Over 10 million Americans are behind on rent due to the effects of COVID-19. The relief bill passed in late December extends benefits and protections to Americans hard-hit by the pandemic, including $25 billion in rental assistance funds.
Designed to help Americans who are struggling to afford rent and are at risk of homelessness, rental assistance funds are available for those who have lost income as a result of the pandemic and meet certain maximum income thresholds. Funds could cover up to twelve months of rent and utilities for those who qualify, plus an additional three months if funds are available.
What’s Ahead:
How to determine if you qualify for rental assistance
In order to qualify for rental assistance, you need to demonstrate that the pandemic has adversely affected you or your household. If a member of your household qualifies for unemployment or has otherwise lost their source of income, you may qualify.
Applicants also need to show that they’re at risk of becoming homeless by demonstrating past due rent or utility bills. Your household must make under 80% of the median income in your area in order to qualify, and funds will be prioritized for applicants making under 50% of the median income.
Your income can refer either to your total household income for 2020, or your monthly household income when you apply. If the assistance is based on your monthly income, you’ll need to document your income eligibility every three months.
How to apply for rental assistance
How you should apply for rental assistance depends on where you live. Different states and cities have different application processes, and many partner with existing organizations or charities in order to effectively distribute funds.
You can look up COVID-19 emergency rental assistance programs in your area using the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s rental assistance tool. If you’re having trouble finding a program, you can get in touch with your representatives, your state’s housing department, or local housing groups in order to get help.
Applications can be submitted by eligible individuals or by their landlords. If your application is accepted, funds will generally be paid directly to your landlord and service providers. You can reapply for additional assistance if necessary.
How much you could receive
Eligible applicants can receive as much as up to 12 months of assistance, plus an additional three months if funds are still available.
Payment for past-due rent that could result in an eviction is prioritized. This means that, while the actual funding amount depends on how much your rent and utility bills are, funding is designed to cover up to a year of rent and related expenses for Americans impacted by the pandemic.
What to do if you’re facing eviction
If you’re facing eviction, you should apply for relief funds as soon as you can. You should also fill out an Eviction Declaration Form and give it to your landlord in order to qualify for the extended eviction moratorium. The moratorium has been extended by President Biden until at least the end of March via executive order.
Individual states and cities may also have additional orders in place to protect renters against eviction. If your landlord refuses to comply with the eviction moratorium, you can get legal help.
What to do if you don’t qualify
Even if you don’t qualify for rental assistance, you could still be eligible for other pandemic relief programs. These include stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits.
Stimulus checks
Otherwise known as Economic Impact Payments, stimulus checks are available for Americans who meet certain maximum impact requirements. In addition to the $1,200 payments passed in the spring, many Americans are now eligible to receive an additional $600 thanks to the bill passed in December. You may qualify if your income is under $75,000 for individuals and under $150,000 for households. Parents and guardians can also receive $600 for each eligible child.
As part of President Biden’s proposed new stimulus package, Americans may also be eligible for an additional $1,400 check if the bill passes. This check, along with the previous $600 check, is designed to add up to a total of $2,000. However, the amount of this third check isn’t yet set in stone, and it may end up being higher or lower than $1,400 if the bill passes.
Unemployment benefits
The December relief bill also extended unemployment benefits after a gap in coverage. These benefits include an additional $300 per week on top of regular unemployment benefits, extending up to March 14th. The benefit is available for workers who earn at least $1 in state unemployment benefits.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance for freelancers and self-employed individuals is also extended until March 14th. A new unemployment benefit for workers called the Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation program, adds $100 to unemployment benefits for workers who are both traditionally employed and self-employed if they earn at least $5,000 in self-employment income per year and are already receiving Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation.
Eviction moratorium
President Biden has extended the eviction moratorium until the end of March via executive order, and has also encouraged Congress to further extend it until September as part of the new stimulus bill. States and local governments have also issued their own eviction moratoriums. If you’re evicted for a reason other than failure to pay rent due to the pandemic, or are otherwise struggling to find housing, there are a variety of shelters and housing organizations that can provide temporary housing.
Other aid sources
If you’re struggling because of the pandemic, there are a variety of other local aid sources you should take advantage of it. These include:
Self Employment Assistance for individuals looking to start their own business after becoming unemployed.
U.S. Department of Labor employment or training programs.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for current or expecting parents.
SNAP benefits.
Food banks like Feeding America and No Kid Hungry.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Local 211 COVID-19 resources.
State resources for housing, food, and legal assistance.
Additional rental assistance on the horizon
According to Moody’s Analytics, Americans behind on rent owe a total of $57 billion in rent, utilities, and late fees. This means that the initial $25 billion designated for rental assistance in December likely won’t be enough.
President Biden has called for $30 billion in rental assistance as part of the latest stimulus package on the table. While this bill hasn’t yet passed, it could provide additional relief for Americans struggling to make rent each month.
Summary
If you’re behind on rent payments and worried about eviction, the latest round of COVID-19 rental assistance can help. If you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be able to receive funds that cover up to twelve months of rental expenses, plus an additional three months if there are enough funds left over.
If you don’t qualify for rental assistance but are still struggling, there are other resources available to help. President Biden’s proposed economic rescue package could also provide additional assistance for Americans hard-hit by the pandemic.
Disability insurance is the most underrated type of insurance, and one that I routinely would see clients skip. Who ever thinks they will become disabled?
Hard truth – According to some statistics from the Council for Disability Awareness, 1 in 4 workers who are 20 years old will be disabled before they retire. That’s a shocking number for most people to consider. If you can’t perform your job, you can’t earn money, and that’s where a disability insurance plan can save the day.
The best disability insurance companies make it easy to get a quote online. Below you can quickly get a quote from top rated disability insurance companies we recommend, or keep reading to learn more about disability insurance and its uses.
Table of Contents
Quotes From Top Rated Disability Insurance Companies We Recommend
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Quotes from the top disability carriers to ensure you find the best rates
Helps thousands of consumers apply for disability insurance each year
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Benefit terms range from 3 months to age 67
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Benefit periods from as little as 2 years or all the way to retirement age
Family care benefit provides coverage for up to a year if policyholder has to take off work to care for a child, spouse, or parent
10% discount to business owners and an additional 10% to preferred occupational classes.
Offers the option of Full Coverage for Mental/Nervous disabilities or a 10% discount for a 2 year limitation.
Rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best for financial strength
What is Disability Insurance?
The idea behind disability insurance is simple.
It operates similar to a traditional life insurance plan, but instead of paying out upon your death, it pays out if you become disabled.
Coverage for these plans can vary in the size. Just like with other kinds of insurance plans, every disability policy is different.
If you already know what you want and just want to browse different rates from several carriers, click here.
Some plans are going to replace 45 %of your income, while others are going to give more replacement at 65%.
The more replacement coverage you want, the more you’re going to pay for your plan.
The Differences with Workman’s Compensation
When an employee suffers an injury on the job, oftentimes their employer will compensate them through worker’s compensation.
It is important to understand the difference between disability insurance and worker’s compensation – because the two are not the same thing.
The key difference between workers’ compensation and disability insurance is that workers’ compensation (or workers’ comp) pays for injuries that are work-related. Employers will obtain workers’ comp insurance in order to pay for incidents that occur on the job.
If workers sustain injuries on the job, it is oftentimes up to the employer to pay for the person’s medical bills, as well as for the individual’s lost wages if the employee must take time off work because of the injury.
An employee who collects payment via workers’ comp will typically, however, not have a long-term disability, but rather a temporary injury from which he or she will soon return.
On the other hand, disability insurance pays for a percentage of a person’s earnings if the insured is not able to work due to an injury or illness – regardless of whether that injury or accident happened at work or elsewhere.
In addition, if the disability insurance policy is an individual policy (versus an employer-sponsored group plan), the insured will be covered under the policy regardless of who he or she is employed through.
According to the Council for Disability Awareness, less than 5 percent of disabling accidents and illnesses are work related.
This means that the other 95 percent are not – and that these other 95 percent are also not covered by workers’ compensation insurance.
What About Social Security Disability Benefits?
It can be extremely difficult to qualify for Social Security’s disability benefits. For example, Social Security will only pay benefits if a person is considered to be totally disabled. This means that the individual cannot do work that they did previously, nor can they do other jobs either.
In addition, the person’s disability must have lasted, or be expected to last, for at least one year or result in death.
An individual must also have collected enough work credits in order to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
You can take a look at the 2019 Social Security Administration limits and rates for OASDI and social security here.
