∴How to Maybe Get Paid for Photography on Substack∴

Maybe.

Today’s newsletter will be an actual newsletter. Typically I write here about what I’m learning and experiencing in regard to my photo process, but this time I have two important¹ updates instead.

Update #1

Serial Music: Vol. 01 was officially released this week!

For anyone new to these letters, I’m releasing a series of zines this year, one a month and 12 in total. The project is called Serial Music and it explores the oddness of experience, along with the underlying patterns of attention that so often escape us. I’ve spent the last year here writing about how the project’s come together, and I’ve tried my best to make these letters useful for your own photo projects. There’s early access to each zine if you’re subbing here on Substack, so if you aren’t yet:

While the zines are being released one by one, I am offering a deal for all 12.

The way to make the 12 zine set financially reasonable for everyone is for me to ship two bundles of 6 zines - one in June and one in December. That will negate a lot of the shipping costs, keeping the price down for you and me.

Part of why I’ve done this photo project is to learn first hand how to deal with the logistical aspects of it - from packaging and delivery to storage. You’d be surprised at how much there is still to learn once a project is finished - I sure was.

For instance, here’s a shipping tip I’ve picked up - make friends with your local post office.

These are my Post People offering me a squash.

Shipping can be pesky business, and it’s best to stay on good terms with the often overworked and under-appreciated people making sure your cargo gets sent in the right direction.

Keeping things friendly with the Post People actually lead to some hot intel in my case. They took the time to walk me through registering packages on their Korean-only homepage. It makes things quicker and easier for both them and me, but even better is that it leads to discounted shipping prices. Shipping can be brutal if you’re not careful, so finding ways to shave that cost is always welcome.

Thank you to everyone who’s already picked up a zine or full set. I appreciate it more than I can express. Everyone else can check out Vol. 01 and some other goodies here!

Update #2

The second update is that after a year of writing weekly for Substack (including that one week I was so sick I hallucinated zombies in the bedroom) - after a year of writing here I’m offering a paid subscription. BUT, in a slightly different way than normal I think.

Chris from a little over a year ago smiling through the uncertainty of starting here on Substack.

Here’s how it’s different:

The payment method Substack uses² does not work in Korea. I learned this the hard way. Fortunately, my troubleshooting lead me to another subscription platform³ that can be embedded in a Substack newsletter. I find the name of that platform to be a little demanding, so I’ve altered it a bit to look like this:

I have no intention of pay-walling these newsletters. But I am spending more time on writing them than I ever expected. I value your attention, and I want to write them well. I also value your support, and for anyone that does sign up as a member it’s important to me that you receive something real and tangible in return.

If you do end up buying me a feeling, I’ll be sending you a zine (Not Serial Music or Dirty Work, something new and specially made), two 4x6 prints and a set of four postcards. Chances are one or two other things will end up in the package as well.

The ‘How-to’ of the title might be a little misleading, because I think the truth is most of us don’t know what will happen when we talk about getting paid for this. I’m not sure that there’s a fool-proof route to earning off of your enthusiasm for what you love. What seems clear to me though is that it’s worth trying, and that the ‘figuring out’ part is something we’re all doing together.

Chris from today smiling through the uncertainty of figuring things out in public.

I’m touched that people have been subscribing and following along with these newsletters. I’m also excited to keep releasing them, weekly, for as long as I have anything that might be valuable to say.

Cheers, and thank you.

Chris✌️

1. To me, anyway.

2. AKA Stripe.

3. “Powered by Stripe” 🙃