How much money did I make printing a photo zine?

Now that my first photography zine is printed and shipped, I can share with you how much money the zine earned, how much it cost to make, what my additional expenses were, and how much profit (if anything) I made from doing this.

📦 PRODUCTS MENTIONED

📕 CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro
1:33 Designing
4:35 Printing
6:44 Selling
8:41 Revenue and expenses
12:24 Money matters
16:55 Outro

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[shangosoul]

Congratulations on the project. I like to think you spent $68 for a lifetime experience and memory forever immortalized.

[CustomerServiceMaxVision]

As someone who's been in graphic design and printing for 28 years, this is a good brief for layout and self-publishing. The result is a really good-looking book, and I'm glad the project was able to fund itself.

[robford]

This reminds me of tree planting when young.
If you think you can make money first summer tree planting. Forget it but if you stick with it you can make 200-500 a day the years after.

[rgarlinyc]

Hat's off to you Toby - really, congratulations. Sure, you didn't set out to make a quadrillion dollars on this Zine, but I look at the real ways you "won" from the venture -- First, you created a permanent record of some of your work that you can hold in your hand; next, you attracted a ton of people who scrambled to get themselves their very own copy. And finally, I look at it this way - you got to travel away, have fun taking photographs, got your creativity flowing by laying out a book, experienced the thrill of producing and receiving a beautiful book - and all it really cost you in dollars was $68'ish. That's worth celebrating indeed! 👏🏻👏🏻

[Photoshopuzr]

The love and support of the people is worth more than making the actual money im sure if you do this more and more it will grow and will eventually pay for itself. Respect to you man.

[brycenew]

I really appreciate the information you’ve provided us in this video Todd, your honesty and as always, your down to earth style. Thank you!

[jimtrull]

Todd I am fortunate it appears to have gotten my order in early. I received notification that the Zine is on the way. What initially caught my attention was your story on Keeler which I visited for about 90 minutes on my way to the Alabama Hills from Death Valley. I am also working on creating Zines myself to get my images off the hard drive to share with others. I was fortunate to run into your channel and have you walk us through the creation of the Zine and also for today’s video on who you used and the finances of the project. You gained a new subscriber in the process and I appreciate you showing us the entire process. I look forward to gaining additional motivation from your Zine.

[ianmeissner]

Thanks for sharing the project! A couple things……. Other than not getting paid for your time, it’s pretty cool you travelled, shot, created and sold your zine and it only cost you $68.00!! I’d sign up for that every day 😊
A very good point at the end, print your work. I’ve printed a few books for myself and it’s amazing to see the images not on a monitor.

[GirdHerd]

A very informative video, Todd. Thanks for sharing the costs. One thing you didn't mention, which I believe is huge, is the fact that you can write off all your expenses including depreciation of equipment on your taxes. When you factor in the tax savings you made a handsome profit even before you include your YouTube income.

[rakibreza]

As a Landscape photographer from Bangladesh, struggling to manage a full time job and keep doing dedicated landscape, I live in a state of constant dilemma of job passion and money. you sir have addressed every single question of mine without even asking! thank you, love your work, love your straight and simple presentation. keep doing the good work

[chepo]

Hey Todd, Jose from Puerto Rico. You said something almost at the end that stood out to me: You're doing what you love, and it keeps you sane. I did something similar to what you showed here.
I shot my brother-in-law's wedding and made a book out of it as a wedding gift for him and his wife. Likewise, I made no money, but the satisfaction of seeing the results and their reaction was priceless. I'm not a professional photographer, but I do love Photography, and I have landscapes here galore. Seascapes, to be more precise. This was a very enjoyable video, thanks for sharing.

[markcrean]

A really interesting video, so thank you. I was away for a few weeks so didn’t have a chance to order a copy. Next time. Mixam have a UK arm, which is excellent to know. For bigger book-length projects I know of several photographers who have done well using Kickstarter (or similar). But once into more ambitious big money projects it seems that a heck of a lot of work (daily marketing, basically) is required to bring them home, so it’s no cake walk. Another Place Press in the UK do lovely zines for landscapers of all kinds.

[sallyjberry]

Really great video about zines and the business of photography... something that I personally have been struggling with and recently discussed with my accountant. The point you gave regarding doing something you love makes all the struggles worth while. Thank you for sharing!

[TSGEnt]

This is so cool and very inspiring. Thank you for sharing. Volume would be your goal. If you doubled your sales, you could have made ~$1600 or so. Your static expenses stay the same, your book-making cost will go up for more volume, but the ratio begins to shift. Problem will be then the cost to advertise will then start to eat into your margin as you try to grow your market reach. Self publishing is a labor of love for the craft of photography. I've done it as well. Partnering with a publisher is a better money maker, but then you're "working for the man" at that point. I was acquainted with a very famous painter who has since passed on. He made a ton of money with his art because he was partnered with a publishing company. Some felt he compromised himself, but reality was he loved painting and just wanted to make a living at it. He did. Unfortunatly, he died at a rather young age. Makes me wonder if all that is even worth it. You can't take it with you and you family will fight over it.
Keep pressing the shutter release. That's where the real thrill is. I know it is for me. Make a book fro yourself, is great advice. Thanks again.

[randybodenner]

Hello, great presentation.
Please tell me, why not just make another run of the same zone to off set your travel expenses.
All the layout work is done.
Thanls

[MikeNovakPhoto]

As always great video. I bought a copy as soon as you posted the first video about Keeler and that you were going to sell a Zine. About a week after that someone from a Facebook group I am in posted about a ghost town in my area from a coal mining town. Turns out they offer paid tours and photo excursions and it's just 40 minute drive. I do not have an audience to sell copies to anyone but it sure would make great gifts for Christmas to my family and close friends. Something I will think about.

[canadiangemstones]

Semi-honest assessment. How many days work? How much were you paid by sponsors, and YouTube?

[rickbiessman]

I just saw the email saying that my copy has been shipped. I’m SO excited to get it! 😊

That said, I’m kinda bummed, but not that surprised that you didn’t break even with this zine. Personally I felt the price was completely fair, and I love your Keeler work, so buying a copy was a no brainer for me. I would have wished you some actual financial success with it, but on the bright side it’s so fulfilling to consciously make art just for the sake of it. That’s how I’ve always approached it (and successfully avoided making any significant amounts of money with what I do 😀).

[allynscott]

You mentioned all the positive aspects of the project except for one, and that is that one of the things that you hopefully learned is that there was a demand for your work (I had wanted to purchase, but found it sold out shortly after learning about it and I'm sure that there were many others in the same boat). That means not only are you able to do something that you enjoy, but there is a potential to even be profitable at it. Keep up the great work!

[foto]

appreciate the details and transparency. I have thought for quite some time about doing a zine. Not sure if I want to invest and have a ton printed or find a print on demand option. assuming profit margin and lower price to buyer is better bulk ordering up front but then also have to deal with shipments. Probably should just focus on growing channel first lol