The number of credits will be dependent on the age that the individual is when he or she becomes disabled.
With that in mind, the importance of disability insurance becomes even more clear.
This type of insurance can provide you with the additional funds that you need to help pay living expenses – without the need to dip into savings, retirement assets, or worse yet – use credit – for the purpose of paying day to day bills until you are back on the job.
If Social Security deems that a person’s situation qualifies, there is still a five month waiting period before benefits are paid.
This, too, can create a financial hardship for many people in terms of paying living expenses – especially if there are added medical costs due to the illness or injury that has been suffered.
So, we know Social Security won’t give the money you need and workman’s comp probably won’t cover it, so now what?
This is why you should explore a private disability insurance policy.
Types of Disability Insurance
The two main types of coverage are long-term disability and short-term disability.
You can probably guess from the name, but short-term policies are designed to cover employees for a much shorter time, anything shorter than two years.
Long-term disability, on the other hand, is built for anything past two years. A long-term disability insurance policy could continue to pay out for the rest of your life if it’s needed but typically runs from 5-10 years.
Some of the common causes for short-term disability insurance include:
having a baby
a severe illness
a major injury.
Long-term disability could include a lot of things, but some common causes are:
cancer
muscular disorders
cardiovascular complications
or serious injuries
Long-Term Disability vs. Short-Term Disability
Aside from the obvious, there are a few key differences between long-term disability and short-term disability.
One of those is the waiting period for a payout.
With short-term, policyholders can start receiving weekly checks as quickly as a 1 to 7 days after you file a claim for the policy.
With a long-term disability insurance policy, on the other hand, it can be anywhere from 90 days to 180 days.
If you’re looking at the cost difference between the two plans, short-term policies are going to be significantly more affordable than its long-term counterpart. Long-term plans can give you years more coverage which could translate to thousands and thousands of additional coverage from the insurance company.
Another key difference between the two kinds of plans is how you can get the coverage.
A lot of companies offer their employees short-term disability insurance, but almost no companies have a long-term disability insurance program.
If you want to get the long-term coverage, you’ll have to purchase a plan through a private insurance company. If your company offers any type of short-term disability insurance, you should always enroll in the program.
Group, Individual, Multi-life
Inside of the two main types of disability insurance are several “sub-types” of coverage.
One of those is group coverage.
These are policies which are offered through an employer and are offered to all the employees. Group coverage could be either short-term disability or long-term disability.
Employer-sponsored short-term plans are designed to pay for any disabilities which occur outside of the workplace. Short-term disabilities are much more common than long-term disabilities which could impact you for the rest of your life.
Individual Disability Insurance
If your company doesn’t have any sponsored plans, you can purchase a private policy through an insurance company.
You’ll be required to answer some medical questions and depending on the plan, take a medical exam.
Multi-Life Disability Insurance
When you’re shopping around for a disability insurance policy, you’ll probably come across plans being sold as “multi-life plans.”
The idea of these plans is to get several key people in a business (think of several doctors in a practice) to all apply at the same time with their plan.
The insurance company markets these policies as multi-life so they can offer simpler underwriting processes and pass some of the savings onto the policyholders.
Is Group Disability Enough?
For the employees who are lucky enough to get disability insurance through their employer, you still might be lacking. Just because you have a plan through your job, it might not be enough.
Let’s say you’re not able to go to work because of an accident. You can’t get to your job and pull in your paycheck, are you going to be able to pay for all of your monthly bills without having to make any extreme sacrifices.
To determine if your group disability insurance is enough, you’ll need to do some basic math.
Look at your plan and see how much coverage it provides.
For this example, let’s say it pays 50% of your salary. Now, take a look at your bills and expenses.
If the total of those numbers is more than 50% of your income, then your group disability isn’t enough.
If you’ve crunched the numbers and came to the jarring realization your group plan isn’t enough, the best choice is to purchase an additional individual plan.
Both of the policies can work together, and your individual plan can pick up the slack left behind.
What’s the Difference Between Owner-Occupation and Any-Occupation?
One of the most important things to understand about disability insurance plans are the differences between an owner-occupation plan and an any-occupation plan.
They may sound the same, but they completely change how your plan operates and the coverage it will give you.
First, let’s look at owner-occupation (sometimes called own-occupation protection). Policies with this protection will only pay out if you can no longer to the duties and tasks required to you by your job.
If you’re an electrician, but you can not do the simple tasks required on a day-to-day basis, then an own-occupation plan will pay you the benefits.
Any-occupation policies will only pay the benefits of the plan if you can no longer perform any occupation based on your education and work experience.
As you can tell, any-occupation policies have much stricter rules on the circumstances in which they will pay the policyholder.
Type of Disability Insurance
Description of Disability Insurance
Short-term disability insurance
Provides coverage for a limited period of time, usually up to 6 months, and replaces a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
Long-term disability insurance
Provides coverage for a longer period of time, typically until retirement age, and replaces a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to illness or injury.
Group disability insurance
Provided by an employer as part of a benefits package, group disability insurance offers coverage to all employees and may be offered as short-term or long-term disability insurance.
Individual disability insurance
Purchased by an individual, this type of disability insurance offers customized coverage and can be either short-term or long-term disability insurance.
Own-occupation disability insurance
Offers coverage if you are unable to work in your specific occupation due to illness or injury, even if you are able to work in a different occupation.
Any-occupation disability insurance
Offers coverage only if you are unable to work in any occupation due to illness or injury.
Residual disability insurance
Offers coverage if you are able to work but have a reduction in income due to illness or injury.
How Much Does Disability Insurance Cost?
Now for the part everyone wants to know, how much is a disability insurance plan going to cost you?
Well, there are a lot of different factors which are going to affect how much the premiums are. It’s difficult for me to give an exact number without knowing your exact situation.
For example, the age of the applicant is going to play a major role in the premium rates. If a 25-year old applies for a policy, it’s going to be significantly cheaper than a plan for a 45-year old.
The general rule of thumb for disability insurance is the premiums are going to be anywhere from 1% to 3% of your gross income.
If you are making $100,000, you can budget for $1,000 – $3,000 every year.
As I mentioned, there are dozens of different factors which will completely change how much you pay.
If you’re a smoker, then you’re going to pay much more for your plan.
If you have a riskier job, you’re going to pay more.
The rule of thumb is exactly that.
How Much Disability Insurance Do You Need?
I alluded to the amount of disability insurance earlier in this article, but now let’s take a hard look at how much coverage you should have.
Not having enough disability insurance protection could cause some serious financial strain if something were to happen.
First, let’s look at your living expenses. If you don’t already have a budget, take some time to look at all of your monthly bills (power bill, water bill, mortgage payment, etc.) and your spending (groceries, gas, etc.).
On top of those monthly expenses, add in a few “unexpected” bills as well. You never know when something is going to break or an extra bill is going to pop up.
You want to have some cushion in your budgeting. Otherwise, you end up living paycheck-to-paycheck.
After you have the monthly expenses number, you can do some subtracting.
If you aren’t working, your expenses are going to look very different than they do now. For example, if you aren’t driving to work every day, you probably won’t be spending as much on gas.
You won’t be spending money on work clothes, and you will probably cut out some additional “entertainment expenses” as well.
Now you have a new number, your monthly expenses minus some tweaks.
The next number you want to add to the equation is any income you’ll make from other sources besides your disability insurance plan.
This category can include any money from your investments, money from your spouse or partner’s job (or a second job if they decide to add another job) and any additional disability income you may qualify for.
If you’re the main income earner in your home, then having disability insurance is one of the most important purchases you can make.
Key Man
For most people, they purchase disability insurance for their family and loved ones. for others, they buy a plan to protect their business.
If you’re one of the foundational workers in your business (ex. an owner, CEO, etc.), then you should consider buying a disability insurance policy for your company.
Key man plans operate a little differently than a traditional disability policy. With these policies, the business pays the premiums for the plan, and if something were to happen to you and you couldn’t perform your job, then the business is going to get the money from the payout.
These policies are a way for the companies to protect themselves against financial struggles if a key person in the business were unable to work because of illness or injury.
The company can use this money to outsource those duties or to hire someone to replace the key person while they are out with the disability.
Disability Insurance for High Income Occupations
There is a certain group of people which disability insurance could have some serious problems.
If you are a high-income earner, the standard disability insurance policy simply may not be enough. Just about every insurance company which sells one of these plans is going to have an income limit.
Regardless of the percentage they replace, they are not going to offer more than that limit.
Typically, these are doctors or lawyers who own their own firms, for example.
