in my first year of business and it’s been a real learning process! There’s a lot to grasp about marketing digital products. Despite my experience with marketing teams, I now appreciate the value of having a team that complements your strengths. Areas like writing and sales are challenging, and I aspire to eventually outsource these tasks or partner with experts.”
KC emphasizes that learning the ropes of running a business—particularly the marketing side—has been a continuous journey. She acknowledges the importance of understanding areas like sales and product development, even as she plans to delegate those aspects eventually.
“For now, I’m focused on continuous learning and finding innovative ways to market my products. It’s not easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to see positive feedback and increasing sales.”
KC’s journey highlights the need for persistence, adaptability, and a willingness to learn in the face of new challenges. By offering digital products that cater directly to the needs of commercial photographers, KC has created a niche that both supports her creative practice and opens new revenue streams.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Megan Petroni
Megan Petroni is the Community Management and Media intern at The Luupe. She currently lives in Orange, CA while she studies Studio Art at Chapman University and minors in English. She loves to go to yoga, drink matcha, wants to travel the world someday, and her comfort show is Gilmore Girls.
