The Nokia N8 has one of the best cameras around and we’re not just referring to mobile devices, the N8’s 12-Megapixel lens, Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash and 720p video recording make it a strong contender when put against most standard point and shoot cameras. So, what's stopping you from making serious cash as a photographer? Nothing, as our guide to making it big in photography shows...

The Nokia N8 is a fantastic piece of kit on all levels and with all its fancy hardware, is there a better use for this optical behemoth than mere snapshots of your cat? We think so, and so do quite a few other industry professionals and hobbyists alike. So let us guide you through the best ways to make use of your Nokia N8, and more importantly – get paid for your efforts too!

Things you will need

Well the first thing on this list is obviously a Nokia N8. You can just stop there if you want to – the device has everything you will really need to get great results every time. However if you really want the best from your images you are going to need a couple of things:

Good Hardware

The hardware and accessories you will need will depend greatly on the subject matter and location of your photographs. If you intend on doing a lot of outdoor and landscape photography, a good tripod will become your best friend. Something like the GorillaMobile from Joby will work great for keeping your Nokia N8 steady on most surfaces, or if you are looking for a mount to work with your current tripod there are plenty of solutions available from places like MobileFun.

If indoor and portraiture are your thing then good lighting is essential – Amazon offers a selection of lighting products to fit most budgets and work exceedingly well with the Nokia N8 in mind.

Good Software

As any film photographer will testify, taking the picture is only 70 per cent of the task. Having a good developing solution and darkroom kit is key to getting the best from your pictures.

The same is still true for any digital photography. If you are on a Mac we recommend Apple’s own - Aperture for management and adjustment of your shots, for Windows the only real solution is Adobe Lightroom. There are other alternatives for both OS’s but if you are looking to go pro, these apps are hard to beat!

These applications will enable you to not only manage your entire library with ease – categorizing by project, date, client etc, but also to make subtle changes to the lighting, colour and much more.  Pro-suites, though pricey can turn a good photo into a great one.

Where to sell images online

Now that you have taken and edited your images, you are ready to start generating that all-important cash! Below we’ve detailed our favourite places for you to start raking in the funds!

Nokia N8 and Image Libraries

These days its really easy to create your own blog, website or fan page and there is a massive need for high quality, royalty free images. The two leaders in this market are istockphoto and Getty Images, although there is a plethora of new choices available such as ShutterStock and fotolia. These sites provide a vast choice of images on any subject; so popular have these stock resources become, the internet is littered with stock photo related memes – ‘Women laughing alone with salad’ is a particular tongue in cheek favourite.

Selling your images on libraries couldn’t be easier. Simply set up an account, upload your pictures and away you go; With commissions of up to 45 per cent, you can earn a nice income from not a lot of effort. If you want to sell images straight from your Nokia, then try out FizWoz, which allows you to upload directly from the smartphone itself.

Printed Art

Another great platform for selling your photographs is on handmade websites such as etsy.com. Etsy is a repository of all things handmade and vintage and custom art is a big seller.  Most high street printers now offer a canvas print service and it can be done for as little as £10. You aren’t going to make your fortunes this way, but with prints on canvas going for anything between £20 and £100 on Etsy, this can be a great way to supplement your income.

Become a pro

You may laugh at this statement and while we wouldn’t suggest turning up to shoot a wedding with only a Nokia N8, a small reliable camera can be vital at a variety of photo-shoots.  The Nokia N8 can be a great camera for gauging your light levels, pre-composing shots and more. The great thing about the N8 is that, as it is a phone – it’s always with you and that makes it a vital resource for any photographer.

Nokia N8: What the Pros think?

Jeff Flindt is senior photographer for Surfing magazine, He is often found travelling the world, capturing images of top surfers. We asked him what he thought of the Nokia N8 and how mobile cameras are changing his industry – for the better.

How do you think mobile cameras have affected the industry as a whole?

“The quality of camera phones nowadays is amazing for taking everyday pictures and documenting events. You normally have your phone with you when an event happens, so it’s the best tool you have to work with. Not everyone carries around a camera, so its good they designed cameras inside phones.”

Have phone cameras degraded photography or made it more accessible and relevant?

“I use my camera phone a lot to make notes, scout out locations, or just document ideas. I also use my phone for GPS. I attach the metadata from my phone to my DSLR pictures.”

To find out more about Jeff and his work, check out his website and Facebook.

Where next?

Looking for help? The internet is full of resources for getting tips from other like-minded individuals. Nokia provide a fantastic website with great advice on how to get more out of your Nokia N8. So, you see, a little foresight and plenty of practice and you can turn your beloved Nokia N8 into a real money spinner.

Already making serious cash from your Nokia N8? Tell us about it in the Comments below.