Some policyholders may find the insurance company’s limit is below the 60% they offer in income insurance.
If you’re one of these people, there are some things you can do to get the protection you need, regardless of how much money you make every year.
One option is to choose a company who offers higher limits. Each company has different coverage limits on their policy. We can help you shop around until you find one with a high enough limit for your needs.
Another route is to buy two separate plans from different companies. Sure, you’ll pay more in premiums every month, but you’ll have the protection in place if you ever need it.
Where to Get a Disability Insurance Quote
You now know the basics of disability insurance coverage, it’s time to go out and find a policy of your own.
There are more than 40 insurance companies which sell these plans. As I mentioned, they are all different. Some are going to have higher limits, offer a larger percentage, or have cheaper rates.
You need to find a company which suits your needs.
Before you pick a company, compare the rates and plans from several companies. You don’t buy the first house you see, why would you buy the first policy you find?
Sure, you can use your own time to contact those 40+ companies individually, or you can use a tool which will do the dirty work for you.
If you’ve decided you want to get disability insurance or supplement the coverage you already have from work, check out PolicyGenius. They are one of the few companies out there which can gather quotes from dozens of companies for disability insurance, all in one place.
PolicyGenius allows you to tailor your quotes to exactly the kind of policy you’re looking for; the perfect amount of coverage with the proper waiting period.
They know shopping for insurance isn’t easy, but they make it as quick as possible.
FAQs – Best Disability Insurance Quotes
How can I get the best disability insurance quotes?
To get the best disability insurance quotes, it’s important to shop around and compare policies from different insurance companies. You can request quotes online or by speaking with a licensed insurance agent. Be sure to provide accurate information about your occupation, income, and health to receive an accurate quote.
What factors can affect the cost of disability insurance?
The cost of disability insurance can be affected by several factors, including your age, occupation, health status, and the type and amount of coverage you select. Policies with longer benefit periods or more comprehensive coverage may be more expensive.
How much disability insurance coverage do I need?
The amount of disability insurance coverage you need depends on factors such as your income, monthly expenses, and savings. A general guideline is to have enough coverage to replace 60% to 80% of your income, but this may vary depending on your individual circumstances.
Every American Airlines plane flies for hundreds of hours, carrying thousands of passengers for miles across the globe. But after a while, even the most reliable aircraft needs a break. For some of them, that break comes at a sprawling 3.3 million-square-foot facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Functioning as its own ecosystem within Tulsa, this facility’s various hangars and warehouses are where the airline’s planes are picked apart. Seats and engines are refurbished. Exteriors are repainted to sport red, white and blue stripes along the tail fins.
These are only some of the many tasks that occur in this spacious, maze-like facility. Hangars upon hangars stretch across the massive property by a National Guard base and an Amazon warehouse.
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“It’s like a city within a city,” Barbara Cruz, a store supervisor at American’s Tulsa facility, said.
Thousands of American planes have gone through Tulsa since 1946, when the Fort Worth-based carrier relocated its maintenance base from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to the old oil capital following World War II.
The base — a major hub for American’s maintenance operations — now has about 4,800 employees and claims to be one of the largest commercial aviation bases in the world.
At any given time, the facility can hold up to 20 narrow-body aircraft in its hangars; 800 commercial planes pass through it annually.
In 2020, American unveiled plans to invest $550 million in the Tulsa base to construct a new wide-body hangar and make improvements to each building in the facility. The new hangar should’ve begun taking shape in early 2021, but its construction start date was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be able to hold two wide-body (or about six narrow-body) aircraft at a time.
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Despite the renovation delays, the Tulsa base serves as an important destination for many American aircraft. It handles every bit of maintenance for a plane, from cleaning out toilets to inspecting engines.
Boeing 737s and 777s are the jets that primarily make their rounds in Tulsa. The aircraft either go through heavy, routine or unscheduled maintenance in a process that’s similar to surgery.
“We document all the findings,” Ed Sangricco, the managing director at the Tulsa base, said. “We go in, and we fix all those findings. We close the airplane, we put it back together again, and then we check everything — we make sure everything works.”
While the pandemic halted travel and grounded planes worldwide, that didn’t stop the maintenance technicians, engineers, managers and supervisors in Tulsa. American’s aircraft technicians were tasked with maintaining roughly 100 aircraft already at the base to prevent corrosion (and to stop weeds and birds from infesting the crevices of the planes). That meant remote work wasn’t an option for the employees at the Tulsa base.
Airlines received billions of dollars from the federal government during the pandemic partly to keep their fleets in tip-top shape, so they would be ready when travel demand returned.
“Maintenance requirements don’t stop during COVID-19,” Sangricco said.
Related: 6 incredible facts about the Boeing 777
What it takes to maintain a plane
Maintaining a commercial plane is a complicated process. Hearing all the steps to ensure an aircraft is running smoothly — all over the course of an eight-hour tour — was similar to taking a college crash course in physics and engineering.
Aircraft maintenance is heavily governed by the Federal Aviation Administration, which has a set list of requirements and deadlines for every plane component. Every record chronicling the maintenance of an aircraft needs to be preserved to be in compliance with the FAA, according to Roger Steele, a supervisor at the Tulsa facility who specializes in 737 narrow-body maintenance.
So, document holders containing slips of paper that detail every task from the FAA line two walls of an office within a 737 hangar at the Tulsa base.
At the start of a visit, a 737 narrow-body will undergo about 1,200 required tasks — excluding non-routine inspections — before it can fly again.
The Tulsa facility is never quiet. Throughout my tour of the maintenance site, I could hear constant drilling noises and the occasional thunderous engines of a National Guard plane taking off a couple of miles away as Steele explained the ins and outs of narrow-body maintenance.
The 737 I saw in the hangar had already been stripped down, as it was in its fifth day of maintenance. (The crew at American has around 25 days to completely finish work on the plane.)
The seats, the walls and the flooring were completely gutted from the aircraft. All that was left inside were gray insulation bags on all sides, which made the 737 look more like a cave than a plane.
Inside, technicians were already hard at work. One was by the plane’s back door, critically documenting what parts had been affected by corrosion.
While several areas can suffer from corrosion, a plane’s galleys and lavatories are the most susceptible to corrosion and environmental damage, as moisture from toilets and soft drinks wear down the interior.
“What coffee and soda pop can do to an aircraft after humans consume it is very corrosive,” Steele joked.
Once the technician documented the damage, the next step was determining what parts needed reinforcement. One piece of metal in the galley suffered from corrosion, so the technician sanded the area and recorded its remaining structural thickness.
Like the maintenance process itself, refurbishing an aircraft is anything but glamorous. At the Tulsa base, the majority of hangars and buildings have no air conditioning, leaving most of the workers stuck toying away at engines and aircraft in the sweltering summer heat.
When I toured the site, it was already a muggy 90 degrees, but Tulsa summers can soar well into the 100s during the season’s peak.
For some, the day starts early. Robert Bales, a maintenance technician who works on wide-body half galleys, normally wakes up at 5 a.m. for his 6:30 a.m. shift.
Each technician works around 8 1/2 hours. Much of the schedule, specifically for cabin work, is determined by the crew chief and the needs of the aircraft.
Before someone can start working at the facility as a technician, they must undergo significant training.
Gabriel Figueroa Navedo, another wide-body aircraft technician, said he went to trade school to receive an FAA-issued aircraft technician license. There, Navedo — who first started his career managing reservations and bookings for American — learned extensively about topics like hydraulics and electricity.
However, Navedo said many of those skills do not directly apply to his day-to-day job. Instead, the training provided a general knowledge of planes.
“I like to call it a license to learn,” Navedo said, “because it’s got to cover stuff like small propeller engines, and the FAA doesn’t know if you’re gonna work here, or if you’re gonna be working on your own private plane.”
Related: What it’s really like at flight attendant training
Even the seats and toilets need a makeover
When an aircraft’s seats need refreshing, the plane goes to a different warehouse, where the seats get disassembled. During this process, technicians tend to find all sorts of trash underneath, including gum, candy, pills, credit cards, cellphones and iPads.
“You’re gonna find no telling what,” Brent Strickland, a supervisor who primarily works on Boeing 777s and 787s, said.
Strickland said he has even found false teeth and engagement rings inside the seats.
After removing the various items passengers leave behind, the seats are washed and left to dry. Then, the technicians check the hardware for any damage.
Cushions are changed about every six years, according to Strickland, and it only takes two to three days to completely finish a seat.
