Self Funded Photography Projects – As a freelance photographer, stock photography sales still play an important part of everyday business. These sales come from established clients, off the street clients and agencies that represent me. To add fresh imagery to ScenicNH Photography, I do self funded projects. Some of these projects last days, months or even years. One has even become a lifelong body of work.

Sitting back and waiting for photo requests and assignments does not work for me, so I am always producing imagery I feel will be profitable for future stock sales. I learned early on that there is not much of a market for generic landscape imagery, so I try to photograph subject matter that has impact on the environment.  

One self funded project I did involved documenting river erosion along the Swift River in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I decided on river erosion mainly because I have no marketable imagery of this natural process. River erosion is always happening along waterways and is a constant environmental issue.

When looking for subjects, I research the New England environment for issues that may be of concern and beneficial to have on file. I also consider if I can shoot the subject locally, which helps avoid travel expenses. You really don’t have to travel across the world to produce marketable imagery. 

Doing self funded projects adds imagery to my archive, and keeps my photography skills at a heightened level. And these projects have also produced the best marketable and profitable images in my archive. Focus is the key.

Happy image making..

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Erin Paul Donovan

Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC

Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society. He has written two photo history books about the White Mountains: the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (2018) and Franconia Notch (2024).