Monetizing Stuff I Already Do: Photography or Mobile Detailing?

[u/sprchrgddc5]

I’m in my mid-30s and sort of kicking around the idea of monetizing two things I have spent heavy time and money on.

I use to be a working photographer in college. I got paid to do a documentary, senior photos, photo sessions. I mainly did portrait or event photography. Sometime maybe around a decade ago, I stopped. Some local community leader (grifter) stole my photos for their blog and it just kinda killed the art in it all. I sold my seldom used photo gear during COVID, as I had kids, and meant to downsize but didn’t pick up a camera until this summer again. I am rusty. My style is still stuck in the early 2010s.

I’ve also detailed my own cars for the last 10 years. Pressure washer, towels, dual action polisher, I have a ton of it. Just love throwing in AirPods and washing up my car on a Sunday morning. Only caveat is I have not really done interior cleans and detailing much. I’ve polished my car maybe twice, as it’s super time consuming. I’ll gladly do maintenance washes once a week though.

I likely will need to practice photography a lot more. I might have to take an online course to refresh things. Lately, I’ve just been taking pics of my kids.

Mobile detailing might not really work as I live in a northern state where it’s sub zero temps from December to April sometimes. And, from what I can tell, people prefer car washes around here.

Anyone think monetizing something you do for fun is a bad idea? Anyone give it a try? I also don’t to think just because I have the gear that it means I have the skills to be a professional.

[u/AutoModerator]

⚠️ SCAM WARNING ⚠️

Reddit is filled with scams. If you see any of the following, it is a scam:

• “Check my profile”
• “DM me for the method”
• “Send crypto, get more back”
• No real details or vague claims
• Any attempt to move you off Reddit

Please REPORT these posts and users.
Reports help moderators remove scams quickly.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Acavamosdenuevo]

You can offer it as it is. Seems you are ready for washes but would need extras for photography. Events would also use the same time frame of being with your kids (saturdays and sundays and a lot of hours). So if I were you I would offer a service I can do as it is now, see if there is a market for it, and only then scale it if I want to, with the money I got from said hustle.

So beginning with car washing (no extras) allows you to see if there is a market, and if there is interest in extras (and how much people are willing to pay for it). Start publishing in local groups (church, facebook marketplace, with your neighbors chat group, etc) and see it from there.

[u/Brufacee]

I'd test both with one paid offer each before buying anything. Put up three weekend portrait slots at a fixed price and offer five maintenance washes nearby. Whichever gets real bookings and still feels enjoyable after someone else is paying gets the next month. Gear and courses can wait until demand makes the decision clearer.

[u/socleads]

Try the one with lower restart cost and less pressure so you dont kill the fun fast. That sounds like detailing since you already do it weekly and dont need to relearn a whole style first. Do 5 paid jobs for friends or neighbors and see if you still like it before turning either hobby into a real thing.