It’s not just the seats that need refurbishing during maintenance — the toilets also get picked apart. The waste tanks are cleaned out, and the flushes are inspected by another team of technicians dedicated to toilet maintenance. Strickland described those team members as “another one of those unsung heroes.”
Dee West, a technician, cleaned out a water valve during my tour, closely inspecting the valve under the scope of a flashlight before carefully reassembling the three parts and a spring in the pipe.
“It ain’t no joke,” he said. “It’s gotta be done right.”
One mistake by a toilet technician could be costly for the airline, as each toilet costs $17,000.
Perhaps surprisingly, this area of focus is one of the more desirable on the Tulsa base, according to an American spokesperson. That’s because it’s one of the few jobs workers can do inside an air-conditioned building — providing a reprieve from the otherwise hot and muggy weather Tulsa experiences every summer.
Engines, windows and other plane parts also get a makeover, depending on the aircraft’s maintenance schedule. This includes the fans and combustive parts of the engine, which the staff works on separately in “cold” and “hot” rooms within another hangar, respectively.
Blue lines on the walls demarcate the “cold” parts of the room, whereas painted yellow lines indicate the “hot” area.
Staff members also inspect some parts of the engine by soaking them in a fluorescent lime-green liquid to magnify which parts need to be reinforced.
Whenever parts like the wings and the radome — located at the tip of the plane — need a lift, they are sent to a composite center. There, they get reinforced with materials such as carbon fiber and a honeycomb web made from materials like aluminum.
“[It’s] poetry in motion,” Jody King, a composite repair center crew chief at American’s composite repair center, said when referring to the process of fitting the materials onto parts of the aircraft.
The reason this complex web of maintenance is even possible is because American’s site also has a warehouse containing thousands of parts and stickers. These parts are either shipped to other hangars in Tulsa or to airports and third-party services that need to do maintenance on an aircraft.
Related: Take a look inside Air New Zealand’s unique cabin innovation laboratory
Gearing up to fly again
Before a plane is ready to fly again, the landing gear — the wheels on the plane, in layman’s terms — must be checked, and the exterior must be repainted and rewaxed.
You may not notice the gargantuan size of planes since you typically only see them from afar in the sky or through the windows of an airport. However, were you to see one up close, you’d be struck by the size.
The landing gear alone measures at least 21 feet tall, roughly the equivalent of four people my height (I’m around 5 feet, 4 inches) standing on top of one another.
The wings also feel so vast it almost seems impossible that workers can repaint them by hand in a matter of days; the team uses foam rollers and brushes, according to Jeff Green, a shared services supervisor.
Once the plane completes its maintenance maze in Tulsa, it’s ready to return to the skies and fly to hundreds of destinations. Later, it’ll likely touch down in Tulsa yet again to go through the same routine.
The pandemic has led to job losses for many Americans, with 712,000 unemployment filings for the week ending March 6th. If you’re one of those filers, you may receive your payment automatically, but it can still help to know how the process works.
But if you haven’t received your extra unemployment payment yet, it can help to know that it varies by state. Most states have already begun processing unemployment payments, but it still could take some time. If you’re still waiting for your extra unemployment, here’s what you need to know.
What’s Ahead:
The first thing you’ll need to determine is whether you even qualify for a payment. You’ll have to currently be unemployed and receiving benefits to get the $300 payment automatically issued. But if you were unemployed between March 29, 2020, to March 13, 2021, and your benefits ran out, you may still qualify for unemployment compensation through the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC).
If you haven’t applied for unemployment already, you’ll need to do so as soon as possible to be eligible for the extra payment. You don’t have to be unemployed due to COVID, but you do have to meet your state’s eligibility criteria for unemployment payments. If you qualify for unemployment in your state, you’ll qualify for any extra payments being issued.
Who will get the payment automatically?
If you’re already receiving unemployment benefits, you’ll receive the extra $300 payments automatically through September 6th. This is an extension of the previous $300 extra weekly payments that were set to expire on March 14th. The payments are retroactive to December 27th, so if yours is running late, you’ll still be paid for what you’re missing now. The maximum PEUC you can receive is now 53 weeks, which is more than double the previous limit of 24 weeks.
But there are some people who won’t get those payments automatically. If your unemployment benefits have run out, you’ll need to apply specifically for the PEUC program. If your benefits are on the verge of ending, you’ll have to wait until your benefits are exhausted to apply for PEUC. Once you’ve applied and been approved, you’ll go through the same weekly filing process you went through when you were on unemployment.
What happens if your unemployment ran out months ago and you were relying on PEUC last year? You’ll have to reapply for the PEUC program.
Unemployment relief for the self-employed
What about the many unemployed Americans who work for themselves? The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program is designed to issue $300 weekly payments to the many contract workers that are having a tough time finding work. Those include freelancers, part-time workers, gig workers, and other independent contractors who aren’t usually eligible for unemployment.
If you qualify for PUA, you’ll need to apply through your state’s unemployment office. Be prepared to submit documentation verifying that you’re eligible for assistance. To qualify, you need to be able to demonstrate that you are self-employed. This verification could include documents like tax returns, a business license, or client invoices.
Unemployed workers who combine freelance work with a W-2 job could qualify for an additional $100 each week. If you think you meet the qualifications, contact your state unemployment office for instructions.
Once it’s started, you may wonder how long you can expect the payments to keep coming. The extra $300 was originally scheduled to continue through March 14th. But it’s retroactive to December 27th. The newly-signed bill extends the extra relief through Labor Day of this year
Freelancers who qualify for PUA will also get the extra money a little longer. The American rescue plan also extends PUA benefits through Labor Day. However, the maximum unemployment benefits you can receive as an unemployed freelancer is 79 weeks. If you live in states with high unemployment rates, that may be extended to 86 weeks.
Unless a bill extending the extra unemployment is passed, on the cut-off date, you’ll resume receiving your standard unemployment benefits until your unemployment runs out. Currently, no extra compensation is planned after September 6th.
Do I have to be actively seeking employment?
The usual rules of unemployment still apply. You’ll need to be actively looking for work while receiving unemployment benefits even during COVID. But how you’ll demonstrate this varies from state to state. In some states, you’ll simply sign a statement saying you’re looking for work, while others will require you to provide contact information for the places you’ve applied.
However, there are some COVID exceptions to this general rule. If your business closed or reduced operations due to the pandemic, you might not have to prove that you’re looking for work. But this only applies if your employer has promised to call you back into work when the business resumes normal operations.
How will the payment be issued?
If you’re receiving unemployment compensation, the $300 will be added to your weekly benefits. In many cases, this is by direct deposit, but some recipients get their money via debit card or paper check. If you want to change the way your benefits are paid, you can usually do this through your state unemployment office.
For those who aren’t receiving unemployment compensation, PEUC is typically paid one of two ways: direct deposit or prepaid debit card. The unemployment office will use the last method of compensation to deposit your PEUC funds. If you received your previous payments by debit card, the funds will be deposited to that card unless you request direct deposit when you sign up for PEUC.
One great option for direct deposit is Chime®. Once you have an account, you can direct your unemployment benefits to go directly to that account. Chime will even give you access to your funds as much as two days earlier than what they’d normally be available with direct deposit.3 So if you’re eager to get it, this could be a way to consistently receive those weekly payments a couple of days early.
3 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
What happens if my work fluctuates?
COVID has complicated things for some workers. With lockdowns and restrictions varying, you may be called back to work, only to be laid off again a few weeks later. But if you’re receiving unemployment benefits, you may need to reach out and let your unemployment office know. In some states, you simply have to stop certifying every week and your benefits will expire.
If you’re called back to work and laid off again, there is some good news when it comes to unemployment benefits. You can pick up your unemployment benefits where you left off. This includes the extra benefits you’re receiving. You’ll continue to get benefits until you’ve exhausted the number of weeks you’re eligible to receive them or you reach the cutoff date.
Summary
Extra unemployment compensation has helped unemployed workers make it through a tough economic time. As things gradually return to normal, hopefully, unemployment claims will drop and there will be no need for a further extension of extra unemployment benefits.
In the meantime, it’s important to check with your state unemployment office to determine what unique requirements apply to your own unemployment claims.
Households including at least one person with a high school diploma or GED can afford the typical mortgage payment in most large metro areas across the U.S., according to a new analysis by Zillow.
But soaring home values that have outpaced incomes have made down payments a barrier for many, particularly first-time home buyers.
Mortgage rates have dipped to multi-year lows in recent months, meaning monthly payments are relatively affordable for buyers who can secure a down payment. However, down payments are a challenge to afford for many as prices have grown faster than incomes over the past several years. An earlier Zillow study found that buyers need 1.5 years longer to save for a 20% down payment on the typical home than 30 years prior, and the difference is much more extreme in the most expensive metros – 13.3 years longer in San Jose, for example.
This effect is especially pronounced for first-time buyers who do not have the equity of an existing home to put towards a down payment on a new one. Zillow data shows that 46% of a typical down payment comes from savings for first-time buyers, compared with 35% for repeat buyersii.
“The influx of highly educated workers into already-expensive metros with stagnant or slow-growing inventory has made it difficult for those with less education and earning potential to enter those markets,” said Skylar Olsen, director of economic research at Zillow. “There can also be considerable variation within metros. While a bachelor’s degree may be enough to afford a mortgage on the typical home in the San Diego metro at large, it’s likely to be insufficient in pricey areas like La Jolla. And that’s only after scraping together a sizable down payment, which is a huge hurdle for most buyers.”
For households that secure a down payment, the median mortgage payments are affordable for those with a high school education in 36 of the 50 largest U.S. metros. The remaining 14 metros require earnings associated with at least a two-year associate’s degree.
The median income of a university degree holder is necessary to afford the median mortgage payment in the five most expensive West Coast metros. A bachelor’s degree is typically needed in San Diego and Seattle, while the typical income of someone with an advanced degree is required in San Jose, San Francisco and Los Angeles. The typical mortgage payment is affordable for those with associate’s degrees in Boston, New York, Sacramento, Washington, D.C., Denver, Portland, Riverside, Salt Lake City and Miami.
In only one metro, Oklahoma City, can those with less than a high school degree usually afford the typical mortgage payment. Households in Oklahoma City benefit from a combination of low housing costs – only three of the 50 largest metros have a lower median mortgage payment – and relatively high median incomes for households in which nobody has a high school diploma.
Median rent was 27.8% of the typical U.S. household income in Q1 2019. This is up slightly from the previous quarter and just below levels from a year earlier. Rent was most affordable for those in Pittsburgh, where the median rent is 21.4% of the typical household income. Los Angeles is the least affordable large metro for renters – 46.1% of the typical income is required to pay the median rent there.
Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected]
Do you want to learn how to get paid to take pictures?
Have you ever taken a photo and thought to yourself, “How do I get paid for taking pictures? This is my dream job!”
Guess what?
You can make it a reality!
There’s a growing demand for photos, and you can make money with the pictures you take. Today’s article is the ultimate guide on how to turn your photography hobby into a profitable side gig or even a full-time career.
So whether you’re a photographer with a smartphone or a professional with a high-end camera, you can learn how to get paid to take pictures.
This article will explain what apps pay you for taking pictures, the best stock photo sites, how to work as a freelance photographer, and more.
Whether you want to work from home or start your own small business, getting paid to take pictures can help you do that.
How to get paid to take pictures in 2023
Get paid to take pictures with stock photo websites
There are many different places and ways where you can sell your photos. To start, I want to talk about the different stock photo websites you can sell to.
Stock image websites are one of the most popular places for photographers to sell their pictures. These platforms allow customers to purchase royalty-free photos for personal or business use. Websites use stock photos all the time and so do TV shows, books, social media accounts, and more.
One positive of stock photo sites is that this can become somewhat passive income – you can take pictures, upload them, and potentially earn money from an old photo for months or years to come.
Some popular stock photo websites include Shutterstock, iStock by Getty Images, Adobe Stock, and Dreamstime.
To sell photos on stock photography sites, you’ll need to create a contributor account and upload your images according to the site’s guidelines. Then, you’ll earn a commission every time your photos are downloaded.
With stock photo websites, quality is important, but quantity is too. Having more pictures in your stock photo portfolio means the more money you can make.
Once you become a contributor, start uploading your best photos to the chosen stock photo website. It’s important to have a diverse portfolio showcasing your range and creativity as a photographer, which could attract more clients because like I said, quantity is important! Tagging your photos with relevant keywords will also make it easier for potential buyers to find your images.
Related content:
1. Shutterstock
As one of the largest stock photo websites, Shutterstock offers a user-friendly platform for photographers of all experience levels to sell their images.
Every time your photo is downloaded, you’ll earn a commission. You earn 15% to 40% from your photos on Shutterstock – the more times your photo is downloaded, the more you can earn.
Shutterstock has paid out over $1 billion to their contributors in the last 15 years.
You can learn more about becoming a contributor to Shutterstock here.
2. iStock by Getty Images
iStock allows photographers to sell their images on their stock photo site. Your images can be purchased for books, billboards, social media, websites, TV, and more.
You’ll need to apply to become a contributor and follow their guidelines to submit your images. Once you are accepted to the platform, you can start earning royalties each time your photo is downloaded.
You can earn between 15% to 45% on each download.
You can learn more about Getty Images and iStock here.
3. Adobe Stock
As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock offers a marketplace for photographers to sell their images, videos, and even drone footage directly to creatives using Adobe software.
You can earn a royalty rate that ranges from 20% to 60%, depending on the level of your commitment to the platform.
You can sell photos that are related to food, portraits, lifestyle, travel, business, drones, and more on this platform.
You can learn more about becoming an Adobe Stock contributor here.
Note: This site used to be called Fotolia.
4. Start a stock photo membership website
Similar to uploading your photos to a stock photo website, you can even create your own stock photo membership.
I have been a member of several stock photo memberships over the years.
I recommend picking a specific niche, as that is how you will stand out from the stock photo giants mentioned above. For me, I like the smaller stock photo websites the best because they are experts in their niche and I always find exactly what I need.
For example, you could create a stock photo website in the niche of pets, online businesses, family, or travel.
Some stock membership sites that are in a specific niche include:
Starting a stock photo membership website involves creating an online platform where users can access and license high-quality stock photos for their creative projects.
You may be taking the photos yourself or hiring contributors to take them.
Then, you may be charging a per photo fee, or a monthly (or quarterly or annually) membership fee.
Apps that pay you to take pictures
There are many apps that will pay you to take photos. These include:
5. Foap
Foap is one of the best apps to earn money by uploading photos and videos, and when a brand or company finds your work they can buy it.
Every time you sell a photo, you’ll earn 50% of the commission (Foap keeps the other half).
Foap also collaborates with brands, creating “Missions” where photographers can submit images to meet specific criteria for a chance to make money as well.
You can learn more about Foap here.
6. EyeEm
Another smartphone app, EyeEm, helps photographers sell their images through its marketplace. EyeEm’s advanced image recognition technology can help you find the best keywords to tag your images, increasing your chances of selling your photos.
Photographers earn 50% of the revenue from each photo sold.
You can sign up as a contributor for EyeEm here.
7. Snapwire (StudioNow)
Snapwire matches photographers with brands looking for custom content.
After joining the platform, you can submit your images to “Requests,” which are open calls for specific photos. If your image is chosen, you’ll receive a payment.
Snapwire also offers a marketplace where you can sell your images and receive a commission of 50% to 70%.
You can sign up as a contributor for Snapwire here.
8. Get paid to take pictures of receipts
This one is different from all of the sections in this article, but I wanted to include it as well. If you are looking for a very low commitment but still want to get paid to take pictures, then this is for you.
Surprisingly, you can earn money by taking pictures of receipts with your phone camera.
Websites will reward you for submitting pictures of your grocery receipts, such as:
Fetch Rewards – This is an easy way to earn free gifts cards for taking pictures of your grocery shopping receipt
Ibotta
These apps observe trends in shopper behavior. They then use this information to help their partners better understand their customers’ shopping habits. Although the earnings might not be big, it’s an easy and quick way to make some extra cash, and all you have to do is take a picture of your shopping receipt (such as when you go to the grocery store – any receipt will do!).
9. Take pictures of your feet
Yes, you read that correctly! This idea won’t be for everyone, but some people get paid $10 to $100 per photo of their feet.
Some of the websites you can get paid to take pictures of your feet include:
Feet Finder
Fun With Feet
OnlyFans
The way these sites work is that you create a profile and are paid to share pictures with your fans.
Get paid to take pictures as a freelance photographer
If you want to get paid to take pictures, then freelancing may be what you are looking for. There are many ways to become a freelance photographer and make money.
10. Fiverr
Fiverr is a platform where freelancers offer various services, including freelance photography.
You can create a profile describing your photography services and set your prices. Clients can find and hire you based on your skills, experience, and reviews. Fiverr can be a great way to expand your client base and earn money from your photography skills.
I went on Fiverr to see what kind of freelance photography is being offered, and I found many options, such as:
Headshot photographers
Fashion photographers
Interior design photographers
Food photographers
Real estate photographers
360 product photographers
Beauty product photographers
And many more. You can see some of the different options by heading to Fiverr here.
11. Etsy
With Etsy, you can sell your photographs right on the Etsy website.
Etsy is one of the largest websites where people shop for unique items, such as artwork. This makes it a great place to sell your photography.
Some ideas for what you can sell on Etsy include photos related to travel, nature, vintage, and even stock photos.
You can learn more at How To Sell On Etsy Successfully: A Beginner’s Guide.
12. Society6
If you prefer selling your photos as prints or on products, consider platforms like Society6.
This is an online marketplace where you can showcase and sell your images on custom items such as wall art, t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and home decor items.
You simply upload your photos or artwork to Society6, design your products, and then start selling. Society6 then fulfills, prints, and ships everything.
You can earn 10% of every sale on Society6.
13. Get paid to post pictures on Instagram or Facebook
Social media platforms, such as Instagram, can be great for sharing your pictures and gaining a following.
There are many people who make a full-time income from their Instagram accounts.
This could be in the form of sponsored partnerships with companies, affiliate marketing, and selling their own products.
14. Start a photography blog
With your own photography blog, you can sell your pictures right on your website. You could start a blog where you share your travel photos and information on the places that you have been. Or you could even start a blog with photography tips.
As you can see, there are many different options for a photography blog!
Not only does a photography blog allow you to share your pictures and connect with readers, but it also allows you several different ways to earn income, such as selling prints, affiliate marketing, sponsored partnerships, and more.
You can learn how to start a blog in my free How To Start a Blog Course.
15. Portraits and event photos
As a photographer, you can specialize in taking portraits and event photos. This niche has a higher demand, especially for weddings, elopements, birthdays, and corporate events.
To succeed in this field, you will need to build your network, and showcase your work through a professional portfolio. This may include having social media accounts so that potential customers can find you easily (such as Instagram), and word-of-mouth.
You can learn more at How To Make $25,000 – $45,000 A Year As A New Photographer
16. Freelance food blog photographer
If food photography intrigues you, you may be interested in becoming a freelance food blog photographer.
Here, you can collaborate with food bloggers, restaurants, and other food-related businesses. Your pictures can help them attract customers and improve their brand visibility.
You can learn more at How To Become a Food Blog Photographer And Earn Over $50,000 Each Year.
17. Working with magazines and companies
Developing relationships with magazines and companies can lead to steady, higher-paying gigs.
You can reach out to publications or brands that match your style and interests by offering to work on projects or submit some of your best pictures for their consideration.
This may lead to regular assignments or even long-term contracts.
18. Self-publish a book of photography
Self-publishing is when you put the book together yourself and pay to have it published. You then sell the book for a higher price to make money.
This option is best if you have an audience or following that you can already sell to, and some self-publishers even use crowdsourcing platforms to fund their projects.
Equipment you need to take photos
To get paid to take pictures, you’ll need some equipment. Sometimes, you may just need a cell phone, and other times you may need a professional camera and even some editing software.
It really just depends on what kind of photography business you are running. For example, running a wedding photography business with only a cell phone as your camera most likely won’t cut it.
Professional camera
When starting your journey to get paid for taking pictures, buying a professional camera can improve the quality of your photos. DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) and mirrorless cameras are popular choices among professional photographers due to their advanced features.
But these can be pricey. So like I said, think about what kind of photography you are looking to get into – not all of the options above will require an expensive camera.
Cell phone
Cell phones these days have amazing cameras. You can take high-quality photos with your cell phone and still get paid to take pictures.
Lighting equipment
For specific types of photography, like product photos and headshots, you will likely need lighting to make the photos stand out. Lighting equipment has gotten less expensive, but it’s still an investment when you’re first starting out.
Photo editing software
Once you’ve taken your photos, using photo editing software will help you improve your pictures. Programs like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom are popular choices for their powerful editing tools. These programs require a subscription, but there are other options as well.
Earning potential and payment methods
If you want to get paid to take pictures, then you are probably interested in how much you can earn, which makes sense! Below, I talk about payment rates, payout frequency, and payment methods.
Payment rates
When it comes to making money through photography, there is potential to earn a steady income. Stock photo websites, for example, often set their sale prices based on the image file size, and you can earn a fee ranging from around $0.25 to $5.00.
Below are some example payment rates for different types of photography projects:
Stock photos: $0.25 to $5.00 per download
Real estate photography: $75 to $200 per property
Event photography: $50 to $500+ per hour
Portrait photography: $100 to $300+ per session
These rates will vary depending on factors such as your skill level, location, and demand for your services. Keep in mind also that your income can fluctuate based on the number of projects you complete or the number of photos you sell.
Some photographers earn much more than this. For example, I know of an elopement photographer who charges over $10,000 for a single day of shooting an elopement.
Payout frequency
The payout frequency will depend on the platform you choose or the agreement you have with clients. Some stock photo websites provide payouts as soon as your earnings reach a threshold, usually around $50 to $100.
Other platforms or clients might offer monthly, bi-weekly, or per-project payment schedules.
Payment methods
There are many different ways to receive your income from photography. This may include:
PayPal: PayPal is used by pretty much everyone and anyone these days.
Direct deposit: Some clients and platforms might offer direct deposit as a payment option, allowing funds to be transferred directly into your bank account
Check: In some cases, particularly with certain clients or freelance work, you might receive payment via check.
Gift cards: Some of the apps above offer gift cards as a payment method.
Questions about how to get paid to take pictures
Below are some common questions that you may have about how to get paid to take pictures.
What are popular websites to get paid to take pictures?
There are many different websites and platforms where you can get paid to take pictures, as you learned above. Some of the popular options include:
Foap: Foap connects photographers with businesses that require photos. You can sell your photos starting at $10 each, and you receive a 50% commission for each sale.
Stock photo sites: Stock photo platforms can be a great place to upload and sell their photos. Companies or individuals searching for specific images can buy them, and you’ll get a cut of the price that they pay.
How to find companies that pay you to travel and take pictures?
I recently went on an around-the-world cruise, and they had a photography department on the ship that took pictures of the cruise passengers in the ports. There were the same couple of workers the entire time, which meant they got to go around the world too, even exploring the ports when we got to a new country. If this is appealing to you, you could see if a cruise line has an opening in their photography department!
There are many ways to find companies that will pay you to travel and take pictures. One way is to look at job sites. You can also network with other photographers on social media.
How to make money taking pictures of nature?
To make money taking pictures of nature, you could sell your photos on stock photography websites, like Shutterstock and Getty Images, as people are always looking for nature pictures.
Another option is to sell nature prints through your blog, social media account, or at local markets (such as an art fair or farmer’s market).
How to get paid to take pictures for insurance companies?
Insurance companies hire photographers to take pictures of property damage or other relevant claims-related images.
To get paid for taking pictures for insurance companies, you can start by researching local insurance agencies, and asking them if they are hiring for any freelance photography work.
How do you get paid for taking pictures on your phone?What apps pay you to take pictures?
There are many smartphone apps where you can make money by taking and selling pictures. Some popular options include Foap, which offers a 50% commission on photo sales, and EyeEm, where you can sell photos to brands and agencies through its marketplace. Both of these apps are easy to use and available on iOS and Android devices.
How can you grow your photography business?
To grow your photography business, you can do many things. Some ideas include:
Focusing on building a network of contacts within your industry. This may include attending industry events, conferences, and workshops to meet and network. Also, using social media platforms to grow your following and have new potential customers find you.
If you are looking for new clients, you could even give deals or mini-sessions to attract their attention. By providing deals to grow your portfolio, you can demonstrate your skills, increase your visibility, and turn one-time clients into hopefully long-term customers.
You could also reach out to local real estate agents and see if you can help them take better pictures of the homes they list for sale.
Can you get paid for Google Photos?
Google Photos does not directly pay users for their pictures.
What type of photos sell best?
The best-selling photos are ones with commercial appeal. That means they are photos that can be used to sell things. It could be a photo of a beautiful beach, a shopping basket full of ripe produce, a group of laughing kids, and so on. To make the most money selling pictures, think about what they could be used for.
How to get paid to take pictures
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to get paid to take pictures.
As you learned today, there are many ways to turn your hobby or passion for photography into a profitable side hustle or even a full-time career.
Whether you are looking for tips for beginners to get started with smartphone cameras (such as by taking a picture of your receipt) or if you are looking to start a more professional photography business with high-quality images at a wedding, there are many ways to get paid to take pictures.
Some of the ways to get paid to take pictures include:
Selling stock photos
Opening an Etsy shop selling your prints
Working as a real estate photographer
Taking event photos, such as for weddings
Starting your own blog with your photos
Do you know how to get paid to take pictures? What other questions do you have?
High mortgage rates and depleted housing inventory have exacerbated an already existing housing availability crisis. In the first six months of 2023, roughly 14 of every 1,000 U.S. homes changed hands according to a report released by Redfin. That’s down from 19 of every 1,000 during the same period in 2019. It’s the lowest turnover rate seen in at least a decade.
In other words, prospective homebuyers have 28% fewer homes to choose from than they did before the pandemic
Redfin’s analysis, which uses turnover as a measure of housing availability, includes overall for-sale housing turnover and breakdowns based on neighborhood type and home type.
As a frame of reference, a 20/1,000 turnover rate is a fairly typical for the modern housing market. A more active market would have a rate closer to 40 or 50 for every 1,000 homes.
The ‘lock-in effect,’ in which homeowners are disincentivized to list their homes for sale because of the cost/difficulty in finding a new home, is seriously inhibiting the supply of existing homes available for sale. The supply of homes for sale is now at a record low, and millions of new homes need to be built to meet demand.
“The quick increase in mortgage rates created an uphill battle for many Americans who want to buy a home by locking up inventory and making the homes that do hit the market too expensive. The typical home is selling for about 40% more than before the pandemic,” said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. “Mortgage rates dropping closer to 5% would make the biggest dent in the affordability crisis by freeing up some inventory and bringing monthly payments down. But there are a few other things that would boost turnover and help make homes more affordable. Building more housing is imperative, and federal and local governments can help by reforming zoning and making the building process easier. Financial incentives, like reducing transfer taxes for home sellers and subsidizing major moves with tax breaks, would also add to supply.”
The turnover rate has shrunk most in the suburbs
The turnover rate was worse for large suburban houses: 16 of every 1,000 suburban homes with at least four bedrooms changed hands in 2023, down from 24 of every 1,000 in 2019, according to Redfin. Buyers of that home type had 33% fewer houses to choose from.
This shortage can be explained by the popularity of this type of homes during the pandemic. Then, remote workers flocked to the suburbs to purchase large properties with space for adults to work from home and children to attend school from home.
Condos and townhomes were not as impacted as they were not in such demand during the pandemic. Still, buyers are about 20% less likely to find that type of home than they were in 2019.
Modestly sized single-family homes in the city are hardest to find
Smaller houses in the city have the lowest turnover rate of all the home types in this analysis. Roughly 11 of every 1,000 two- and three-bedroom single-family homes in urban neighborhoods sold in the first six months of 2023, compared to 14 of every 1,000 during the same period in 2019. It was also hard in the suburbs, with 11 of every 1,000 changing hands this year, down from 16 of every 1,000 in 2019. Modestly sized single-family homes in all kinds of neighborhoods have long been hard for buyers to find. Builders don’t make many of them anymore, and homeowners tend not to sell.
Homebuyers have the fewest options in the Bay Area
Northern California has the lowest turnover rate in the U.S with 6 of every 1,000 homes in San Jose changing hands in the first half of 2023, the lowest rate of the 50 most populous U.S. metros. It’s followed closely by Oakland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Anaheim. In those places, the rate climbed to 8 for every 1,000 homes.
Newark, NJ, Nashville and Austin have better turnover rates, with more than 20 of every 1,000 homes in each of those metros selling this year. But don’t be deceived – Newark buyers still have fewer homes to choose from than they did pre-pandemic, with a 42% drop in turnover since 2019.
In terms of suburban single-family homes again, California still has the lowest turnover rate. Six of every 1,000 homes of that type have sold this year in San Jose (-40% since 2019), the lowest rate in the nation. Next come Oakland (7 of every 1,000; -43%), San Diego (8 of every 1,000; -51%), Sacramento (9 of every 1,000; -41%) and Anaheim (9 of every 1,000; -41%).
Historically, California’s tax laws have incentivized homeowners to stay put by limiting property-tax increases. This policy fed, over the years, into the housing inventory crisis.
Job fairs are designed to connect employers with prospective employees. They can be geared toward specific industries, skill levels or workers from a specific demographic — for example, a job fair geared exclusively toward women, people of color or veterans, according to the careers website Monster.
Of course, there are plenty of job fairs that cater toward multiple industries, and generally aim to connect people with companies looking to grow their workforces.
The main objective of a job fair is simple: to meet employers and other professionals in your industry, learn about career opportunities, sell yourself and your skills, and (hopefully!) make a connection that leads to a job. Knowing how to best utilize job fairs can ensure you get the most out of the experience.
How do you find job fairs?
You can find information about upcoming job fairs online, especially on LinkedIn. Since the goal of job fairs is to attract as many companies and candidates as possible, the fairs are typically well-advertised online. A simple Google search for career or job fairs in your area can show you upcoming fairs and events.
You can also search for job fairs by industry or demographic — for instance, job fairs that cater to STEM companies or the LGBTQ+ community. On that note, double check that the job fair you’re planning to attend isn’t designed for an industry or group that’s irrelevant to you. And if you don’t have access to a computer, your local public library should offer internet access free of charge.
Also, if you’re going to a job fair, make sure you’re not accidentally signed up for a hiring event. Hiring events are very different from job or career fairs. At hiring events, companies conduct on-site interviews with candidates for open positions, according to Indeed, the career listings website. These events require much more specific preparation than job fairs or career fairs, where the objective is to connect candidates with their peers and employers in their industry.
What to wear to a job fair
You can dress business casual for most job fairs, according to Jobcase, a careers resource website. Think, not quite a suit with cufflinks, but definitely not blue jeans. Jobcase recommends you dress “one level up” from your current role; so if you’d be OK wearing slacks and a polo to work, consider wearing dress pants, a shirt and a tie.
Some ideal tops include button-downs, polo shirts, blouses and dress shirts — if possible, something with a collar.
Pants, slacks, chinos, khakis, dress pants or a skirt are all great options for a job fair. Wear solid and neutral colors, keeping patterns to a minimum (unless you’re interviewing at Chanel, of course). And make sure anything you wear is clean, crisp, ironed and stain-free.
If you wear a skirt or dress, it’s best to play it safe and not wear anything cut above the knee, according to the Career Services Office at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. It’s a little antiquated, but lots of people have traditional ideas of what constitutes an “office-appropriate” outfit — and one of them might be in a position to hire you.
Leave the sandals or sneakers at home in favor of dressier shoes, according to advice from the State University of New York. Closed-toe dress shoes — like Oxfords, brogues and loafers — are always a good bet.
Flats, dressy mules and heels — all closed toe — are great options, too, though you might want to save the strappy stilettos for a night out. Your heels shouldn’t be more than 1 or 2 inches high, according to Rutgers University’s Office of Career Exploration and Success.
If in doubt, Rutgers recommends you check the dress code requirements for some companies in your industry, or even a company you’d like to work for.
What to bring to a job fair
What you should bring to a job fair depends on your industry. Generally speaking, you’ll want to bring several copies of your resume and business cards, according to Randstad, an international human resources firm. Also, depending on your industry, you should bring a portfolio showcasing your past projects, designs or campaigns.
You can also bring “targeted resumes,” according to Indeed. Unlike a standard resume, targeted resumes highlight skills and achievements relevant to a specific industry. For example, if you’re in sales but want to pivot to customer service, a targeted resume might highlight your customer retention or communication skills.
Make sure your business cards include your name, home city, contact information — phone and email — and links to your LinkedIn or professional website, per Indeed. You should also include either your existing job title and employer, or a general job title that covers the breadth of your experience.
Finally, don’t forget to prepare your “elevator pitch,” recommends Randstad. That means being able to summarize yourself, your skills and your career goals in 30 seconds or less.
How to prepare for a job fair
The night before the job fair, go to your LinkedIn and make a post about the job fair, says Johnny Roccia, director of career services at Ama La Vida, a career and life coaching firm. (And if you don’t have a LinkedIn, make one, Roccia says.)
According to Roccia, a job fair will most likely have a hashtag, so look it up and include it in your post. You can then use your LinkedIn to keep track of everybody you meet at the fair by quickly sending connection requests. You can even make a QR code that links back to your LinkedIn profile, Roccia says. Include the QR code on business cards, a professional folio, or even set it as your phone background for easy accessibility.
Another big tip from Roccia: Don’t think of job fairs only as places to get jobs. Rather, think of them as networking fairs that’ll get you closer to the job you want — and help you meet people who could advance your career in the future.
“Job hunting is something that fades away, and you don’t have to do as much if you focus on building your network throughout your whole career,” says Roccia.
And don’t think of a job fair as a failure if you don’t walk away with a job. Rather, think of it as a chance for you to meet people in your industry and build connections that could eventually lead to jobs.
“You can be 50 steps closer to your next goal because you don’t know which one of the recruiters at that job fair is going to be hiring for your perfect thing next month,” says Roccia.
Kris and I recently bought another side of beef. Well, to be more accurate, we purchased one third of a cow. Every year, we go in with several other families to split an animal. This year, our portion of the purchase comprised:
46 pounds of lean hamburger (in 24 packs)
36-1/8 pounds of roasts (in 10 packs)
31-1/4 pounds of steak (in 20 packs)
We also received 2-1/4 pounds of beef tongue that we’re giving to the guys at the box factory. José and Jesus tell me that lengua is delicious, but I’m not willing to prepare it myself. (If they want to make something for me, I’ll eat it.)
We received a total of 115-5/8 pounds of beef for $425, which is an average cost of $3.66 per pound. (In December 2006, we paid $300 for 83 pounds of beef, for an average of $3.61 per pound. In November 2007, we paid $277 for 81 pounds of beef, an average of $3.42 per pound.)
The problem is, Kris and I can’t eat this much beef. We love it (sorry, vegetarians), and we think we’re getting a great deal at this price, but we’re not willing to prepare beef more than once a week. This year, we recruited help. We found two other families to split our share. They each gave us $100, and we gave them one-quarter of our load.
This still leaves us with a lot of meat. Fortunately, we have a 20-year-old upright freezer, which we picked up for free from one of Kris’ co-workers. This freezer is a godsend. We use it to store our beef, and plenty of other food besides. But whenever I mention the freezer, I get comments asking me how cost-effective it really is. That’s a great question. I finally found time to answer it.
Using my Kill-a-Watt electricity meter, I took four readings of the freezer’s power consumption.
After 47 hours, the freezer had consumed 3.13 kilowatt-hours of electricity (for an average use of 67 watts).
After 70.5 hours, it had used 4.73 kWh (67 watts).
After 116 hours, it had used 8.07 kWh (70 watts).
After 154 hours, it had used 10.69 kWh (69 watts).
For ease of calculation, let’s say that our freezer seems to be using an average of 70 watts, or about 1.68 kilowatt-hours per day. That’s 613.2 kilowatt-hours per year. Because our electricity costs us 12 cents per kilowatt hour, that’s a total cost of just over 20 cents per day. It costs us about $75 a year to run the upright freezer. A newer, more efficient model would no doubt cost even less to operate.
“How do you feel about that cost?” I asked Kris once we’d computed the numbers. “Do you think it’s worth it?”
“Totally,” she said. “And here’s why. Having the freezer gives us flexibility because it lets us stock up on things when prices are good, instead of just when we run out. If I see that butter is on sale, I can stock up.”
“That’s not all,” she said. “Because of the freezer, we’re able to buy a lot of things in bulk, which brings the cost per unit down. Like those Costco bags of shredded cheese that I use in soups, quesadillas, tacos and other stuff. I just divide it up into reasonable portions and stick it in the freezer.”
“Yeah,” I said. “And I guess I’m able to buy several boxes of my favorite Trader Joe’s items which means we don’t have to make extra trips, which would require more gas and more time shopping.”
“Right,” said Kris. “Finally, don’t forget the most important reason for having a freezer. It lets me preserve a lot of food from our garden. We’ve been using frozen jam, berries, and pasta sauce all winter. I’ve already added a batch of strawberry jam and twelve cups of frozen berries from this month’s berry crop.” I licked my lips at the thought of fresh strawberry jam as Kris continued: “I’ve never run the numbers, but I don’t have to. I’m certain the freezer saves us more than a $6 per month.“
For more info about the cost-effectiveness of a stand-alone freezer, check out:
Consumer Reports Home and Garden blog: As food prices rise, consider a stand-alone freezer
St. Petersburg Times: How to buy a stand-alone freezer
This is the first time I’ve really used the Kill-a-Watt to help evaluate my financial choices. For my next experiment, I’m going to measure how much electricity Kris’ computer and monitor use. How much energy (and money) could we save by turning these off when they’re not in use?
Edit: Holy cats. I cannot believe I typoed “freezer” as “feezer” in the title and left it live for eight hours. How mortifying. Please take away my license to blog!
This is the first post from Winston, the new GRS editorial assistant.
My wife and I have saved thousands of dollars by landscaping our own yard.
Four years ago, we were feeling overwhelmed by our back yard. We’d been in our home for a couple of years, had spent some time and money on the inside, and were ready to move on to backyard projects.
We spent a couple of seasons moving dirt around, trying different types of landscaping materials. This left us lighter in the pocketbook, but still unsatisfied with way things looked. Finally, we decided to contact a landscape architect. But we were worried that we couldn’t afford such a luxury, and doubted anyone would want to work on a small project like ours.
Professional Help
After asking the neighbors for recommendations, we discovered somebody who might be able to help. A long-time landscaper had just sold his business to his son-in-law to focus strictly on home landscape design. We scheduled an initial no-cost appointment with him, and instantly felt he had the skill and understanding to design a useable backyard we could enjoy.
He bid $500 for the design, which was over our budget. We talked with him about our $350 limit, and he found ways to reduce costs by providing black-and-white designs instead of color, and by leaving some beds for us to design ourselves.
After talking with us about some types of elements we liked and disliked (such as colors, textures, structures, and plant types), doing some measurements, and a few follow-up meetings, the designer presented us with the plans.
We received exactly what we were hoping for and could never have done ourselves: a beautiful landscaping plan that worked with both the house and the yard. Because he knew we planned to do the work ourselves over a period of years, the designer provided suggestions about where to begin, what to hire out, and how to implement the plan.
Laying the Foundation
Last summer, we tackled phase one of the plan.
A month after we received our plans, a local nursery had a 40%-off “going out of business” sale. With the designer’s list in hand, we were able to purchase about a third of our total plant materials at a substantial discount. We were worried because we weren’t anywhere near ready to put them into the ground yet. Fortunately, we live in a mild climate, and the plants survived several months in pots.
Hiring a landscape architect may have been the best thing we did for this project, but the second best was spending money to rent a track hoe to dig a base for the patio and to tear out a dilapidated 80-year-old concrete pond:
It amazes me that the rental yard in town would hand over the keys to such a destructive and powerful machine after only a five minute tutorial to a novice like myself. What would have taken months, if not years to accomplish by hand, this mighty machine accomplished in two days.
A third worthwhile expense was to have the concrete professionals come in to frame and pour the patio. We did the prep work — digging out the base, hauling out several yards of rock by wheelbarrow — but in a little over three hours, the concrete workers ensured a nice shape, proper drainage, and a beautiful pour for just over $800.
To finish last year’s backyard work, we put in the lawn. The ground was level and the soil was adequate, so all we had to do was rent a roller ($7), add minimal nutrients, and it was ready to go. We chose to lay sod because we have children and a dog, and it would have been very difficult to keep them out of seed-sown grass for an extended time. The small area lent itself to sod, and provided instant green for minimal cash outlay.
Putting It All Together
This year, we implemented phase two of our project. Hauling over 16 yards of compost and 1/4″-minus rock by wheelbarrow isn’t fun for most people, but I found it satisfying to see everything come together. Other things we’ve done include:
For the past two years, we’d been saving money for the plants, flowers, and shrubs we wanted. With a couple exceptions, we followed the professional design.
To build the three large raised gardening beds, some of the wood came from a deck we’d demolished four years ago.
To minimize water waste and the mental anguish of dragging hoses around, I installed six faucets in the various beds and gardening areas.
Before we’re finished, we’ll add the final grape arbor and to build a new fence around the garden.
Three years ago, our landscape architect estimated it would cost $25,000 to $30,000 to pay somebody else to implement his plan. By doing most of the work ourselves, we’ve spent a little over $3,500 on building materials, plants, shrubs, compost, soil, gravel, equipment rental, and the water system. We haven’t tracked our work hours, but our family of four has enjoyed the time outdoors and being together, even if it meant a lot of sweat equity.
The thrill of having dinner outside on the patio, enjoying the fruits of our labor, has exceeded our high expectations and has made the work and the expense worthwhile.